The Future of Computing

Overview

Karine Thate [4]

Description:

“The Future of Computing” is a public presentation that examines trends in computing technology and predicts what the future of computing might hold for us. Visitors are introduced to the idea of smaller, nanoscale transistors as the key to faster, more capable computers – and the barriers we face in continuing to shrink transistors to advance our computing technology (heat build-up, fabrication issues due to their small size, and quantum effects). Possible solutions include new materials for transistors like carbon nanotubes and graphene, or new paradigms for information processing like optical or quantum computing. Visitors are also asked to consider how smaller, faster, better computers in the future might impact their lives – in both positive and negative ways. It's a slideshow presentation (lecture with a few live demonstrations) designed for medium-to-large audiences of teens/adults. It could should be shortened/simplified for audiences with younger kids.

Objectives

Big Idea:

Our ability to shrink transistors down to nanoscale devices have led to continued advances in computing technology, but physical limits will soon prevent this trend from continuing. Nanotechnology provides some possible solutions to take our computing into the future – but we should also consider how smaller, faster, better computers may impact our lives in both positive and negative ways.

Learning goals:

As a result of participating in this program, visitors will be able to:
1. Understand that transistors are tiny nanoscale devices in our computers and our ability to shrink transistors down to smaller sizes leads to advances in computing.
2. Recognize there are barriers (heat, size, quantum effects) that prevent us from further shrinking transistors.
3. Identify how new nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes and graphene) and nanotechnologies (optical computing and spintronics/quantum computing) could overcome these barriers and lead to faster, better, smaller computers.
4. Recognize that the future of computers holds very promising applications that could improve our lives in a variety of ways, but we need to be aware of the risks (for example – privacy concerns with our personal data) that come with more advanced, capable computers.

NISE Net Content Map:

Nanoscience, nanotechnology, and nanoengineering lead to new knowledge and innovations that weren't possible before.

Universal design:

Repeat and reinforce main ideas and concepts.

Provide multiple entry points and multiple ways of engagement

Credits

Developed for the NISE Network with funding from the National Science Foundation under Award Numbers 0532536 and 0940143. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this product are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.

Funding:

Development of this product was funded by the Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center headquartered at Harvard, the Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing at Northeastern University, U Mass Lowell, and University of New Hampshire, and the NISE Network, with support from NSF.

Owning institution:

Museum of Science, Boston [6]

Checklist

Scientist reviewed? check_reviewed

Peer reviewed? check_reviewed

Visitor evaluation? check_reviewed

Nano Topics

Audience

11 and up [9]

Permissions

[22]
Creative Commons
Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike

Catalog section:

Programs

What kind of program?:

Stage presentation

Nano topics:

Information Technology

Materials, tools, and applications

Audience:

11 and up

Content keywords:

computing technology

computers

computer

carbon nanotubes

graphene

optical computing

spintronics

quantum computing

transistors

silicon

microprocessors

privacy

Highlight this product during NanoDays?:

K-12:

This product would be useful for K-12 teachers.

Standards

Science and Technology:

5-8: Abilities of technological design

5-8: Understanding about science and technology

9-12: Abilities of technological design

9-12: Understanding about science and technology

History and nature of science:

5-8: Science as a human endeavor

9-12: Historical perspectives

9-12: Nature of scientific knowledge

9-12: Science as a human endeavor

Science in Personal and Social Perspectives:

5-8: Risks and benefits

5-8: Science and technology in society

9-12: Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges

Resources

[3]

Download all files (ZIP) [3]

Files:

Future of Computing - Lesson Plan, Instructions and Script [23]

Future of Computing - Intro PPT on Computing Predictions [24]

Future Of Computing - Main PPT Presentation [25]

Links:

Future of Computing - Video [26]

See FAQ #10 to learn more about downloading NISE Net video [27]

Video:

Comments

The Future of Computing

The Future of Computing

Description:

Big Idea:

Learning goals:

NISE Net Content Map:

Universal design:

Funding:

Owning institution:

Checklist

Nano Topics

Audience

Tags

Permissions

Catalog section:

What kind of program?:

Nano topics:

Audience:

Content keywords:

Highlight this product during NanoDays?:

K-12:

Science and Technology:

History and nature of science:

Science in Personal and Social Perspectives:

Download all files (ZIP) [3]

Files:

Links:

Video: