Latest Supercomputer by IBM takes Inspiration from a Human Brain

Creators of Watson, an emotionally sensitive computer, collaborated with Lawrence Livermore National Library (LLNL), a federal research center in California, is all set to create a supercomputer that is capable of performing tasks, such as improved pattern recognition, better than the ones in use today.

TrueNorth technology is a state-of-the-art chip architecture, based on neurosynaptic concept that works like a human brain, serves as the backbone of this supercomputer.

Similar to a human brain that transfers information synapses and electrical instincts, allowing nerve cells to communicate and link with each other, a TrueNorth processor does the same but with 256 million synapses, 1 million neurons that are attached to one another by 5.4 billion transistors. Together they are capable of 46-giga synaptic operation for every second. All it needs is a 70 milliwatts to 0.8 volts to perform this operation.

16 of these chips will be received by LLNL. This chip will form the core basis of the supercomputer's environment, including cloud functionality, simulator and a programming language. As a result, it will change the way a computer works, making it better and more efficient.

"The low power consumption of these brain-inspired processors reflects the industry's desire and a creative approach to reducing power consumption in all components for future systems as we set our sights on exascale computing [computing equivalent to billion billion calculations per second]," said Michel McCoy, Weapon Simulating and Computing program director of LLNL.

TrueNorth, will not be made available soon for commercial use. However, the collaboration "will push the boundaries of brain-inspired computing to enable future systems that deliver unprecedented capability and throughput, while helping to minimize the capital, operating and programming costs - keeping our nation at the leading edge of science and technology," Dharmendra S. Modha, IBM's chief scientist and fellow, said.

LLNL will use this technology to improve complicated tasks associated with national security and nuclear research. The testing is slated to begin from March 31.