Talk of the town : Small Parts with Big Jobs
【明報專訊】Google, an American tech company, recently announced that its newly developed chip has overcome a major challenge in quantum computing. This chip can solve a complex calculation problem that would take 10 to the 25th power years (equivalent to 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 years) to solve, but the new chip can accomplish it in just 5 minutes.
What is a computer chip?
Have you ever wondered how your phone, laptop, or even your game console can work so fast and cleverly? A computer chip, often called an integrated circuit (IC), is like a tiny electronic brain, but it is made up of interconnected circuits on a small piece of silicon. It acts as the powerhouse of electronic devices, handling tasks like processing information, storing data, and controlling how devices operate. It is the key component that makes your devices smart and capable of performing tasks quickly and efficiently.
Nowadays, computer chips are ubiquitous, found in everything from your mobile phone and household appliances to professional medical equipment and machinery used in production. Moreover, they play a pivotal role in the development of AI technology. A faster chip can perform complex calculations at incredible speeds and enhance efficiency in our daily lives.
Who is making these chips? Do they face challenges?
Many companies in different countries are competing to invent better, cheaper, and faster chips, such as Huawei in China, Nvidia and Intel in the US. While they all face the challenge of reducing the size of chips to increase performance and efficiency, as chips become smaller and more complex, issues like heat dissipation and signal interference have become more pronounced.
In this ever-changing world, innovation never stops. With each new development, we get closer to a future where technology keeps getting smarter, faster, and more capable, all thanks to these tiny but incredible creations.
■Grammar booster
Ever-changing
Constantly changing or developing.
E.g. In today's ever-changing world of technology, staying updated with the latest advancements is crucial for success.
■Gear up
(Answers on next text)
1. We can find a chip in our mobile phones. (True/False)
Fill in the blanks with the glossary below.
2. The students _________ the task in less than ten minutes.
3. There was a _________ improvement in his working performance after the meeting.
■Gear up
equivalent (adj) 相等的
accomplish (v) 完成/達到
ubiquitous (adj) 普遍存在的
pronounced (adj) 明顯的
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[Smarties' Power English 第428期]
