Current Situation
Grid power is something that most of us take for granted. We do not really about where it comes from and how it is generated and are happy as long as we get it continuously without any major disturbances in the supply. Both modern domestic industrial needs though place incredible amount of demand on our natural resources when it comes to constant power generation. The global energy demands are constantly on the rise and most of the homes across the planet still depend heavily (and even entirely) on conventional grid powers supply along with gas lines.
The already taxing energy needs are further enhanced by new technology and gadgets that are all ‘plug-in’ in nature. So how much longer can we continue at the current rate before we start realizing that we need to save up on power consumption big time?
Why we need to embrace the change
With global power consumption going up at an alarming rate and with greater spread of technology and use of gadgets, it is only a matter of time before the non-renewable energy sources are sucked dry. Thermal coal power generation will not last forever and the rate at which we are digging up the earth’s surface, it might not be much more than another century before which these resources also disappear. Depending on alternate energy sources is a wonderful way forward. There is solar, wind, tidal and geothermal power. But even with the alternates the best way to move forward would be to increase the efficiency of electronic gadgets and make them more eco-friendly.
Reduction of electronic waste is also another important step towards making the planet a lot better place to live in. We need technology that will stay relevant longer, reduce power consumption by a fair margin and minimize resources used in manufacturing by making products smaller, sleeker and more powerful. This will require researchers on cutting edge of science and technology to give it their best shot. And they are doing exactly that as our trends for the future point out…
Electrifying Trends for Efficient Tomorrow
Graphene Transistors
The Innovation
Graphene is the most sought after research element by modern engineers and those looking to come about with the next big thing in transistor technology. Researchers at University of Illinois are among those who are trying their best to replace the traditional silicon-based semiconductor devices and transistors with those made out of Graphene. Modern research has shown that doped Graphene is a far more efficient and effective for fabrication of electrical components than pure sheets of Graphene.
The Difference Maker
Graphene can help synthesize electrical components that are far more efficient than those available today. It also gets heated a lot less and hence there is no wastage of energy and can perform at a level that is lot higher than components that are available today.
The Dampener
As a material, Graphene is still a mystery that needs unraveling when it comes to using it for fabrication of components like transistors. Modern science promises a future with Tunneling Field Effect Transistors that could be possibly crafted from Graphene, but we are still some way away from that.
Organic Transistors
The Innovation
Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research have designed a new variety of organic transistors that not just save up on power, but also are biodegradable. The transistors are far sturdy and are being tried out in circuits to test consumer feasibility.
The Difference Maker
The transistors are not just organic but significantly cut down on the power consumption and work at low supply voltages. This makes them an ideal replacement to the scores of transistors that we use on a daily basis.
The Dampener
We have been hearing about the organic transistor technology for a while now, but it really has gone nowhere even till today. While the synthesis seems something already achieved, there might be a problem with incorporating the technology in working conditions. We will have to wait a bit more to see where this one is headed.
AMD Energy Efficient Processors
The Innovation
AMD has been in the process of making more energy efficient processors for a while now. Its line of energy saving processors will help save power as thousands of systems go operational each day.
The Difference Maker
While what technology AMD exactly employs inside to cut down on power consumption of processors, the technology is both effective and since it is already available for consumer usage, helps reduce the load on grid power.
The Dampener
Since we already have these in the market and they do indeed cut down on power consumption, we have little to complain about here.
Japanese microchips that consume less power on standby
The Innovation
Researchers at NEC Corporation in Japan have designed a new microchip that can cut the power consumption when the device is on ‘stand by’ mode by huge amounts. This is achieved by using small magnets in the chips to store temporary data, instead of power that is used in traditional chips.
The Difference Maker
The technology allows us to save huge amounts of energy when our devices are on standby mode. Instead of the traditional chips that still draw huge amounts of power while they are not fully functioning, the usage of tiny magnets allows these microchips to save up big time and reduce power consumption.
The Dampener
Once again there is little here that we can actually complain about. Sure, the technology is not out yet, but the research program is well on its course to delivering results that predict devices that are lot less sapping on power by 2015.
AMD Phenom X3
The Innovation
With a reduced TDP of around 65 Watts, the triple-core processors from AMD is a real revolution when it comes to energy saving. It is not just this one processor, but the line of energy-efficient processors that followed which has set the trend for smart PC technology.
The Difference Maker
The triple-core technology in the AMD processors allows it to help cut down on power consumption in various modes and make for ‘green computing’
The Dampener
We are fast reaching a ‘glass-ceiling’ when it comes to current technology and how efficient we can make it before the next big thing needs to kick in. When it comes to processors and transistor synthesis, the next couple of years might just be the right time for some new impetus.
