5 ms·

OK, so how do you store your model? In analog or digital format? If it's digital you might have to convert the analog signals into digital, with all the constra

by kelvin0 10y ago

OK, so how do you store your model? In analog or digital format? If it's digital you might have to convert the analog signals into digital, with all the constraints involved with such a conversion. Also when you replay your model to process some data, you need to convert back from digital to analog. Please correct me if I misunderstood your point. Otherwise you might need to clarify your idea a bit more.

adamnemecek 10y ago
Note that my arguments are pretty likely wrong in some fundamental ways but here it goes. > OK, so how do you store your model? In analog or digital format? This is a good question. Do you think that conversion back and forth would diminish the gains from analog computing?
- kelvin0 10y ago
  Conversion from analog to digital will necessarily involve the loss of information. Now the question is, is the data lost crucial to the operation of your system or not? If losing some data is not that big a deal, you might as well build it digitally from the ground up? On the other hand if you can't afford to lose any original information from your analog system, you might have quite a few obstacles to overcome and design an entire system which would be analog based (kinda like the human brain on some level). But then again, if you can build a perfect functioning human brain a nobel prize awaits you.
  - adamnemecek 10y ago
    > Conversion from analog to digital will necessarily involve the loss of information. Now the question is, is the data lost crucial to the operation of your system or not? If losing some data is not that big a deal, you might as well build it digitally from the ground up? I think of it as the output being the solution of an equation/dynamic system. It's ok you lose the equations, you care about the solution. I've been doing some light internet research into this not too long ago and came across this title https://www.amazon.com/Neuromorphic-Photonics-Paul-R-Prucnal/dp/1498725228/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1484086290&sr=8-3&keywords=photonics+neural+networks&linkCode=ll1&tag=akhn-20&linkId=32c9eac37d5cf1c5815e59f1098bbfb9 https://www.amazon.com/Neuromorphic-Photonics-Paul-R-Prucnal... that seems to suggest that analog photonics might be the way forward. But I can't really comment on the state of this. Photonics is definitely becoming more and more viable it appears.

by kelvin0 10y ago

adamnemecek 10y ago

Note that my arguments are pretty likely wrong in some fundamental ways but here it goes. > OK, so how do you store your model? In analog or digital format? This is a good question. Do you think that conversion back and forth would diminish the gains from analog computing?

kelvin0 10y ago
Conversion from analog to digital will necessarily involve the loss of information. Now the question is, is the data lost crucial to the operation of your system or not? If losing some data is not that big a deal, you might as well build it digitally from the ground up? On the other hand if you can't afford to lose any original information from your analog system, you might have quite a few obstacles to overcome and design an entire system which would be analog based (kinda like the human brain on some level). But then again, if you can build a perfect functioning human brain a nobel prize awaits you.
- adamnemecek 10y ago
  > Conversion from analog to digital will necessarily involve the loss of information. Now the question is, is the data lost crucial to the operation of your system or not? If losing some data is not that big a deal, you might as well build it digitally from the ground up? I think of it as the output being the solution of an equation/dynamic system. It's ok you lose the equations, you care about the solution. I've been doing some light internet research into this not too long ago and came across this title https://www.amazon.com/Neuromorphic-Photonics-Paul-R-Prucnal/dp/1498725228/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1484086290&sr=8-3&keywords=photonics+neural+networks&linkCode=ll1&tag=akhn-20&linkId=32c9eac37d5cf1c5815e59f1098bbfb9 https://www.amazon.com/Neuromorphic-Photonics-Paul-R-Prucnal... that seems to suggest that analog photonics might be the way forward. But I can't really comment on the state of this. Photonics is definitely becoming more and more viable it appears.