Wetware computer

Diversity of neuronal morphologies in the auditory cortex

A wetware computer is an organic computer (which can also be known as an artificial organic brain or a neurocomputer) composed of organic material "wetware" such as "living" neurons.[1] Wetware computers composed of neurons are different than conventional computers because they use biological materials, and offer the possibility of substantially more energy-efficient computing.[2] While a wetware computer is still largely conceptual, there has been limited success with construction and prototyping, which has acted as a proof of the concept's realistic application to computing in the future. The most notable prototypes have stemmed from the research completed by biological engineer William Ditto during his time at the Georgia Institute of Technology.[3] His work constructing a simple neurocomputer capable of basic addition from leech neurons in 1999 was a significant discovery for the concept. This research was a primary example driving interest in creating these artificially constructed, but still organic brains.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Biological Computer Born". BBC News. June 2, 1999. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).