Wiktionary
n. A proposed nanoscale computer.
Wikipedia
Nanocomputer is the logical name for a computer smaller than the microcomputer, which is smaller than the minicomputer. (The minicomputer is called "mini" because it was a lot smaller than the original (mainframe) computers.)
The term nanocomputer is increasingly used to refer to general computing devices of size comparable to a credit card. The first use of this name appears to be to describe the s1mp3 manufactured by The Flying Electron Inc. (7 November 2008). It is now used for a wider range of devices, such as
- Arduino
- BeagleBoard
- Olinuxino
- Odroid
- Miracast dongles
- All the PC-on-a-stick ( MK802 series...)
- Raspberry Pi
A perhaps more principled interpretation (analogous to the first microcomputers having fundamental parts no bigger than several micrometres) is that of a computer whose fundamental parts are no bigger than a few nanometers. There are several ways nanocomputers might be built, using mechanical, electronic, biochemical, or quantum technology. It was argued in 1998 that is unlikely that nanocomputers will be made out of semiconductor transistors ( Microelectronic components that are at the core of all modern electronic devices), as they seem to perform significantly less well when shrunk to sizes under 100 nanometers.
This is rather contradicted by the smallest part of current state-of-the-art microprocessors measuring 22 nm as of April 2012. Moreover, Intel's 5 nanometer technology outlook predicts 5 nm feature size by 2022. The International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors gives an industrial consensus on feature scaling following Moore's Law.
Note that a Silicon-Silicon bond length is 235.2 pm, which means that a 5 nm-width transistor would be 21 silicon atoms wide.
Usage examples of "nanocomputer".
At some point, an indetectably tiny but quite sophisticated nanocomputer in her medial forebrain bundleprecisely like the one to be found in the brain of every living human being older than minus eight monthswould conclude that she was a goner.
Millions of tiny nanomachines and nanocomputers salted through your head, squirming around in there like so many bees, busy ants, making changes.
Although what she had done, even in this imperfect fold, had to be judged a fantastic achievement by any standard, and though the busy horde of nanomachines and nanocomputers in her brain had within less than a day cursed her with amazing powers, Jillian Jackson could not fly.
After finishing the last bite of a club sandwich and washing it down with a swallow of Coors, she sighed and said, 'Nanomachines, nanocomputers.
Sunlight falls, unchanged, on the inner planets: Except for Mercury, which is no longer present, having been dismantled completely and turned into solar-powered high-temperature nanocomputers.
The thin trail of vaporous cloud that has been following him all this time, shielding his shaven pate from the diffuse red glow of the swarming shells of orbital nanocomputers that have replaced the inner planets, extrudes a staff of hazy blue mist that stretches down from the air and slams together in his hand like a quarterstaff spun from bubbles.
The laminae, for example, won't be removable, which requires you to keep the servos and nanocomputer, as well.
As it was, his nanocomputer had to take over servo control briefly to restore his balance.