Computer Giant IBM says it has developed a prototype computer chip that mimics the human brain.
IBM said last night experimental "cognitive computer chip" could eventually lead to machines that "mimics the brain's ability to perception, cognition and action."
"The chip is an important step in the evolution of computers, calculators for learning systems, marking the beginning of a new generation of computers," said Dharmendra Modha, manager for IBM Research.
"Future Applications of information technology will increasingly demand features that are not effectively delivered by the traditional architecture."
IBM said the computer cognitive, such as the human brain, will "learn through experience, found a correlation, making hypotheses, and remember - and learn from -. Results"
Roger Kay of Endpoint Technologies Associates, said IBM's "take the architecture of the brain and say 'you can do an electronic ability to mimic what we know about the brain, how the brain works."
"They did not get to the point where it's all the practical work, but, but they proved the concept" he said.
"This is a new frontier."
According to IBM, artificial intelligence, who conducted research since 1956, computer chip capable of swallowing can lead to complex, real-time information through multiple sensors and translate them into action.
For example, a cognitive computer system to monitor the water supply problem of global warning that a tsunami can use the sensor network that monitors inputs such as temperature, pressure, wave height, and acoustics.
"Making Sense of the input in real time flowing in the more confusing would be a Herculean task for today's computers, but it would be natural for the brain-inspired," said IBM.
"Imagine the traffic lights can combine images, sounds and smells and the flag before a disaster strikes a dangerous intersection," said Modha.
Until now, IBM said, he managed to produce simple applications using the prototype chips such as navigation, pattern recognition and classification.
IBM said the computer chips cognitive reproducing biological synapses, neurons and axons in the human brain using algorithms and silicon circuitry.
They have integrated memory (synapses replicated), calculation (reproduced neurons) and communication (axons answer), he said.
The "long-term goal" is to build a chip with 10 billion neurons and 100 trillion synapses, which only consumes one kilowatt of power and occupies less than two liters of volume.
For the second phase of the project, known as Synapse - or systems Adaptive Plastic Scalable neuromorphic electronics - IBM says it has joined with researchers at Columbia University, Cornell University, the University of California (Merced) and the University of Wisconsin (Madison).
IBM said the project received US21 million in new funding from the Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
Earlier this year, an IBM supercomputer known as Watson beat two male competitors in the popular Jeopardy TV quiz show in America!
Watson, named after the founder of IBM, Thomas Watson, capable of understanding natural human speech and provide quick answers to complex questions.
Watson's last machine that was developed by IBM to challenge the human race - in 1997, the IBM computer named "Deep Blue" defeated chess champion Garry Kasparov in a match of six games.
