[Music] good afternoon thank you very much for
good afternoon thank you very much for
good afternoon thank you very much for the kind introduction information is
the kind introduction information is
the kind introduction information is everywhere every day we send emails we
everywhere every day we send emails we
everywhere every day we send emails we access the Internet we make video calls
access the Internet we make video calls
access the Internet we make video calls we post pictures on Facebook and videos
we post pictures on Facebook and videos
we post pictures on Facebook and videos on YouTube we search for information we
on YouTube we search for information we
on YouTube we search for information we tweet we Instagram every day humanity
tweet we Instagram every day humanity
tweet we Instagram every day humanity collectively creates three billion
collectively creates three billion
collectively creates three billion gigabytes of data if we were to put all
gigabytes of data if we were to put all
gigabytes of data if we were to put all this data onto blu-ray discs
this data onto blu-ray discs
this data onto blu-ray discs it would make a stack of discs which
it would make a stack of discs which
it would make a stack of discs which reaches almost to the top of the
reaches almost to the top of the
reaches almost to the top of the stratosphere 60 kilometers above our
stratosphere 60 kilometers above our
stratosphere 60 kilometers above our heads information has become essential
heads information has become essential
heads information has become essential to our daily lives so much so that that
to our daily lives so much so that that
to our daily lives so much so that that this information is as essential to us
this information is as essential to us
this information is as essential to us as light energy heat water and
as light energy heat water and
as light energy heat water and sanitation we have come to depend on
sanitation we have come to depend on
sanitation we have come to depend on information so much but not only just on
information so much but not only just on
information so much but not only just on the availability but on the expectation
the availability but on the expectation
the availability but on the expectation that the capabilities of our smartphones
that the capabilities of our smartphones
that the capabilities of our smartphones and our computing objects will continue
and our computing objects will continue
and our computing objects will continue to improve we live truly in the
to improve we live truly in the
to improve we live truly in the information age information at the part
information age information at the part
information age information at the part of information is computing technology
of information is computing technology
of information is computing technology computing means many different things to
computing means many different things to
computing means many different things to different people
different people
different people it means high-performance computing or
it means high-performance computing or
it means high-performance computing or supercomputing to the scientist who is
supercomputing to the scientist who is
supercomputing to the scientist who is trying to solve large-scale problems
trying to solve large-scale problems
trying to solve large-scale problems like weather prediction molecular
like weather prediction molecular
like weather prediction molecular modeling or the simulation of a nuclear
modeling or the simulation of a nuclear
modeling or the simulation of a nuclear reaction
reaction
reaction it means games consoles or virtual
it means games consoles or virtual
it means games consoles or virtual reality for their young and the young at
reality for their young and the young at
reality for their young and the young at heart playing Gran Turismo or or FIFA
heart playing Gran Turismo or or FIFA
heart playing Gran Turismo or or FIFA for companies its service stations and
for companies its service stations and
for companies its service stations and data backup it’s the cloud where data is
data backup it’s the cloud where data is
data backup it’s the cloud where data is held and increasingly where work is
held and increasingly where work is
held and increasingly where work is being done and perhaps most visibly to
being done and perhaps most visibly to
being done and perhaps most visibly to us
us
us is the smartphones in our pockets and
is the smartphones in our pockets and
is the smartphones in our pockets and the laptops in our briefcases all this
the laptops in our briefcases all this
the laptops in our briefcases all this has been made possible by electronic
has been made possible by electronic
has been made possible by electronic technology in 70 years of progress of
technology in 70 years of progress of
technology in 70 years of progress of scaling down from the macro scale to the
scaling down from the macro scale to the
scaling down from the macro scale to the nano scale where devices have dimensions
nano scale where devices have dimensions
nano scale where devices have dimensions of just a few billionths of a meter
of just a few billionths of a meter
of just a few billionths of a meter the first general-purpose computer was
the first general-purpose computer was
the first general-purpose computer was built in 1946 and it was called ENIAC it
built in 1946 and it was called ENIAC it
built in 1946 and it was called ENIAC it weighed 30 tons it occupied 60 cubic
weighed 30 tons it occupied 60 cubic
weighed 30 tons it occupied 60 cubic meters of space and it required a
meters of space and it required a
meters of space and it required a hundred and 50 kilowatts or 150 thousand
hundred and 50 kilowatts or 150 thousand
hundred and 50 kilowatts or 150 thousand watts of power that’s the equivalent of
watts of power that’s the equivalent of
watts of power that’s the equivalent of the power requirements of a small
the power requirements of a small
the power requirements of a small village it had a hundred thousand
village it had a hundred thousand
village it had a hundred thousand components and it was capable of doing
components and it was capable of doing
components and it was capable of doing five thousand operations per second and
five thousand operations per second and
five thousand operations per second and at the time this was a revolution it’s a
at the time this was a revolution it’s a
at the time this was a revolution it’s a thousand times faster than
thousand times faster than
thousand times faster than electromechanical computers and it was
electromechanical computers and it was
electromechanical computers and it was capable of doing an artillery trajectory
capable of doing an artillery trajectory
capable of doing an artillery trajectory calculation in just thirty seconds the
calculation in just thirty seconds the
calculation in just thirty seconds the same calculation took and still takes a
same calculation took and still takes a
same calculation took and still takes a human over two and a half hours to
human over two and a half hours to
human over two and a half hours to complete by hand now fast forward to
complete by hand now fast forward to
complete by hand now fast forward to today after the invention of the
today after the invention of the
today after the invention of the transistor the integrated circuit the
transistor the integrated circuit the
transistor the integrated circuit the first Intel microprocessor and decades
first Intel microprocessor and decades
first Intel microprocessor and decades of reducing the dimensions of electronic
of reducing the dimensions of electronic
of reducing the dimensions of electronic component technology and today we have
component technology and today we have
component technology and today we have advanced processors which pack 10
advanced processors which pack 10
advanced processors which pack 10 billion devices into just 400 cubic
billion devices into just 400 cubic
billion devices into just 400 cubic millimeters and are able to do to a
millimeters and are able to do to a
millimeters and are able to do to a hundred billion calculations per second
hundred billion calculations per second
hundred billion calculations per second now the technology behind ENIAC was
now the technology behind ENIAC was
now the technology behind ENIAC was vacuum tubes centimeter scaled
vacuum tubes centimeter scaled
vacuum tubes centimeter scaled components about as large as my thumb
components about as large as my thumb
components about as large as my thumb today’s components are CMOS transistors
today’s components are CMOS transistors
today’s components are CMOS transistors which are just a few billionths of a
which are just a few billionths of a
which are just a few billionths of a meter 14 nanometers in dimension the
meter 14 nanometers in dimension the
meter 14 nanometers in dimension the scale of this reduction is such that
scale of this reduction is such that
scale of this reduction is such that today we have more transistors in a
today we have more transistors in a
today we have more transistors in a processor than people in the world there
processor than people in the world there
processor than people in the world there are incidentally more processors in this
are incidentally more processors in this
are incidentally more processors in this room than there are people and if we
room than there are people and if we
room than there are people and if we were to scale up a chip so that the
were to scale up a chip so that the
were to scale up a chip so that the transistor is the size of a house and
transistor is the size of a house and
transistor is the size of a house and one side of the chip starts here
one side of the chip starts here
one side of the chip starts here this room then the other side of the
this room then the other side of the
this room then the other side of the chip would be in New Zealand and with
chip would be in New Zealand and with
chip would be in New Zealand and with houses or transistors all the way this
houses or transistors all the way this
houses or transistors all the way this scaling down of dimensions has been a
scaling down of dimensions has been a
scaling down of dimensions has been a staggering feat of human engineering
staggering feat of human engineering
staggering feat of human engineering prowess and is surely a modern miracle
prowess and is surely a modern miracle
prowess and is surely a modern miracle however it has not been achieved without
however it has not been achieved without
however it has not been achieved without cost even if a single chip costs orders
cost even if a single chip costs orders
cost even if a single chip costs orders of magnitude less obviously than than
of magnitude less obviously than than
of magnitude less obviously than than any AK manufacturing cost is still huge
any AK manufacturing cost is still huge
any AK manufacturing cost is still huge to draw these systems at extraordinarily
to draw these systems at extraordinarily
to draw these systems at extraordinarily fine lines it needs extremely pure water
fine lines it needs extremely pure water
fine lines it needs extremely pure water ultra filtered air the majority in fact
ultra filtered air the majority in fact
ultra filtered air the majority in fact most of the naturally occurring chemical
most of the naturally occurring chemical
most of the naturally occurring chemical elements very finely controlled light
elements very finely controlled light
elements very finely controlled light sources and very detailed masks and 300
sources and very detailed masks and 300
sources and very detailed masks and 300 or over 300 distinct processing steps to
or over 300 distinct processing steps to
or over 300 distinct processing steps to achieve the fabrication of a of a chip
achieve the fabrication of a of a chip
achieve the fabrication of a of a chip and putting all this together leads to
and putting all this together leads to
and putting all this together leads to an environment building and equipment
an environment building and equipment
an environment building and equipment which is so advanced that it costs many
which is so advanced that it costs many
which is so advanced that it costs many billions of dollars today to build a
billions of dollars today to build a
billions of dollars today to build a state-of-the-art semiconductor
state-of-the-art semiconductor
state-of-the-art semiconductor manufacturing plant an even bigger
manufacturing plant an even bigger
manufacturing plant an even bigger challenge which is facing us is the
challenge which is facing us is the
challenge which is facing us is the energy consumption of our information
energy consumption of our information
energy consumption of our information related activities obviously energy
related activities obviously energy
related activities obviously energy consumption for mobile units is
consumption for mobile units is
consumption for mobile units is extraordinarily important because it
extraordinarily important because it
extraordinarily important because it defines how long we can use for example
defines how long we can use for example
defines how long we can use for example our smart phone without having to
our smart phone without having to
our smart phone without having to recharge the battery the recent scandal
recharge the battery the recent scandal
recharge the battery the recent scandal of mobile phone units Catching Fire is a
of mobile phone units Catching Fire is a
of mobile phone units Catching Fire is a dramatic illustration of just how much
dramatic illustration of just how much
dramatic illustration of just how much energy smart phones really need and what
energy smart phones really need and what
energy smart phones really need and what happens if the batteries are unstable if
happens if the batteries are unstable if
happens if the batteries are unstable if we focus on the data centers which is
we focus on the data centers which is
we focus on the data centers which is where data is held where information is
where data is held where information is
where data is held where information is held then we have typical power
held then we have typical power
held then we have typical power consumption figures of 2000 kilowatts or
consumption figures of 2000 kilowatts or
consumption figures of 2000 kilowatts or 2 million watts and if we add all the
2 million watts and if we add all the
2 million watts and if we add all the data centers together in the world and
data centers together in the world and
data centers together in the world and calculate how much energy they use in a
calculate how much energy they use in a
calculate how much energy they use in a year we get to a hundred billion
year we get to a hundred billion
year we get to a hundred billion kilowatt hours in one year which is the
kilowatt hours in one year which is the
kilowatt hours in one year which is the equivalent of the energy produced by 10
equivalent of the energy produced by 10
equivalent of the energy produced by 10 nuclear power stations
nuclear power stations
nuclear power stations if we add to this all the access points
if we add to this all the access points
if we add to this all the access points which are our smartphones laptops
which are our smartphones laptops
which are our smartphones laptops servers and communication infrastructure
servers and communication infrastructure
servers and communication infrastructure to get to the data centers then we can
to get to the data centers then we can
to get to the data centers then we can double or even triple the energy
double or even triple the energy
double or even triple the energy consumption and this gives us another 20
consumption and this gives us another 20
consumption and this gives us another 20 or 30 nuclear power stations which in
or 30 nuclear power stations which in
or 30 nuclear power stations which in all then means that we use a significant
all then means that we use a significant
all then means that we use a significant part of the nuclear power stations in
part of the nuclear power stations in
part of the nuclear power stations in the world to supply the energy to our
the world to supply the energy to our
the world to supply the energy to our information related activities luckily
information related activities luckily
information related activities luckily we believe that nanotechnology can come
we believe that nanotechnology can come
we believe that nanotechnology can come to the rescue here even though
to the rescue here even though
to the rescue here even though electronics will stop getting smaller in
electronics will stop getting smaller in
electronics will stop getting smaller in just a few years there are other
just a few years there are other
just a few years there are other nanotechnologies which exist and which
nanotechnologies which exist and which
nanotechnologies which exist and which are actually better at certain functions
are actually better at certain functions
are actually better at certain functions than the electronics but which have been
than the electronics but which have been
than the electronics but which have been overlooked in the race for scaling down
overlooked in the race for scaling down
overlooked in the race for scaling down already some chips are making the use of
already some chips are making the use of
already some chips are making the use of the third dimension of vertical
the third dimension of vertical
the third dimension of vertical dimension to stack chips with different
dimension to stack chips with different
dimension to stack chips with different technologies where each layer in the
technologies where each layer in the
technologies where each layer in the chip is actually using a technology
chip is actually using a technology
chip is actually using a technology which is dedicated and more efficient
which is dedicated and more efficient
which is dedicated and more efficient at a given function silicon photonics is
at a given function silicon photonics is
at a given function silicon photonics is one of these technologies and photonics
one of these technologies and photonics
one of these technologies and photonics is good at communication an illustration
is good at communication an illustration
is good at communication an illustration of this is that we use optics and
of this is that we use optics and
of this is that we use optics and photonics and light all the time to
photonics and light all the time to
photonics and light all the time to communicate data to carry large volumes
communicate data to carry large volumes
communicate data to carry large volumes of data an example is optical fibres
of data an example is optical fibres
of data an example is optical fibres which carry data between continents
which carry data between continents
which carry data between continents between mobile base stations and also
between mobile base stations and also
between mobile base stations and also bring high-speed Internet and
bring high-speed Internet and
bring high-speed Internet and high-definition TV into our homes
high-definition TV into our homes
high-definition TV into our homes silicon photonics is the reduction of
silicon photonics is the reduction of
silicon photonics is the reduction of scale in the optical or photonic
scale in the optical or photonic
scale in the optical or photonic components which are required to make
components which are required to make
components which are required to make these communication infrastructures the
these communication infrastructures the
these communication infrastructures the lasers the photo diodes and the fibers
lasers the photo diodes and the fibers
lasers the photo diodes and the fibers now one of the key issues that we had
now one of the key issues that we had
now one of the key issues that we had initially in our lab to prove that these
initially in our lab to prove that these
initially in our lab to prove that these silicon photonic systems could work is
silicon photonic systems could work is
silicon photonic systems could work is proving that we could integrate photonic
proving that we could integrate photonic
proving that we could integrate photonic devices on top of silicon chips at the
devices on top of silicon chips at the
devices on top of silicon chips at the nano scale this is actually not easy
nano scale this is actually not easy
nano scale this is actually not easy because the materials are
because the materials are
because the materials are and therefore the atomic structures do
and therefore the atomic structures do
and therefore the atomic structures do not align but by using a sacrificial
not align but by using a sacrificial
not align but by using a sacrificial layer between the two we did prove that
layer between the two we did prove that
layer between the two we did prove that it is now possible to tightly integrate
it is now possible to tightly integrate
it is now possible to tightly integrate photonic devices on top of working
photonic devices on top of working
photonic devices on top of working electronic chips we also proved that
electronic chips we also proved that
electronic chips we also proved that it’s possible to build complete photonic
it’s possible to build complete photonic
it’s possible to build complete photonic networks on a single electronic
networks on a single electronic
networks on a single electronic processor chip to make highly efficient
processor chip to make highly efficient
processor chip to make highly efficient highly energy efficient communication
highly energy efficient communication
highly energy efficient communication between processor cores or even between
between processor cores or even between
between processor cores or even between processes themselves in data centers
this example here shows that we can use
this example here shows that we can use also another property of light which is
also another property of light which is
also another property of light which is that light is built off of several
that light is built off of several
that light is built off of several wavelengths or several colors so each
wavelengths or several colors so each
wavelengths or several colors so each color can in fact carry different pieces
color can in fact carry different pieces
color can in fact carry different pieces of information and in this way we can
of information and in this way we can
of information and in this way we can get to an extraordinary high data
get to an extraordinary high data
get to an extraordinary high data carrying capacity in photonic networks
carrying capacity in photonic networks
carrying capacity in photonic networks communicating between processes and we
communicating between processes and we
communicating between processes and we also proved that if we use this kind of
also proved that if we use this kind of
also proved that if we use this kind of network between sets of processor cores
network between sets of processor cores
network between sets of processor cores it actually gives us a speed-up in the
it actually gives us a speed-up in the
it actually gives us a speed-up in the running of software on the processors
running of software on the processors
running of software on the processors themselves so maybe in the future the
themselves so maybe in the future the
themselves so maybe in the future the processors in the smart phones in your
processors in the smart phones in your
processors in the smart phones in your pockets will not just work with
pockets will not just work with
pockets will not just work with electronics but also with light and
electronics but also with light and
electronics but also with light and photonics now looking to the future we
photonics now looking to the future we
photonics now looking to the future we will always need computers to do number
will always need computers to do number
will always need computers to do number crunching the initial rationale for
crunching the initial rationale for
crunching the initial rationale for computing was to build machines that
computing was to build machines that
computing was to build machines that were capable of doing calculations that
were capable of doing calculations that
were capable of doing calculations that a human would just take too long to do
a human would just take too long to do
a human would just take too long to do but increasingly today we need computers
but increasingly today we need computers
but increasingly today we need computers to think and react intelligently to draw
to think and react intelligently to draw
to think and react intelligently to draw insight and inference from large
insight and inference from large
insight and inference from large unstructured sets of partial data
unstructured sets of partial data
unstructured sets of partial data artificial intelligence can do this too
artificial intelligence can do this too
artificial intelligence can do this too and we already use this kind of
and we already use this kind of
and we already use this kind of computing to do to detect bank fraud to
computing to do to detect bank fraud to
computing to do to detect bank fraud to carry out surveillance security
carry out surveillance security
carry out surveillance security surveillance to understand natural
surveillance to understand natural
surveillance to understand natural language and predictions humor interests
language and predictions humor interests
language and predictions humor interests for example Apple’s Siri Google Voice
for example Apple’s Siri Google Voice
for example Apple’s Siri Google Voice Search Microsoft Cortana are all
Search Microsoft Cortana are all
Search Microsoft Cortana are all examples of virtual assistants which
examples of virtual assistants which
examples of virtual assistants which which use artificial intelligence
which use artificial intelligence
which use artificial intelligence technology however running such a
technology however running such a
technology however running such a complex application on a conventional
complex application on a conventional
complex application on a conventional processor actually requires huge amounts
processor actually requires huge amounts
processor actually requires huge amounts of computing power and therefore huge
of computing power and therefore huge
of computing power and therefore huge amounts of energy so we believe that
amounts of energy so we believe that
amounts of energy so we believe that nanotechnology can also offer
nanotechnology can also offer
nanotechnology can also offer alternatives to this model and provide
alternatives to this model and provide
alternatives to this model and provide ways to achieve a hardware platform
ways to achieve a hardware platform
ways to achieve a hardware platform capable of running artificial
capable of running artificial
capable of running artificial intelligence applications for example we
intelligence applications for example we
intelligence applications for example we can build artificial electronic neurons
can build artificial electronic neurons
can build artificial electronic neurons and artificial photonic synapses to
and artificial photonic synapses to
and artificial photonic synapses to build a complete artificial neural
build a complete artificial neural
build a complete artificial neural computation platform which could then
computation platform which could then
computation platform which could then run this kind of artificial intelligence
run this kind of artificial intelligence
run this kind of artificial intelligence application with a fraction of the
application with a fraction of the
application with a fraction of the energy required to run it on
energy required to run it on
energy required to run it on conventional processes and maybe even
conventional processes and maybe even
conventional processes and maybe even less than that of the human brain and
less than that of the human brain and
less than that of the human brain and this coupled with miniaturized sensors
this coupled with miniaturized sensors
this coupled with miniaturized sensors which again will be enabled by
which again will be enabled by
which again will be enabled by nanotechnology will lead to for example
nanotechnology will lead to for example
nanotechnology will lead to for example drones and robots which are capable of
drones and robots which are capable of
drones and robots which are capable of intervening in emergency response units
intervening in emergency response units
intervening in emergency response units and help save lives in natural or
and help save lives in natural or
and help save lives in natural or man-made disasters to predict and avoid
man-made disasters to predict and avoid
man-made disasters to predict and avoid climate change intelligent prosthetics
climate change intelligent prosthetics
climate change intelligent prosthetics to eliminate handicap for helping the
to eliminate handicap for helping the
to eliminate handicap for helping the elderly to live their lives to the full
elderly to live their lives to the full
elderly to live their lives to the full and to help agriculture to use just the
and to help agriculture to use just the
and to help agriculture to use just the right amount of water and fertilizer to
right amount of water and fertilizer to
right amount of water and fertilizer to grow their crops so nanotechnology which
grow their crops so nanotechnology which
grow their crops so nanotechnology which has been such powerful force for change
has been such powerful force for change
has been such powerful force for change in the information revolution will
in the information revolution will
in the information revolution will continue imperceptibly to transform our
continue imperceptibly to transform our
continue imperceptibly to transform our lives in the future thank you
lives in the future thank you
lives in the future thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment