In the technological age of today, most of us have a majority of our media collections available to us in digital format, whether it be through digital cameras, IPod/mp3 players, CDs or DVDs , and of course our ever trusty personal computers. Currently , we are able to shuttle media and data between our computers and other devices using metal-based cables such as USBs (Universal Series Bus connectors). Most USB connectors of today’s PCs deliver data at a maximum speed of 480 megabits/second. Basically, this is the fastest speed that we can currently download and upload media between computers and outside devices (i.e. digital cameras).
Intel Co. recently unveiled a new technology, named Light Peak, that can carry data at 10 gigabytes/second in both directions simultaneously. Its potential ability may allow it to go up to 100 gigabytes/second within the next decade. Light Peak will be the first components to use fiber optic cables to shuttle data between computers and other devices. Fiber optic cables allow data to travel much faster. Fiber Optical technology also allows for smaller connectors and longer, thinner, and more flexible cables than currently possible. Light Peak also has the ability to run multiple protocols simultaneously over a single cable. The lets us connect devices such as peripherals, workstations, displays, disk drives, docking stations, and more more easily. The cables could be easily integrated into various devices like digital cameras and laptops. The existing electrical cable technology of today's mainstream computing is approaching practical limits for speed and length. optical technology, used extensively in data centers and telecom communications, does not have these limitations since it transmits data using light instead of electricity. Light Peak brings this optical technology to mainstream computing and consumer electronic devices in a cost-effective manner.
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/05/shuttling-pc-data-at-the-speed-of-light/?scp=1&sq=lightpeak&st=cse
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Hey Ramya, I had no idea Intel had developed this type of technology. It’s amazing to think that soon we may only need to carry one cable rather than multiple ones for all of our electronic devices. Light Peak is providing cheap high-bandwidth connectors, which is ideal since, “nowadays everything is high-bandwidth”. I read that researchers are hoping to use Light Peak technology not solely for wires but within electronic motherboards and microprocessors as well. The first generations from Light Peak will be using the standard optical materials such as gallium arsenide, but in the future, the silicon optical chips will be utilized. Intel is actually a leader in the silicon photonics field which designs the silicon optical chips.
http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/23523/page2/
Ramya,
did you know that Intel hopes to ship next year? there is one problem though, computers need to be made that can handle such a fast wire! Intel also claims that a full blue-ray disc could be transfered in 30 seconds. Light peak will be the future no doubt, it is already 20 times faster than USB 2.0, computers just need to be made to work with these.
http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2009-09/new-optical-cable-tranfers-10-gb-second
http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/09/23/intel.light.peak.shown.at.idf/
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