Why binary and non-ternary computing?

Question

Is an object of three states instantly capable of storing more information and processing large values? I know that processors currently use massive blocks of XOR gates, and they will need to be redone.

Since we are at 64 bits (we can imagine 2 ^ 63 possible states), calculating the equivalent ternary , can support a number with 30 more than dozens of log places (3 ^ 63-2 ^ 63).

I believe that it is just as easy to detect the potential difference between +1 and 0, since it is between -1 and 0.

Will any complexity in hardware, power consumption, or chip density offset any storage and processing power benefits?

Answer 1

• It is much more difficult to assemble components that use more than two states / levels / independently. For example, the transistors used in logic are either closed, or do not work at all, or are wide open. Having them half open requires much greater accuracy and the use of additional power. However, sometimes more states are used to pack more data, but rarely (for example, modern NAND flash memory, modulation in modems).

• If you use more than two states, you need to be binary compatible because the rest of the world uses it. Three because converting to binary requires expensive multiplication or division with the remainder. Instead, you go directly to four or higher degrees of two.

These are practical reasons why this is not done, but it is mathematically possible to build a computer using triple logic.

Answer 2

There is a lot of misinformation here. Binary has a simple on / off switch. Trinary / Ternary can use one of two modes: balanced aka -1, 0, +1 or unbalanced 0, 1, 2, but not just turned on or off, or rather has 2 "on" states.

With the expansion of fiber optics and expansive hardware, the triple will actually lead us to a much more expansive and faster state at a much lower cost. Modern coding can still be used (just as 32-bit software can still be used on 64-bit hardware) in combination with newer ternary codes, at least initially. You just need early equipment to check how much of the information goes through, or software to announce ahead of time if it is a bit or a trit. The code can be sent 3 pieces at a time, instead of the modern 2 for the same or less power.

Thanks to fiber-optic equipment, instead of the modern binary on / off process, it will be determined 0 = off, and the remaining 2 will be switched as orthogonal polarizations of the light. Regarding security, in fact, this can be made much safer for an individual user, since each PC or even the user is configured for specific "specifications" of polarization, which should be sent / received only between the user and the recipient. The same goes for the “gate” with other equipment. They don’t need to be anymore, just select an option for 3 options instead of 2.

There were even some theories, and even, perhaps, some tests for the Josephson effect began, which would allow the use of triple memory cells using circulating superconducting currents, either clockwise, counterclockwise, or out.

When compared directly, Ternary is the integer base with the largest number economy, followed by binary and quaternary. Even some modern systems use triple logic, such as SQL, which implements triple logic as a means of processing the contents of a NULL field. SQL uses NULL to represent missing data in the database. If the field does not contain a specific value, SQL assumes that this means that the actual value exists, but that value is not currently written to the database. Note that the missing value does not match a numeric value of zero or a string value of zero length. Comparing anything with NULL — even another NULL — results in an undefined state of UNKNOWN. For example, the SQL expression “City = 'Paris” allows FALSE to record from “Chicago” in the “City” field, but allows UNKNOW the record with the NULL City field. In other words, for SQL, the undefined field represents potentially any possible value: a missing city may or may not represent Paris. This is where trinial logic is used with modern binary systems, albeit crudely.

Answer 3

Of course, we could store more data per bit, just like our decimal system can store much more data in one digit.

But it also increases complexity. In many cases, binary behaves very well, making it remarkably easy to manipulate. The logic for a binary adder is much simpler than one for triple numbers (or, for that matter, decimal).

You could not magically store or process more information. The hardware must be so large and complex that it more than compensates for the large capacity.

Answer 4

You should read articles about the Russian ternary computer:

• http://www.computer-museum.ru/english/setun.htm
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setun
• http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setun

Answer 5

Many of them are connected with the fact that in the end the bits are represented as electrical impulses, and it is easier to create hardware that simply distinguishes between “charged” and “free”, and also easily detects state transitions. A system using three states should be more accurate in differentiating between “charged,” “partially charged,” and “free of charge.” In addition, the "charged" state is not constant in electronics: energy begins to "bleed" in the end, so the "charged" state changes in the real "level" of energy. In a three-state system, this also needs to be considered.

Answer 6

Well, firstly, there is no lesser unit of information than a bit. working on bits is the simplest and most fundamental way of processing information.

Perhaps a stronger reason is that it is much easier to make electrical components that have two stable states rather than three.

Also: your math is a bit off. there are approximately 101.4 binary digits in a 64-digit three-dimensional number. Explanation: the largest number of digits out of 64 digits is 3433683820292512484657849089280 (3 ^ 64-1). To represent this in binary, 102 bits are required: 10101101010101101101010010101111100011110111100100110010001001111000110001111001011111101011110100000000

This is easy to understand, log2 (3 ^ 64) is around 101.4376

Answer 7

The triple equivalent of “bit” simply caused too many disturbances!

Answer 8

There are also theories that suggest that fiber optics can use light frequencies (that is, color) to differentiate states, thereby making it possible to obtain an almost infinite (depending on the resolution of the detection unit) number of basic possibilities.

Logical gates are definitely underestimated for any base, but allow you to use triads as an example:

For a three-dimensional XOR shutter, it can be exceptional for one (or any) of the three states that it compares OR one of the other three states. It can also bind two of the three states for binary output. Opportunities are increasing literally exponentially. Of course, this will require more sophisticated hardware and software, but complexity should reduce size and, more importantly, power (read heat). There is even talk of using trinary in a nanocomputer system where there is a microscopic “punch”, “hole” or “unchanged” to represent three states.

We are currently a QWERTY type issue. Qwerty was designed to be inefficient due to a problem with the input machine that no longer exists, but everyone who uses the keyboard today has learned how to use the qwerty system and nobody wants to change it. Trinin and higher bases will someday overcome this problem when we reach the physical limits of binary computing. Maybe not for another twenty years, but we all know that we cannot continue to double our capabilities every year and a half forever.

Answer 9

The chatter answer is correct and corrects some of the distortions suggested here. Those who answered about fractional positive values ​​completely missed the concept of a triple system, which is based on 0, +1 and -1. When the Russians were first built in the 1950s, competition between the USSR and the USA was intense. I suspect that the politics between them had much in common with the binary possible popularity in the USA over the Troy USSR.

From what I read, there are several ternary computers. Moscow has some of them at its university, and IBM has its own laboratories. There are links to others, but I could not distinguish how serious they are, or if they are intended only for experimentation or games. They seem to be much cheaper to build, and they use much less energy to work.

Answer 10

Another major obstacle is that there are many more logical operations that need to be defined. The number of operators is found by the formula b ^ (b ^ i), where b is the base, and I is the number of inputs. For two input binary systems, this works with up to 16 possible operators. Not all of this is usually implemented at the gate, and some gates cover more than one condition, but they can all be implemented with three or less standard gates. For a two input triple system, this number is much higher in 1968. Although some of these gates would be similar to each other, ultimately the ability to manually design basic circuits would be nearly impossible. Although even a freshman student is able to design basic binary circuits in his head.

Answer 11

I believe this is for two reasons (please correct me if I am wrong): firstly, because the values ​​0 and 1 are not really current / current or something similar. The noise is quite high, and electronic components should be able to distinguish that a value that fluctuates, for example, from 0.0 to 0.4, is zero, and from 0.7 to 1.2 is one. If you add more levels, you basically make this distinction more difficult.

Secondly: all logical logic would immediately cease to make sense. And since you can realize the sum from Boolean gates, as well as from the sum, any other mathematical operation, it is better to have something that displays well in practical use for mathematics. What would be a logical truth table for an arbitrary pair between false / maybe / true?

Answer 12

Much should be, I am sure, with error checking of digital signals. For example, in quantum computing, this task is almost impossible, but not impossible, to achieve the principle of non-cloning, but also because there is an increased number of states. For two states, the error checking process is not trivial, but it is relatively simple. For three states, error checking becomes more complex. That is why analog computers with an almost infinite number of states are excluded.

If you're interested in Quantum Computing, although looking at packing the scope and checking for quantum error, some pretty neat things are there.

Answer 13

I think the Trojan will be more effective. He never became popular. Binary entered the scene, and now the transition to a triple will be a change in everything we know.

Answer 14

In order to have a circuit in all but binary, you must determine how other states will be represented. You proposed a system with -1, 0, and +1, but transistors do not work this way, they like to have their voltage or current in only one direction. To make a bit of 3 states, you need 2 transistors, but you can make 2 binary bits from the same transistor and have 4 states instead of 3. The binary disk is more practical at a low level.

If you try to set thresholds in the circuit and use 0, +1, +2 instead, you will encounter a different set of problems. I don’t know enough to go into details, but for logic circuits this is simply more of a problem than it costs, especially when the industry is completely dedicated to binary already.

There is one area where several levels are used to get more than two states per bit: MLC flash. Even there, the number of levels will have a power of 2, so the output can be easily converted to binary code for use by the rest of the system.

Answer 15

Of course, but the ternary bit (tet?) Will be more complex, you will still store the same amount of information, only in base3 instead of base2, and power, if the components of two states is simplicity, why not just go and make a 10-state base10

Binary calculations are associated with binary AND, OR, and NOT gates, their enormous simplicity and ability to combine into arbitrarily complex structures. They are the cornerstone of literally the whole processing of your computer.

If there was a serious case of switching to triple or decimal, then they would. This is not the case, "they tried it and just got stuck"

Answer 16

If we use 3 states, then the main problem that arises because of this,

• If we use a unipolar signal, then the noise margin will decrease, which will lead to an increase in the error rate in bits.
• For a unipolar signal, in order to maintain a constant noise level, we must increase the power, and therefore, the energy consumption will increase.
• If we use a bipolar signal, then the overall oscillation of the signal will increase, increasing losses.
• An additional layer in the multilayer printed circuit board must be added to account for the negative vibrations in the bipolar signals.

I hope I'm convincing

Answer 17

I think this has more to do with programmability, conditional statements and usage efficiency and transistor functionality than anything else. It would be obvious that the nested IF is true if there is current through the circuit, but how does the program know what to do if the solution can be reached by thousands of different routes? This is interesting with respect to AI, where memory and learning is much more important than crude computing power.