VARIOUS MEDIA: 'Human brain' supercomputer with 1 million processors switched on for first time

Press/Media: Research

Description

The world’s largest neuromorphic supercomputer designed and built to work in the same way a human brain does has been fitted with its landmark one-millionth processor core and is being switched on for the first time.

https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/human-brain-supercomputer-with-1million-processors-switched-on-for-first-time/

Period2 Nov 2018 → 11 Nov 2018

Media coverage

5

Media coverage

  • TitleResearchers Just Turned On the World's Most Powerful Computer Designed to Mimic a Human Brain
    Media name/outletVice
    Media typeWeb
    Country/TerritoryUnited States
    Date7/11/18
    DescriptionResearchers in the UK turned on the most powerful supercomputer designed to mimic the human brain for the first time last week, marking a big step toward replicating the power of the brain with silicon.

    Using computers to mimic the brain, also known as neuromorphic computing is a rapidly growing area of computer science research that focuses on developing system architectures and specialized computer chips that replicate the way the human brain processes information. Not only will this allow neuroscientists to create unprecedented models of the brain, but it will also allow roboticists to create robots that can navigate complex environments using computer vision.
    URLhttps://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/9k458v/researchers-just-turned-on-the-worlds-most-powerful-computer-designed-to-mimic-a-human-brain
    PersonsSteve Furber
  • Title'Human brain' supercomputer switched on to unlock secrets of the mind
    Degree of recognitionNational
    Media name/outletThe Independent
    Media typeWeb
    Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
    Date2/11/18
    DescriptionAfter 12 years of construction and £15m in funding, a giant computer designed to mimic the human brain is finally ready to be switched on.

    Built by the University of Manchester, the SpiNNaker machine is made up of one million processors capable of 200 trillion actions per second – meaning it can model more biological neurons in real time than any other machine ever built.
    URLhttps://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/human-brain-supercomputer-neurons-computer-simulation-manchester-university-spinnaker-artificial-a8612966.html
    PersonsSteve Furber
  • TitleWorld's largest supercomputer designed and built to work like a human brain is switched on for the first time
    Media name/outletMail Online
    Media typeWeb
    Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
    Date2/11/18
    DescriptionThe world's largest supercomputer which can complete more than 200 million million actions per second has been switched on for the first time.

    The £15 million ($19.5 million) computer, which is designed and built to work like a human brain, had its landmark one-millionth processor core fitted this week.

    Dubbed the SpiNNaker machine, it can model more neurons in real time than any other machine on the planet.

    The supercomputer will help scientists better understand how neurological diseases like Parkinson's impact the brain.
    URLhttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6343249/Worlds-largest-supercomputer-switched-time.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
    PersonsSteve Furber
  • TitleUniversity's new £15m supercomputer could unlock secrets of human brain
    Media name/outletDaily Telegraph
    Media typeWeb
    Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
    Date2/11/18
    DescriptionA "human brain" supercomputer with 1 million processors has been switched on by British scientists for the first time.

    Built by Manchester University, the £15m "SpiNNAker" machine is able to complete more 200 million actions per second and has 100 million moving parts.

    Its creators hope that it will be able to "unlock some of the secrets of how the human brain works".

    Unlike traditional computers, it doesn’t communicate by sending large amounts of information from point A to B.

    Instead it mimics the communication architecture of the brain, sending billions of pulses - small amounts of information - simultaneously to thousands of different destinations.

    Scientists have simulated a region of the brain called the Basal Ganglia, an area affected in Parkinson's disease, raising hopes that it may have potential for neurological breakthroughs in future pharmaceutical testing.

    Steve Furber, professor of computer engineering at Manchester University, said: "Big pharma companies have largely stopped investing in diseases of the brain because they don't have the models to develop the drugs.
    URLhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2018/11/02/human-brain-supercomputer-switched-first-time/
    PersonsSteve Furber
  • TitleA brain-like supercomputer could help Siri understand your accent
    Media name/outletCNN
    Media typeWeb
    Country/TerritoryUnited States
    Date2/11/18
    DescriptionHey Siri, listen up. A multitasking supercomputer that attempts to mimic the human brain was switched on Friday -- and it could be used to help virtual assistants like Apple's Siri and Amazon's Alexa understand your accent.
    The SpiNNaker computer can send billions of small pieces of information to different destinations simultaneously, much like the brain. It's not quite like a regular computer, which sends one larger packet of data to a single destination at a time.
    It's the result of a £15 million (more than $19 million) project first conceived in England 20 years ago. It has spent a decade under construction. Its technology could be used to improve tools like the virtual assistants, its project leader told CNN.

    URLhttps://edition.cnn.com/2018/11/02/health/supercomputer-human-brain-scli-intl/index.html
    PersonsSteve Furber

Media contributions

1

Media contributions

  • TitleBBC Click
    Media name/outletBBC Click (World Service)
    Media typeRadio
    Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
    Date11/11/18
    DescriptionLargest neuromorphic supercomputer The world’s largest neuromorphic supercomputer has just been switched on. Called the Spiking Neural Network Architecture or SpinNNaker, it’s built to work like the human brain and can complete more that 200 million million actions per second, making it the fastest of its kind in the world
    URLhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3cswhf6
    PersonsSteve Furber

Keywords

  • artificial intelligence
  • human brain
  • computer science