Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!hplabs!hp-sdd!ncr-sd!sagpd1!robinson
From: robinson@sagpd1.UUCP (Rob Robinson)
Newsgroups: comp.ai.neural-nets
Subject: Processing Power Equivalents
Message-ID: <316@sagpd1.UUCP>
Date: 17 Feb 89 21:59:33 GMT
Reply-To: robinson@sagpd1.UUCP (Rob Robinson)
Organization: Scientific Atlanta, Government Products Div, San Diego, CA
Lines: 23


				  
Suppose the brain actually has 10 billion neurons, each having
an average of 1000 connections with other neurons. Also assume
that the average firing rate is 100/second.

10^10 * 10^3 * 10^2 = 10^15
		     -------

Now imagine a system having 1 million neural type units, each having
only 10 connections to neighboring units. Using available technology,
assume a firing speed of say 100 Mhz.

10^6 * 10 * 10^8 = 10^15
		  -------

Would the two systems be "equivalent" as far as processing power is
concerned?

If so, then using current VLSI methods the proposed system might look
like a 100 x 100 x 100 matrix of 1mm cubed units.

In other words, it might be constructed in a 4 inch cube!