Most folks know that data travels at much higher speeds and capacities over optical cables than it can over copper equivalents. A prime example is the tremendous transfer speeds available on fiber optic networks, as opposed to copper POTS (plain old telephone service) lines. We’re talking thousands, even millions more times the data.
If you think about it, there’s no reason that the technology (or something similar) that allows us to move massive data around from Point A to Point B shouldn’t help speed up our computers too.
To that end, an English technology company dubbed Optalysys says that in January 2015, it will demonstrate a prototype optical computer that performs calculations at the speed of light. If all goes well, the company says that we will see exascale supercomputers as early as 2020.
Read the entire article at Digital Trends.