Researchers Make First Plastic Processor

As you probably know, computer processors are made up of a bunch of teeny tiny transistors on top of brittle silicon. While this works well for devices that can deal with solid frames, new technologies that need to be more flexible will require a new type of processor. One that can bend.

Researchers in Europe were able to create such a processor by using 4,000 organic transistors. The processor sits on top of flexible plastic foil measuring about 2 x 2 cm. As of now, its performance is a bit weak; it can only run one simple, 16 instruction program which has to be hardcoded in.

It’s pretty basic, but if this proof of concept can follow Moore’s law like its silicon sister, then in a few years we could be wearing electronic clothes.