24-02-2009, 12:29 AM
The ability of molecules to serve as computer switches has been a major area of scientific research since the middle of the last century. Molecular switches, if these become a reality, will offer appreciable reduction in hardware size, since these are themselves very small. One can then imagine of bimolecular computer about 1/20th the size of present-day semiconductor-based computers. Small size and fast operation will account for the development of most modern computers.