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Topic: Isolinear?

Sargon
Member
Member # 1090

posted

Just what does "isolinear" mean, as in the TNG computer technology? Is there any hint as to the physical principle by which they work?

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Never fear... Sargon is here.

Registered: Jul 2003 | IP: Logged

SoundEffect
Active Member
Member # 926

posted

Well "linear" refers to 'inline' or 'in a line'.

According to the TNG Tech Manual:

Isolinear chips..."make use of single-axis optical crystal layering to achieve subwavelength switching distances."

We know from terms like ODN (Optical Data Network) that TNG computers store information as light waves and pulses. Isolinear just refers to the construction/storage medium of computer memory.

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Stephen L.
-Maritime Science Fiction Modelers-

Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

Timo
Moderator
Member # 245

posted

Semantically, "isolinear" or "the same in line" would probably best translate as "parallel"...

So the Tech Man notwithstanding, we could interpret the heroes as speaking of some sort of parallel processing.

Timo Saloniemi

Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

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