World's Smallest Computer

Michigan Micro Mote is the world's smallest computer.

A University of Michigan's March report can tell you that the team behind the computer have come up with a fully autonomous system that can act as a smart sensing system.

"To be 'complete,' a computer system must have an input of data, the ability to process that data - meaning process and store it, make decisions about what to do next - and ultimately, the ability to output the data," said David Blaauw, one of the faculty members who achieved the Michigan Micro Mote.

Kaustubh Katdare in Crazy Engineers said on Wednesday, "It requires no special imagination to understand that as more things get connected with each other, the size of computers operating behind the scenes must be smaller." He said "The Michigan Mote opens up new avenues towards the world of Internet of Things."

"Sensors are the input; radios are the output. Solar cells power the battery with ambient light, said the university report detailing the work and features of this computer. Therein lies a key word in this story,"battery," or what the engineering world refers to as the size/power matchup.

Of what practical use is this computer? A helpful way to get answers is to ask, who would need mini-computer sensing devices? The Michigan group is sending the computer to interested researchers.