Fairfax Co. students create light-powered super chip, impacting data center industry

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A group of teenagers in Fairfax County have created a supercomputer chip with the goal of reinventing the computer.

“We used to skip lunch,” said Sathvik Redrrouthu. “Make little structures out of popsicle sticks.”


Redrrouthu is one of the founders of Procyon, a company he started with his friends aimed at reinventing the computer, allowing them to on laser light rather than electricity. The group has been coming up and brainstorming ideas since their elementary school days.

“Random products like just coming up with new things and figuring out how we can make it work,” described Pranav Vadde.

There was a machine that provided a different way to enter a password. Then there was this theoretical device.

These days, these high schoolers are still working on the technology of the future. But this time, they have an actual prototype. Their latest invention is a supercomputer chip powered by light.

“The light coming out your light bulb is insanely fast. It's the fastest thing in the world,” explained Redrrouthu. “So we were like, what if you just replace all that electricity with just with light? So they're like small lasers like inside the chip.”

With this chip, information would travel faster and it allows computers to run a lot more efficiently.
Plus there’s the potential to make a positive impact on the environment too, something that’s been a major concern around data centers.

“The benefit of light is that it expels minimal heat,” said Pranav Velleleth. “So you don't need to have the same cooling infrastructure to cool your servers It's better for the environment. Doesn’t use as much water.”

They’ve traveled the world pitching their ideas, attending conferences and more, even getting funding from Silicon Valley investors.

“Our parents were supportive of us going and missing a week of school and that's overall a good experience,” said Velleleth.

While other students may be looking at colleges, they’re considering taking a gap year to fully focus on this.

“We're just really excited to see where this goes in the future,” said Maddipatla. “We're going to just keep working on it. We don't plan on stopping anytime soon.”

Their advice? Don’t be afraid to try and fail. There’s been a lot of ideas over the years, and they’re pretty proud of this one.

https://wjla.com/news/local/tj-high-school-fairfax-county-students-create-solar-computer-chip-procyon-data-center-industry-thomas-jefferson-powered-light-efficiently-silcon-valley-virginia-education

[Anonymous]

Sounds like super smart South Indian kids who are studying in TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like super smart South Indian kids who are studying in TJ.

Racist!

[Anonymous]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/gabrielasilva/2023/09/26/procyon-photonics---the-high-school-run-start-up-that-could-revolutionize-computing/

Clearly articulated by Gabriel A. Silva, Professor of Bioengineering and Neurosciences at the University of California San Diego

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting idea. They need to pitch it to the innovators, IBM and some other tech companies.

This isn't as unique as the local talk radio station implies

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_computing

No, I've heard of the idea but so far it hasn't been useful. Getting some young minds working on it is a good thing. The world is changing and so is computing. Computers aren't getting faster anymore, they are getting more efficient, or smaller, or more unconventional.

I'm sure those kids are making strides above Intel's dedicated lab https://www.intc.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1555/intel-labs-announces-integrated-photonics-research

So you're agreeing that it's good to see innovation, which comes from young minds - whether they have been hired yet or not.

I think this is a particularly good parental resume pad. There is zero chance that those kids have access to the kind of labs to actually make the kind of progress they're claiming.

+ 1

Its all BS. No way did these kids actually build anything to replace wires with light on a chip. Basically must have built a few google slides and added reference materials

[Anonymous]

Wow, you all are a jealous bunch. If you watch the video, there is the cutest photo of them as tiny kids all working together. Sweet story.

[Anonymous]

Parents and paid counselors are working with students on these types of projects. It's become the new thing in the last few years for high school students to start a nonprofit or startup. Maube college admissions folks are finally starting to get wise.

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/college-admissions-educational-consultants-command-education.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.forbes.com/sites/gabrielasilva/2023/09/26/procyon-photonics---the-high-school-run-start-up-that-could-revolutionize-computing/

Clearly articulated by Gabriel A. Silva, Professor of Bioengineering and Neurosciences at the University of California San Diego

Notice how carefully the article and the quotes avoid saying that their invention actually exists. No measurements of real world performance. No measurements at all. Nothing real on their website or their self-published "research paper".

Not even a photograph. Only a rendering.

This is a 10 year plan to invent something in the future, not an invention now. It's like Theranos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.forbes.com/sites/gabrielasilva/2023/09/26/procyon-photonics---the-high-school-run-start-up-that-could-revolutionize-computing/

Clearly articulated by Gabriel A. Silva, Professor of Bioengineering and Neurosciences at the University of California San Diego

Notice how carefully the article and the quotes avoid saying that their invention actually exists. No measurements of real world performance. No measurements at all. Nothing real on their website or their self-published "research paper".

Not even a photograph. Only a rendering.

This is a 10 year plan to invent something in the future, not an invention now. It's like Theranos.

That article was careful. The local article said, "A group of teenagers in Fairfax County have created a supercomputer chip with the goal of reinventing the computer." Which is a flat out lie. To fabricate a chip capable of being used in a supercomputer using light instead of electricity would require resources that no high schooler possesses

[Anonymous]

I really enjoyed reading this article after taking a shower with my Skin Cancer Treating Soap, another local Virginia teen invention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really enjoyed reading this article after taking a shower with my Skin Cancer Treating Soap, another local Virginia teen invention.

What invention is this? Please share.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, you all are a jealous bunch. If you watch the video, there is the cutest photo of them as tiny kids all working together. Sweet story.

Not jealous but tired of parents promoting their children as the next Einstein. It backfires.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting idea. They need to pitch it to the innovators, IBM and some other tech companies.

This isn't as unique as the local talk radio station implies

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_computing

No, I've heard of the idea but so far it hasn't been useful. Getting some young minds working on it is a good thing. The world is changing and so is computing. Computers aren't getting faster anymore, they are getting more efficient, or smaller, or more unconventional.

I'm sure those kids are making strides above Intel's dedicated lab https://www.intc.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1555/intel-labs-announces-integrated-photonics-research

So you're agreeing that it's good to see innovation, which comes from young minds - whether they have been hired yet or not.

I think this is a particularly good parental resume pad. There is zero chance that those kids have access to the kind of labs to actually make the kind of progress they're claiming.

TJ has advanced labs and equipments that equals or surpasses many colleges/universities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting idea. They need to pitch it to the innovators, IBM and some other tech companies.

This isn't as unique as the local talk radio station implies

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_computing

No, I've heard of the idea but so far it hasn't been useful. Getting some young minds working on it is a good thing. The world is changing and so is computing. Computers aren't getting faster anymore, they are getting more efficient, or smaller, or more unconventional.

I'm sure those kids are making strides above Intel's dedicated lab https://www.intc.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1555/intel-labs-announces-integrated-photonics-research

So you're agreeing that it's good to see innovation, which comes from young minds - whether they have been hired yet or not.

I think this is a particularly good parental resume pad. There is zero chance that those kids have access to the kind of labs to actually make the kind of progress they're claiming.

TJ has advanced labs and equipments that equals or surpasses many colleges/universities.

This is nothing new though. People were doing this a generation ago. It's like claiming they invented the computer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting idea. They need to pitch it to the innovators, IBM and some other tech companies.

This isn't as unique as the local talk radio station implies

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_computing

No, I've heard of the idea but so far it hasn't been useful. Getting some young minds working on it is a good thing. The world is changing and so is computing. Computers aren't getting faster anymore, they are getting more efficient, or smaller, or more unconventional.

I'm sure those kids are making strides above Intel's dedicated lab https://www.intc.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1555/intel-labs-announces-integrated-photonics-research

So you're agreeing that it's good to see innovation, which comes from young minds - whether they have been hired yet or not.

I think this is a particularly good parental resume pad. There is zero chance that those kids have access to the kind of labs to actually make the kind of progress they're claiming.

TJ has advanced labs and equipments that equals or surpasses many colleges/universities.

This is nothing new though. People were doing this a generation ago. It's like claiming they invented the computer.

you sound dumb and ignorant. ignorant looks at a new smartphone model and goes, "it's nothing new we have had phones a generation ago"