However, you still need to get data into and out of this circuit, and there is probably some need for memory. The data could be sent in and out by fiber optics so that could be quick as well, but it usually takes some time to set/change a memory cell.
So if you need to remember a previous result to use in a later part of the calculation, the memory might be the long pole that keeps this from being close to instantaneous.
Units like this could be manufactured such that many calculations/operations can be done in parallel. So searches would be much quicker. Any type of database operation could be sped up immensely. Any problem where you need to try out lots of possibilities to find the best option (e.g. chess, medical diagnostics, protein folding, etc.) would be sped up immensely as well.
This will be a boon for mankind, but then it will become conscious and begin to exterminate us.
Gotta take the bad with the good.
I think I followed about 27% of that. Better than my usual average. sometimes free Republic makes me feel not so bright lol. would it just be more memory and faster processing that would give a computer consciousness? Or would something else be needed.