Did you know Russia (I think) once tried to create a three-state computer system?

All computer systems currently operate as two-state systems, working based on the principle that if there is 5 volts going throug a wire, it is considered "one" and that if there is no voltage it is considered "zero". This allows for the working of the binary system.

However, Russia (I think) once tried to create a three-state system by having 0 volts, x volts and 5 volts (I don't know how many volts the other one was). However, this failed, because there was not a distinct enough difference between the different voltages, resulting in mistakes within the computer.

I hope I posted this in the right area, moderators should please feel free to move it if it is not in the right place.

What would be the difference between a 2 and 3 state computer? Would it be more powerful or would it just be longer battery life in laptops? Why is a 3 state better than a 2 state?

Yeah, why bother? Are there any very, very, good advantages that three-state systems have over binary systems? Wouldn't everything have to be rewritten?

Here's a reason (I've been toying eith the idea of a trinary computer myself). Most AI programs work on boolean logic. Something either is or isn't, true or false. People work on the system of it is, it isn't, or it might be, true, false and maybe. In binary systems, to crate a maybe option calls for wasted bits (two bits per status instead of 1) which quickly runs demands for memory over current capabilities. Microchips would also be larger and slower because a 64 bit chip would really only be able to handle 32 pieces of data. In a trinary system the third state takes the place of the maybe option, which allows for better user interfaces and AI programs. That's just one of the benefits.

~Viz

It is interesting though and I can see the logic in a three state system. For example I could see a persuasion to artificial intelligence if the third state had an “if then” representation.

It’s like in the case of options. More states mean more possibility.

One of the hardest pieces of design is actually not the voltage situation. Powerful computers have been designed and tested with a three state system, with 0 to 10 volts being a 0, 50 to 60 volts being a 1, and 100 to 110 volts being a 2, or some large difference like that. THe problem is the logic tables. here they are as far as I have deduced. (T = true, F = false, P = possible)

AND:
--|T | F |P
--+--+--+--
T | T | F | P
--+--+--+--
F | F | F | P
--+--+--+--
P | P | P | P

OR:
--|T | F |P
--+--+--+--
T | T | T | P
--+--+--+--
F | T | F | P
--+--+--+--
P | P | P | P

XOR:
--|T | F |P
--+--+--+--
T | F | T | P
--+--+--+--
F | T | F | P
--+--+--+--
P | P | P | P

NOT:
T|F
F|T
P|P

As you can see, it is impossible to lose a possible. The only conceived remedy is to make P XOR P = F, but most people who have designed trinary systems (as far as I can tell) frown on that. A four state system is preferred, where possible is broken into two types: PT, possibly true, and PF possibly false. THis allows for better interaction and even more AI capability. Of course, the mother of all systems currently looks like the quantum computer which as designed will be a 64 state system.

~Viz

Yeah a 3-state computer might be interesting, but it's still just an enhancement of the traditional binary computer. Quantum computers will be much more flexible, should they ever actually move beyond the realm of the theorhetical.

For simple people like me and most of you it's more than enought 2 states computers.
3, 4 or even 64 states systems coulb be usefull in science, like space explorering. If 64 states computers will ever come to life, they will not fit in room I think (again )
We'll see what will happen with computers when we'll get old. Maybe virtual reality will aproach to true reality and there woun't be any differences... We'll see. Ok back on topic
So any ideas how to use 64 states!?

Actually, because the 64 state computers are based on the 64 different quantum states, they would theoreticaly be tiny, only molecules big. The only part that would take up any size would be the monitor. And really, boolean logic could still be applied to any power of 2 state system, the tables would just have to be extended, so the computers could be used for all aspects, even gaming.

~Viz

Extending those tables to include 64 states seems kind of...illogical doesn't it? I mean, with a 2 state system you have true/false, with a 3 state system you have true/false/possible, but with a 64 state system, even with 64 quantum states, what would they be? simply varying states or combinations of possible and true/false?