article_snippet: And today, many researchers believe it could spark a revolution in computing.
article_snippet: This can pave the way for computers that will instantly turn on and off like a light bulb and never lose data: the RAM, or memory, will no longer be erased when the machine is turned off, without the need to save anything to hard drives as with current technology.
article_snippet: Initially, the technology will be mostly used to create super-fast memory chips that contain more data and consume less energy.
article_snippet: This alone would make regular computers much more powerful, but down the line, a memristor could also take on the processing.
article_snippet: You could have several states, let's say zero, one half, one quarter, one third, and so on, and that gives us a very powerful new perspective on how us computers may develop in the future," Jennifer Rupp told CNN's Nick Glass.
article_snippet: Such a shift in computing methodology would allow us to create "smart" computers that operate in a way reminiscent of the synapses in our brains.
article_snippet: Free from the limitations of the 0s and 1s, these more powerful computers would be able to learn and make decisions, ultimately getting us one step closer to creating human-like artificial intelligence.
article_snippet: This has so far proven accurate and set the pace for the constant increase in computing power, but the trend might soon come to an end.
article_snippet: It is inevitable that, one day, we will need to move away from silicon based computing.
article_snippet: this technology is a candidate for this crucial step: "this technology could mean the end of the silicon era, giving us lower power consumption, the ability  to compute more information, increased data storage and completely new logic patterns for our computers," says Rupp.
article_snippet: This could create a new class of microchips, that could eventually be integrated in everyday items such as windows, clothes or even coffee cups.
article_snippet: According to plans, a new type of computer based on the technology will launch by 2020.
article_snippet: Simply called "The Machine", a new type of computer based on the technology uses  "electrons for processing, photons for communication, and ions for storage."
highlights_snippet: Memristor-based chips wouldn't require silicon, so we could see computers in windows, textiles or even coffee cups .