Wetware is a term used to describe computer systems that use biological materials, such as human brains and their associated neurons, in order to process data and generate outputs. It is seen as an alternative to traditional computer hardware and software which are dependent on the use of transistors, resistors, capacitors and other non-biological materials.
The concept of wetware was first introduced by researchers in the 1970s who wanted to explore the potential of using human brains as a way to increase the analytic capabilities of computers. This research led to the development of artificial neural networks, which are computer simulations of the human brain that can be used to process data and recognize patterns.
In contrast to traditional computer systems, wetware is typically seen as more organic and is often used to refer to the human body itself as a computer system. For example, a person’s heart rate, breathing rate, or even their emotional state could be seen as part of their wetware system.
While it is unlikely that conventional computer hardware and software will ever be completely replaced by wetware, the concept has been gaining increasing attention in the past few years as a way to develop more efficient and powerful computers. It is believed that the use of wetware could potentially lead to much faster computational power and maximize the potential for artificial intelligence applications.
However, there are also many challenges associated with wetware, such as ethical considerations, the difficulty of programming brains, and the threat of infection or malfunction. Despite these risks, the research into wetware remains an active area of exploration and is seen as a promising new field of computing.
