![IBM MICRO COMPUTER](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/smallest.jpg?w=1390&crop=1)

Recent news shows that IBM is working on solving the problem of ubiquitous computing. It has chosen to make a computer so small that you could mistake it for a grain of salt. the believe that these micro-computers will help efficiently authenticate products, track medications and Identify people or objects and my even be implemented in [Amazons New Physical Storefront](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/jan/21/amazons-first-automated-store-opens-to-public-on-monday).

if you take a close look at the main image you’ll have to squint to see the device both on that pile of salt and a bank of them assembled and resting on a finger tip. here's a schematic of the devices innards below
![schematic](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/worldssmallestcomputer.jpg?w=431)

This project is an element of the crypto anchor program; this program uses a number of methods to help verify are, from the authentic factory and not counterfeits mixed in with genuine items. The device is meant to bring blockchains
 many security advantages to logistics and tracking anything from wine to cereal. Not only will the computers extra-tiny, IBM has stated they will be super cheap, possibly as low as 10 cents each. with that pricing this eliminates limit on what types of products could be equipped and where they could be used. if these are made more powerful computationally they will also be very good assets to the developing world which will need billions of new devices in the near future.
this stuff could be all over the place like some sort of smart dust: calculating, sensing, connecting with other nodes across the internet to allow well anything!

Currently the device has equivalent power of a complete computer from the 1990's. it has a few hundred thousand transistors, sufficient RAM, a communications module and even a solar cell. right now the chip is still a fledgling project in IBM’s labs. Regardless IBM is promoting it as one of the big changes that will come to technology by 2020. I personally am looking forward to seeing how this would effect mining as these will surely lead to new super small asics.

Image Credits:  [Tech Crunch](https://techcrunch.com/2018/03/19/ibm-working-on-worlds-smallest-computer-to-attach-to-just-about-everything/)