Scientists from University of Michigan have created the world's smallest computer system to help treat glaucoma patients. At just one square millimeter in size, the tiny device is a pressure monitor that is implanted in a person's eye.

　　It may be small but it packs a hefty punch, containing an ultra low-power microprocessor, a pressure sensor, memory, a thin film battery, a solar cell and a wireless radio with an antenna that can transmit data to an external reader device.

　　The system wakes every 15 minutes to take measurements and consumes an average of 5.3 nanowatts. It can store up to a week's worth of information. It requires exposure to ten hours of indoor light each day or 1.5 hours of sunlight.

　　Researcher said it is the first true millimeter-scale complete computing system. With all the components low-power and fit on the chip, people can collect data, store it and transmit it.

　　The unit is expected to be commercially available in several years, and is already being touted as the future of the computing industry. A network of such units could one day track pollution, monitor structural integrity, perform surveillance, or make virtually any object, according to the scientists.

　　英国《每日邮报》报道称，美国密歇根大学的科学家近日发明了世界上最小的计算机系统用来治疗青光眼患者。该系统面积只有1平方毫米，用于监测压力，可以植入青光眼患者的眼部。

　　系统虽然微小却五脏俱全，包括耗电极微的微处理器、感压器、记忆体、薄膜电池，太阳能电池和带有天线、可以将数据传至外部接收器的无线电台。

　　这个监测器每15分钟“醒”一次，测量数据，平均耗电5.3豪微瓦。它可以储存一周的数据信息。它每天只需10小时的室内光线或者1.5小时的太阳光来充电。

　　研发人员称这是第一套真正意义上的毫米级、完整的计算机系统。里面所有元件都耗电极低，装在一块芯片上，人们可以收集、储存和发送信息。

　　这个微型系统有望在数年内完成商业化，并且被认为是计算机工业的未来发展方向。科学家称这种微型系统联网后可以用来监测污染、建筑结构、巡逻以及追踪几乎任何物体。