Palo Alto, CA (AHN) - Computer maker Hewlett Packard hosts a gathering of university experts to explore using lasers to transmit data between PC components. Known as photonics, the study could do for the next generation of tiny microchips what fiber optics did for long-distance communications.

The symposium has invited 150 university scientists and researchers. Although real applications may be a decade away, companies such as HP and chip giant Intel see photonics solving the question of how PC makers can offer silicon brains with ever-growing intelligence.

The choke-point for computing is the convergence of multi-processor chips, such as the Intel Duo, and copper connection that create more and more heat. If lasers can be fine-tuned for small distances, massive amounts of data could be transferred between microprocessors - saving huge amounts of power.