Is There an Alternative to Binary (Digital) Computing?

thefelttipfaerie
Feb 13
4 min read

Updated: Feb 15

Digital computers (like the one you are using right now); laptops, mobile phones, tablets, ATMs, etc are built on the fundamental principles of binary: 0, 1. But, is there an alternative to binary? Imagine a world where calculators used -1, 0 and 1, or one that worked on variable input. What would that look like? Let’s explore.

TL;DR: Binary isn’t the only way computers can work. Analogue systems can be faster and more energy-efficient for specific tasks, quantum computers tackle complex problems using probability, and ternary logic experiments with three-state inputs instead of two. So if alternatives exist, why does binary still dominate, and could that ever change?

What is a Digital Computer?

Digital computers are built on the binary system, stemming from the natural physical properties of transistors (think switches). They “read” information in binary: as a 0 or 1. They are then programmed to follow a set of instructions based on this information.

Advantages of Digital Computers

Possible to have an absolute value
Multi-purpose
Widely available
Existing global infrastructure
Portable

Disadvantages of Digital Computers

High energy consumption (for some tasks)
Slow (for some tasks)
Physical size limitation of technology

Analof computer - alternative to binary logic digital computing — Analog Computing Machine in the Fuel Systems Building. By NASA Headquarters - GReatest Images of NASA (NASA-HQ-GRIN) - NIX C1949-24357, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2885205

What is an Analogue Computer?

Digital computers use transistors (on or off). Whereas, analogue computers use amplifiers, resistors, capacitors, and memristors . This means they do not use the binary system and instead use a variable, such as the intensity of a current.

Advantages of analogue computers:

Parallel calculations
Works without external memory
Less cooling and can
More energy-efficient
Faster calculations (some types of data)

Disadvantages of analogue computers:

Less precision
Affected by material properties and the environment
Single function or purpose (generally)
Paired with digital (binary) computers to allow us to understand results
Not portable

Although you might think of analogue computers as old-fashioned, they are not! When up to 415 TWh of electricity per year (around 1.5% of global electricity) is consumed by data centres alone, energy efficiency is important. Analogue computers could provide a possible way to address the speed and power consumption demands of neural networks.

An example of energy-efficient analogue “computer” is the M1076 Analog Matrix Processor from Mythic AI. Although these chips use less energy, they are only useful for a single task: AI. Additionally, digital (binary) computers are still required to make the data produced usable.

As such, analogue computers can only be seen as a complement, and not a replacement, for digital computers in most conditions.

statistic "quantum" computer - an alternative to binary logic

What is Quantum Computing?

Quantum computing is another example of an alternative to digital computing. Instead of a binary system, quantum computers use qubits. Qubits work on the principles of quantum physics and so do not have a simple on/off state. As a result, quantum computers do not give exact answers, instead they give the answer that is “most probable”. This means that results often need to be checked or repeated.

A VERY simplified example:

If you are looking for the owner of a walking stick and there are 4 options: an old man, a young woman, a girl and a boy, the probability that the stick belongs to the old man is higher than the other 3 people (quantum computing). However, you would have to ask the old man to know for sure (binary, or digital computing).

The downside of probabilistic results is that quantum computers are currently better suited to specific problems, such as quantum chemistry simulation.

Advantages of quantum computing:

Faster for some complex problems:
- Optimisation
- Cryptography
- Quantum chemistry
- Simulation
- And more!

Disadvantages of Quantum Computing

Highly specialised
Results must be checked
Expensive
Not portable
Still experimental
Requires a digital computer to interpret and input data

What is 3-way logic A.K.A “Ternary Computing”?

If binary (0, 1) is a 2-way input, what would computing look like if it used a 3-way input? Three-Valued Logic: “ternary computers” have been developed! They use a -1, 0, 1 or a 0, 1, 2 system. However, their energy and efficiency savings are inconclusive.

Ternary Computing - an alternative to binary computing. Image shows the Setan Ternary computer — By USSR state-owned publisher "Sputnik" - https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-scientific-staff-members-working-on-the-computing-machine-setun-22818602.html, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=145660081

A notable example of a ternary computer is the Setun. However, many claim that this computer technically used base-4 encoding (sort of like binary) utilising only 3 and cannot be said to be a true ternary machine.