Smaller chips allow more technology or processing power to be crammed into the same volume (or the same performance that uses less space), emit less heat or create easier heat management (e.g., a smaller heat sink plus less fan-noise and fan vibrations or the elimination of the fan), and require lower energy consumption. However, smaller chips are more difficult to manufacture. In addition, there could be limits to technological shrinkage.
For the past few decades, computer chips were based on the chemical element called silicon and other element types. The diameter of 1 silicon atom is ~220 picometers (pm). The accurate measurement depends on the exact type of bonds (e.g., covalent bond, ionic bond, single bond vs double bond vs triple bond, and the element types). Thus, creating a computer chip that is more or less 220 pm in size should be the shrinkage limit of silicon-based computers. Based on historical trends, scientists and engineers could reach this limit by the year 2035.
Scientists and engineers might be able to create even smaller computers based on the element called carbon, but carbon is only slightly smaller than silicon. A single carbon atom has a diameter of approximately 154 pm.
In the world of science fiction, a computer could be based on sub-atomic particles (e.g., protons, neutrons, and electrons). A proton and neutron are similar in size, which is around 1.8 femtometers in diameter. A femtometer is a millionth of a billionth of a meter or one quadrillionth of a meter. A quadrillionth is 10 to the power of -15. An electron’s diameter is a bit more than 3 times bigger than a proton’s diameter, but a proton’s mass is at least 1,800 times greater than an electron’s mass. A neutron is tiny bit more massive than a proton.
However, current technology is unable to easily control protons and/or neutrons. In addition, an electron orbits a proton from a relatively vast distance, which is the reason for why sub-atomic particles are relatively tiny, but a single, complete atom is many thousands of times bigger than a single or cluster of proton(s), neutron(s), and/or electron(s). In other words, forcing an electron and proton to continually react closer together is extremely difficult, and, for electronic designs, is in the realm of science fiction. Then there is the possibility of primarily or only using protons and/or neutrons, but this is also a sci-fi computer. We could also use other types of sub-atomic particles, but they are even more difficult to control.
Assuming that femtometer-sized electronics are possible, then this should last for a few decades. Then we’ll need even smaller computer chips. If that miniaturization fails, then the need for more processing power will require a network of computers. A person will have portable computers that closely work with a network of other portable computers and/or stationary computers. Right now, the average person mainly uses the Internet to store and gather information. Today’s average person’s computer uploads and downloads lots of data, but the data processing is mostly done with the person’s computer.
In the future, the data storage and data processing could be shared by a network of computers. A nearby or personal computer could store and process the simpler, smaller, and/or more private data. The more complex, larger, and/or less private data could be stored and processed on a vast network or the Internet. For example, the network manages the more difficult data processing, then the results are sent to the person’s computer, and then the person’s computer displays the processed data. In other words, the personal computer functions more like a television and less like a computer. This obviously requires a very fast, reliable, widespread, and affordable Internet connection. A future shrinkage-limitation for computers could be the reason for why cloud storage and cloud computing are starting to become popular.
This future network will create more problems with privacy rights, corporate espionage, government surveillance, and hackers. Another problem with electronics is that electronics quickly become outdated, toxic, and long-lasting junk. Electronic storage-devices (e.g., hard-disk drives, flash drives, and optical discs) need to last a long time and/or have high durability, but a brief usage-period is the norm for the rest of the electronics (e.g., CPU, GPU, RAM, motherboard, keyboard, mouse, stylus, monitor, and batteries). This short life-span has been caused by constant advancements. We also need consistent methods to properly recycle electronic devices and other long-lasting, synthetic materials. For products that do not require long life-spans and/or high durability, we should develop biodegradable products.