Can a Three-State Logic System Revolutionize Computing?

[ocalhoun]

Normal boolean logic works with two states; true and false, which works fine with today's computer systems, which work with 1's and 0's.

However, I'm working on a new type of computer (Just need to figure out one last part about the 'and' gate), which will have three states (--,|,+).
I'm thinking this would be horizontal, vertical, and both.

What I'm wondering, is how this effects the logic of it. (true, false, or both?)
What would this system of logic look like, and what different or new types of logic gates would be required?

It wouldn't be too difficult, except for the fact that I can't seem to make sense of something being both true and false.

As an example, here's an IO chart for a 'not' gate:
In Out
--..|
|...--
+...+
And an 'or' gate:
InA InB Out
.--..--...--
.--...|...|
.--...+...|
..|...|...|
..|...+...|
..+...+...|

I'm thinking that I'll have to use more than the normal three basic gates (which all the others are made of), but what will the others be like?


If this should be in the computers section instead, forgive me, but I don't think so, as this project hasn't produced anything I'd call a 'computer' yet.

 

[HallsofIvy]

Try Google with "tri-valued logic" or "triple-valued logic". You should get a lot of hits.

 

[tacman]

It's interesting to see someone exploring the idea of adding a third state to boolean logic. As you mentioned, traditional boolean logic works with only two states, true and false, and is represented by 1's and 0's in computer systems. This has been the standard for many years and has served us well in computing.

Adding a third state could potentially open up new possibilities and applications, but it also presents some challenges. As you mentioned, it becomes difficult to make sense of something being both true and false at the same time. This goes against the fundamental principles of traditional boolean logic.

In terms of how this would affect the logic and the new types of logic gates that would be required, it's hard to say without knowing more about your specific system. However, some possible approaches could be to use ternary logic gates, which would have three inputs and one output, or to use a combination of traditional boolean gates and a new type of gate for the third state.

Additionally, it's worth considering how this new system would interact with existing computer systems that are designed to work with only two states. This could potentially create compatibility issues and make it challenging to integrate your new logic into existing systems.

Overall, it's an interesting concept to explore, but it will require careful consideration and testing to ensure that it is practical and effective. It may also be worth reaching out to experts in the field of computer logic to get their insights and feedback on your ideas. Good luck with your project!