Ternary RISC Processor Achieves Non-Binary Computing Via FPGA You would be very hard pressed to find any sort of CPU or microcontroller in a commercial product that uses anything but binary to do its work. And yet, other options exist! Ternary computing involves using trits with three states instead of bits with two. It’s not popular, but there is now a design available for a ternary processor that you could potentially get your hands on. The device in question is called the 5500FP, as outlined in a research paper from [Claudio Lorenzo La Rosa.] Very few ternary processors exist, and little effort has ever been made to fabricate such a device in real silicon. However, [Claudio] explains that it’s entirely possible to implement a ternary logic processor based on RISC principles by using modern FPGA hardware. The impetus to do so is because of the perceived benefits of ternary computing—notably, that with three states, each “trit” can store more information than regular old binary “bits.” Beyond that, the use of a “balanced ternary” system, based on logical values of -1, 0 , and 1, allows storing both negative and positive numbers without a wasted sign bit, and allows numbers to be negated trivially simply by inverting all trits together. The research paper does a good job of outlining the basis of this method of computing, as well as the mode of operation of the 5500FP processor. For now, it’s a 24-trit device operating at a frequency of 20MHz, but the hope is that in future it would be possible to move to custom silicon to improve performance and capability. The hope is that further development of ternary computing hardware could lead to parts capable of higher information density and lower power consumption, both highly useful in this day and age where improvements to conventional processor designs are ever hard to find. Head over to the Ternary Computing website if you’re intrigued by the Ways of Three and want to learn more. We perhaps don’t expect ternary computing to take over any time soon, given the Soviets didn’t get far with it in the 1950s. Still, the concept exists and is fun to contemplate if you like the mental challenge. Maybe you can even start a rumor that the next iPhone is using an all-ternary processor and spread it across a few tech blogs before the week is out. Let us know how you get on.

hackaday.com/2026/03/16/ternary-risc-...

SETUN V2.0 ????

#ternary

The Setun Was a Ternary Computer from the USSR in 1958 Codeolences] tells us about the FORBIDDEN Soviet Computer That Defied Binary Logic. The Setun, the world’s first ternary computer, was developed at Moscow State University in 1958. Its troubled and […read more

#Ternary Computing: Better than Binary

Explore ternary computing's theoretical advantages over binary systems is now in the news again thanks to new AI hardware patents out of China. Check out historical ternary computers, including the Setun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWKyrAXxzGA

Middle aged whit man looking at the camera. He is wearing a green T-shirt that has the following written on it: There are 10 types of people: those who understand ternary, those who thought this was binary and those wondering, what the fuck!?

OK, maybe I went too nerdy 🤓 on this one? 🤣

#Ternary

Now when I see 2012 I realise that the hour is about to change. I'm learning! 😉

#Ternary

A Garmin Venu 3 watch with a watch face that shows the current time encoded in ternary, with colourful digits: 022:1201 = 08:46

For those of you in Europe that just had #DST end, I hope you remembered to update your clocks and watches. My watch already updated itself correctly, as you can see. 😉

#ClockChange #TimeChange #Ternary #Time #WristCheck #Wintertime

A watch dial on a Garmin Venu 3 with the information encoded in ternary using digits in a range of colours. 02020 = 60% 101 = 10 (Oct) 0221 = 25th Day 110 = 12 Hours 1000 = 27 Minutes 1012 = 32 Seconds

As fun as the previous face was, I decided I wanted a bit more information displayed.

So I switched to this alternate ternary dial (also made by my friend).

The colours are all customisable. I have minutes a different colour to the hour to locate them […]

[Original post on velocipederider.com]

A smart watch which encodes the time in base-three via the state of teeth on a weird looking face. Upper row of three are hours and lower row of four teeth are minutes. The date of the month is in base-six via the eyebrows. The eyes show the seconds. 07:00:43 24th

Morning all. Looks like it is time to wake up.

#WristCheck #Ternary

Had I waited any longer I could have potentially SOL. #nonbinary #protest #uspol #ternary #transrights #tech #uspolitics #gender #lgbt #lgbtq #axab #passport #intersex #protecttranslives

Original post on blahaj.zone

[TW: USpol of gender variety (not a vent)]

Update: the book came a few days ago, the card came today. I may very well have the last X marker passport set in the United States for quite some time. #nonbinary #protest #uspol #ternary #transrights #tech #uspolitics #gender #lgbt #lgbtq #axab […]

Original post on blahaj.zone

[TW: USpol of gender variety (not a vent)]

Oh and there's a chance I am likely one of the last Americans to get an X gender marker passport considering mine very recently arrived, like, the, middle of this week, and today... let's just say that had I taken my mom's instructions and waited two […]

This Number System Beats Binary, But Most Computers Can't Use It Explore why ternary (base-3) computing is more efficient than binary but remains impractical for most computers today. Discover the advantages, limitations, and the future prospects of alternative number systems.

This Number System Beats Binary, But Most Computers Can’t Use It Why Ternary Holds the Crown of Efficiency When most people think about computers, binary is.... @cosmicmeta.io #Ternary

https://u2m.io/XPbXYBvT

This Number System Beats Binary, But Most Computers Can't Use It Why do computers only work with the numbers 0 and 1? There are machines that process three digits with more efficiency than you might expect

This Number System Beats Binary, But Most Computers Can't Use It Why do computers only work with the numbers 0 and 1? There are machines that process three digits with more efficiency than you might expect. @cosmicmeta.io #Ternary

https://u2m.io/UZewwpvJ

#Stata #ternary is now bumped 🚀 to v1.3:

👉 by() added for grouping markers.
👉 msymbol() can take on lists.
👉 palette() added for by() colors.
👉 legend() added.

More info/examples/installation here:
github.com/asjadnaqvi/s...

Up soon on SSC!

🚀 #Stata #ternary is bumped to v1.2 with the following major changes:

👉 New option "scale" now scales markers to totals.
👉 "zoom" now has tighter bounds adjustable via the "pad()" option.

Check GitHub for the latest version and examples:
github.com/asjadnaqvi/s...

Up soon on SSC!