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                      | Cortex 
                        chip goes both ways |  
                     
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                                  | The 
                                    brain's cortex inspired researchers to build 
                                    a variation on standard silicon-based neural 
                                    networks. The results yielded a surprise: 
                                    a hybrid analog-digital chip. The work could 
                                    lead to devices that have the best of both 
                                    worlds, combining analog's ability to pare 
                                    down large data streams with digital's number 
                                    crunching precision. Full 
                                    story |  |  |   
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