Stefan Mileschin

Freescale Semiconductor claims to have created the world's smallest ARM-powered chip which has been designed to be swallowed.

The Kinetis KL02 measures 1.9 by 2 millimeters. It's a full microcontroller unit and includes a processor, RAM, ROM, clock and I/O control unit.

It has KL02 has 32k of flash memory, 4k of RAM, a 32 bit processor, and peripherals like a 12-bit analog to digital converter and a low-power UART built into the chip. There is not a lot you can do with that sort of power, but that is sort of the point.

Freescale says it is working with customers and partners on providing technology for its products that can be swallowed. As the device is so small, parents can easily sneak the chips through school gates at lunch time.

Steve Tateosian, global product marketing manager said that it is all part of a cunning plan to make chips tailored to the Internet of Things.

Freescale already works with a variety of health and wellness customers so what could be better than an internet connected colon?

Tateosian told Wired that one day it will be possible to have a chip inside your body which wakes you up and plays you music when you want it.

Of course, it makes it possible for hackers to actually crack the chip and take control of your body, but what is that when you are dealing with the process of science?

Then there is the small matter of those, usually living in America, who believe that such chips are the mark of the beast and a sign that the world is going to come to an end.

The device will go into general retail, although it has been made for a specific un-named client, so we cannot confirm that the tiny chip comes from HP sauce.

http://news.techeye.net/chips/freesc...for-you-to-eat