The optical fibres of the internet carry huge amounts of data at great speed, but the computers we attach to it have to work with comparatively crude electrical signals to route data around inside of themselves. Chip-making giant Intel is working towards a solution to this problem, by embedding lasers into special silicon chips to achieve cheaper faster switching. If and when this technology becomes readily available, the data transfer landscape may be irrevocably altered in favour of speed, utility and low cost.