How would going from binary to higher system computing change computers?

Little Angel: How would going from binary to higher system computing change computers?
How would going from the current binary system of computing to say “quartenary” system change computers?

Is it even possible?

Answers and Views:

Answer by gonecaca
it would make it a lot faster, i dont see binary going away for a while, not in the near future

Answer by degub0y
dont really see that possible with anything electronic.

going far enough down all computer chips only understand 1 and 0, on and off. there is no other way really.

maybe a biological computer..

Answer by TheAllKnowingFizz
The best analogy I can think of is this.

Imagine that your normal conversation could only consist of yes or no questions.

Now imagine adding more possible answers. In your example, 4, but thinking out further, using maybe the 12 possible states of the atom? Conversation is expanded by using ‘maybes’, ‘I don’t knows’, and further elaborations.
Additionally, sometimes questions can be answered faster, and more thoroughly, by giving additional information up-front.
(although, any husband will tell you that he wish his wife would just give a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ 🙂 )