[Numpy-discussion] Does float16 exist?

[Darren Dale]

One of my collaborators would like to use 16bit float arrays. According to 
http://www.scipy.org/Tentative_NumPy_Tutorial, and references to float16 in 
numpy.core.numerictypes, it appears that this should be possible, but the 
following doesnt work:

a=arange(10, dtype='float16')
TypeError: data type not understood

Can anyone offer some advice?

Thanks,
Darren

-- 
Darren S. Dale, Ph.D.
Staff Scientist
Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source
Cornell University
275 Wilson Lab
Rt. 366 & Pine Tree Road
Ithaca, NY 14853

darren.dale@cornell.edu
office: (607) 255-3819
fax: (607) 255-9001
http://www.chess.cornell.edu