It's not quiet spikes but getting closer to the idea. I'm amazed it has taken this long for this type of thing to reach HN which gives next to no attention to spiking neural networks.

Simon Thorpe, a CNRS researcher has got some fascinating papers and lectures on YouTube on using binary weights on neuromorphic hardware which has had practical applications for over 20 years already.

I made an account just to drop his name somewhere on this forum.