Abstract :
The pace of advances in semiconductor technology over the last four decades is examined, and projections are made for the decade ahead. Predictions are made in the areas of memory, logic chips, wafer-scale integration, digital signal processing, communication chips, and neural networks, and problems are identified. Also discussed are GaAs, superconducting devices, optical computing, molecular computing, mass storage technologies, and handwriting and speech recognition. It is noted that maintaining the pace of technology development during the next ten years will take huge investments and that such funds must ultimately come from the marketplace. It is concluded that the major challenge is to expand the microcomputer market through new applications and more intensive consumer use of existing products.<>
Keywords :
VLSI; computer architecture; digital integrated circuits; monolithic integrated circuits; semiconductor technology; technological forecasting; GaAs; communication chips; digital signal processing; handwriting; logic chips; mass storage technologies; memory; microcomputer market; molecular computing; neural networks; optical computing; semiconductor technology; speech recognition; superconducting devices; wafer-scale integration; Digital signal processing chips; Gallium arsenide; Investments; Logic devices; Molecular computing; Neural networks; Optical computing; Speech recognition; Superconducting devices; Wafer scale integration;
