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System Integration Leads to MegaFunction Gadgets
nanotrends writes "The IEEE Spectrum is running a piece entitled 'Moore's Law Meets Its Match', about the system-on-package (SOP) approach to technology. The (SOP) approach combines Integrated Circuits (ICs) with micrometer-scale thin-film versions of discrete components, and it embeds everything in a new type of package so small that eventually handhelds will become anything from multi-to megafunction devices. This integration is actually developing at a rate faster than Moore's law." From the article: "SOP technology represents a radically different approach to systems. It shrinks bulky circuit boards with their many components and makes them nearly disappear. In effect, SOP sets up a new law for system integration. It holds that as the components shrink and the boards all but disappear, the component density will double every year or so, and the number of system functions in an SOP package will increase in the same proportion."
megafunctions permitted by law. It is the law that slow down developement and dispensation of these kind of devices. For an example of how the law can kill off a perfectly viable device, look waht happened to the DAT machines. It is due to the law that we don't have widespread blu-ray already, and will make it virtually worthless anyway. These machines may be developing at a rate faster than Moore's law, but IP law and so-called "privacy" laws will noticably slow things down to "within spec". But if all this makes it easier to produce "unauthorized" hardware in our basements, and makes DRM unenforcable, then I say, Go, Go, Gadget, go!
What?