Much of intel’s success as a microprocessor manufacturer over the past four decades has come from the company’s ability to understand and anticipate the future of technology. Intel co-founder Gordon Moore famously asserted in 1965 that the number of transistors that can be placed on an integrated circuit would double every two years. This assessment, which came to be known as Moore’s Law, proved to be a highly accurate prediction of what his business could accomplish with generous research and development investments and a meticulous product road map.

As Intel’s microprocessors grew smaller, faster and cheaper, they helped to give birth to personal computing and mobile devices that once existed in the realm of science fiction. So it comes as no surprise that science fiction serves as a key inspiration for Brian David Johnson—Intel’s official futurist and the man who is paid to craft visions of both Intel’s prospective technologies and what coming years hold for the entire computing industry.

4 Comments

1. 1. jtdwyer 09:24 AM 5/8/12

   Yes, the very successful self-fulfilling prophecy of Moore's Law (which is used to govern investments in microprocessor IC production technology as well as predicting its technical progress) imparts a high degree of confidence to the electronics industry, especially microprocessor production businesses.
   
   However, lets not be over-optimistic about solving the enormous problems resulting from the 7 fold population increase since the industrial revolution, including the continuing depletion of required but limited natural resources and the accumulating consequences of long term environmental pollution (to which the electronics industry is a recent major contributor). I can only hope that we can somehow manage to improve the quality of life for everyone - without destroying the planet!

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2. 2. openeyes999 04:15 AM 5/9/12

   Ah yes, jtdwyer, using every opportunity to preach debunked Malthusianism, no matter how little it has to do with the article in question.

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3. 3. VernW 05:27 PM 5/14/12

   Brian's research focus is dead on in combining computing with social sciences. There may be some unanticipated, but serious ethical choices needed by our corporate boards as the encounter best options unfavorable to corporate profits. As the only creature on this planet with an over evolved intellect, I see our mandate as continuing to explore and learn but, to do so while being of good council and while being a good steward.
   Knowledge is power and we are augmenting our cognition abilities at a logarithmic rate. The future of mankind has surpassed genetic natural selection and is now self directed. I hope, that as Brian, and others like him, look at the positive impact of rapid advances in technology they also consider potential dangers.
   Full speed ahead Intel, but with wise choices and the knowledge, that unlike most of us, there are some that do not want to live in a technologically advanced society.
   Need an example; read "Darwin's Paw"
   
   
   

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4. 4. VernW 05:31 PM 5/14/12

   Brian's research focus is dead on in combining computing with social sciences. There may be some unanticipated, but serious ethical choices needed by our corporate boards as they encounter best options unfavorable to corporate profits. As the only creature on this planet with an over evolved intellect, I see our mandate as continuing to explore and learn but, to do so while being of good council and while being a good steward.
   Knowledge is power and we are augmenting our cognition abilities at a logarithmic rate. The future of mankind has surpassed genetic natural selection and is now self directed. I hope, that as Brian, and others like him, look at the positive impact of rapid advances in technology they also consider potential dangers.
   Full speed ahead Intel, but with wise choices and the knowledge, that unlike most of us, there are some that do not want to live in a technologically advanced society.
   Need an example; read "Darwin's Paw"
   
   
   

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