Intel CEO Craig Barrett described the key technologies and policies that continue to move the industry forward and drive innovation. Speaking at the Intel Developer Forum, Barrett noted that 40 years after Gordon Moore first identified the ability to double the number of transistors in the same silicon area every two years, new technologies and capabilities - from multicore processors to platform innovations - will provide additional opportunities for the developer community and growth for the industry.
"We have used Moore's Law to drive the convergence of computing and communications," said Barrett. "Intel's commitment to Moore's Law now allows us to create integrated platforms that deliver a broad range of capabilities for individuals and organisations that use technology. To realise the full potential of these capabilities, continued innovation and industry cooperation will be more important than ever."
As Intel works with the developer community, customers and others, it is building platforms that combine elements such as microprocessors, chipsets, communications silicon, software and other technologies. Designed from the ground up to work as a unit, platforms provide consumers and business with new ways to use technology to meet emerging requirements. The company's first platform, Intel CentrinoT mobile technology, brought new capabilities to wireless mobile computing, advancing the 'anywhere, anytime' computing vision when it was introduced in 2003.
"Intel is extending the platform approach across a number of areas including the digital home, the enterprise, health care, more broadly into mobility and across worldwide markets," said Barrett. "At the same time, in order to meet evolving end-user requirements in these areas with integrated platforms, the additional processing capabilities of multicore technology for multi-user and multitasking activities will be needed. Multicore technology represents a tremendous opportunity for the developer community. It provides the foundation for almost limitless innovation and creativity in addressing the changing ways people want to use computing and communications devices."
Meeting the needs of end-users also involves the development of technologies that not only boost performance but also improve security, reliability, manageability and other aspects of computing and communications. Intel Hyper-Threading Technology, LaGrande security features and virtualisation are among the technologies the company has already disclosed. During his remarks, Barrett also highlighted Intel I/O Acceleration Technology as a new capability the company plans to build into future server platforms. The technology is designed to improve communication between networked servers and applications for handling the overwhelming demands of applications, such as Web commerce, messaging, storage and server clustering.
"Innovation happens at many levels," said Barrett. "We will continue to innovate at the transistor and individual chip level, but now our job is to work with the extended ecosystem of developers, software designers, systems engineers, service providers and others to innovate at the platform level.
"However, for innovation to flourish, we need to lay the groundwork for it beyond what takes place inside company R&D laboratories. That is why Intel spends about $100m a year on activities to support education programs in the US and more than 50 countries around the world. It is also why we seek to reinforce government policies that foster innovation and technology advancement. These are also essential to continued progress and growth for our industry.
"Innovation is driving the global digital economy. By working together as an industry and by advocating education and government policies that nurture innovation, there is no limit to what we can achieve."
For more information contact Delia Griggs, Intel, +27 (0)11 806 4535, delia.griggs@intel.com
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