SCIENCE
SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 2015
TYLERPAPER.COM
13A
Silicon Valley marks 50 years of Moore’s Law
SAN JOSE, Calif. (TNS) — Computers were the size of refrigerators when an engineer named Gordon Moore laid the foundations of Silicon Valley with a vision that became known as “Moore’s Law.� Moore, then the 36-year-old head of research at Fairchild Semiconductor, predicted in a trade magazine article published 50 years ago Sunday that computer chips would double in complexity every year, at little or no added cost, for the next 10 years. In 1975, based on industry developments, he updated the prediction to doubling every two years. And for the past five decades, chipmakers have proved him right — spawning scores of new companies and shaping Silicon Valley to this day. “If Silicon Valley has a heartbeat, it’s Moore’s Law. It drove the valley at what has been a historic speed, unmatched in history, and allowed it to lead the rest of the world,� said technology consultant Rob Enderle. Moore’s prediction quickly became a business imperative for chip companies. Those that ignored the timetable went out of business. Companies that followed it became rich and powerful, led by Intel, the company Moore co-founded. Thanks to Moore’s Law, people carry smartphones in their pocket or purse that are more powerful than the biggest computers made in 1965 — or 1995, for that matter. Without it, there would be no slender laptops, no computers powerful enough to chart a genome or design modern medicine’s lifesaving drugs. Streaming video, social media, search, the cloud—none of that would be possible on today’s scale. “It fueled the information age,� said Craig Hampel, chief scientist at Rambus, a Sunnyvale semiconductor company. “As you drive around Silicon Valley, 99 percent of the companies you see wouldn’t be here� without cheap computer processors due to Moore’s Law. Moore was asked in 1964 by Electronics magazine to write about the future of integrated circuits for the magazine’s April 1965 edition. The basic building blocks of the digital age, integrated circuits are chips of silicon that hold tiny switches called transistors. More transistors meant better performance and capabilities. Taking stock of how semiconductor manufacturing was shrinking transistors and regularly doubling the number that would fit on an integrated circuit, Moore got some graph paper and drew a line for the predicted annual growth in the number of transistors on a chip. It shot up like a missile, with a doubling of transistors every year for at least a decade. It seemed clear to him what was coming, if not to others. “Integrated circuits will lead to such wonders as home computers — or at least terminals connected to a central computer — automatic controls for automobiles, and personal portable communications equipment,� he wrote. California Institute of Technology professor Carver Mead coined the name Moore’s Law, and as companies competed to produce the most powerful chips, it became a law of survival—double the transistors
pensive to pack chips with increasing numbers of transistors. If transistors hadn’t gotten cheaper as they grew in number on a chip, integrated circuits would still be a niche product for the military and
others able to afford a very high price. Intel’s first microprocessor, or computer on a chip, with 2,300 transistors, cost more than $500 in current dollars. Today, an Intel Core i5 microprocessor has more than
a billion transistors—and costs $276. “That was my real objective—to communicate that we have a technology that’s going to make electronics cheap,� Moore said.
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AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE TEKTRONIX 4051 graphics computing system from page 189 of the April 15, 1976 issue of Electronics magazine. every year or die. “In the beginning, it was just a way of chronicling the progress,� Moore, now 86, said in an interview conducted by Intel. “But gradually, it became something that the various in-
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dustry participants recognized. ... You had to be at least that fast or you were falling behind.� Moore’s Law also held prices down because advancing technology made it inex-
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By Brady Swinney, D.D.S
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yler Junior College has made a great impact on many lives, and mine is no exception. It actually began before I was born! My father was an outstanding athlete at Arp High School. He was encouraged by one of the early benefactors and supporters of TJC to accept an athletic scholarship – making him WKH ¿UVW LQ KLV IDPLO\ HYHU WR DWWHQG college. The man who encouraged him to further his education at TJC was Smith County judge, and later U.S. representative, Brady P. Gentry, after whom I would be named. As I recall, the old Gentry Gymnasium (now Wagstaff Gym) stood where the student center is now. Thanks to Mr. Gentry and TJC, my father was DEOH WR JR RQ DQG IXO¿OO KLV GUHDP RI teaching and coaching. When I was six, we moved from Arp to Tyler. I went through TISD and graduated from Robert E. Lee, where I played on the golf team. I attended Texas A&M on a golf scholarship, and had no particular goals in mind, except possibly to become a pilot or even a professional golfer (quite an unrealistic goal in retrospect!). Uncertain about declaring a major, I sought parental guidance. When Mom and Dad suggested I consider becoming a dentist, I saw no reason to question or object. At that time, A&M did not have a dental school, so I transferred to The University of Texas to complete my studies. I did eventually earn my pilot’s license, and I continue to enjoy recreational golf, so I guess it all worked out! Starting out in dental practice, I had some time on my hands and jumped at the chance to teach part-time at TJC. The dental hygiene program was just getting started, thanks to the wisdom, dedication, and determination of two men in particular; TJC President, Dr. Harry Jenkins and Dr. Eugene Allen, TJC Board member and leader in the dental community. Teaching was a great experience. As my father had coached and my mother would eventually retire from 30 years of teaching in TISD, I was proud to be following in my parents’ footsteps.
One day, Dr. Jenkins summoned me WR KLV RIÂżFH DQG DVNHG PH WR FRQsider a full-time position as head of the dental hygiene department. Who ever said “noâ€? to Dr. Jenkins? Not me. I proudly served two years in that capacity then cut back to part-time teaching to resume my private practice in Troup, where I remained for 33 wonderful years. During that time, our children “picked up the torchâ€? and attended TJC. When the time comes, we certainly hope our grandchildren enroll there as well! I had always wanted to put my dental expertise to good use in a faith-based setting. Then, at an age when most people are contemplating UHWLUHPHQW P\ GUHDP WR ÂżQLVK RXW my dental career doing good works was realized. I had the opportunity to come work with St. Paul Children’s Foundation helping children in need with dental care. In addition, I have been able to resume my professional relationship with TJC. Not only do TJC dental hygiene and assisting students come into our clinic as part of their training, but I also have the pleasure of working with TJC in support of community efforts to provide dental care to underserved people in our area through events such as East Texas Mission of Mercy and the Give Kids a Smile program. All of us in the East Texas dental community are blessed and extremely grateful for the excellence and consummate professionalism displayed by the dental hygienists and assistants ZKR KDYH FRPH IURP 7-& 7KHVH ÂżQH young men and women have made such a positive impact on our practices and within the community for more than 40 years. Our new TJC Community Dental Clinic being developed in the Robert M. Rogers Nursing and Health Sciences Center, will enable us to build on the legacy of providing excellent care to the community and those in need for decades yet to come. I shall always be thankful for the many friends I have made along the way through my association with WKLV ÂżQH LQVWLWXWLRQ
The Dr. Brady Swinney has a sincere passion for providing access to dental services for those in need. Dr. Swinney is head of the pediatric dental clinic with St. Paul Children’s Foundation that provides low-cost dental care for children. Dr. Swinney and his staff, along with students and faculty from TJC, participate in statewide activities to provide free dental care to those in need. He is a graduate of Robert E. Lee High School and The University of Texas. Dr. Swinney currently services on a development task force for the new TJC Dental Clinic as well as the TJC Dental Hygiene Advisory Committee and the TISD Head Start Advisory Committee. He is a member of the American Dental Association, Texas Dental Association, East Texas Dental Society and Smith County Dental Society. +H DQG KLV ZLIH -XG\WK KDYH ¿YH JURZQ FKLOGUHQ DQG DUH DFWLYH PHPEHUV RI Christ Episcopal Church in Tyler. In his not-so-spare time, he enjoys golf, classic cars, reading and the many performing arts events in Tyler.