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Custom ICs in small numbers to be cheap as (normal) chips — Parallax Forums

Custom ICs in small numbers to be cheap as (normal) chips

Comments

  • TtailspinTtailspin Posts: 1,326
    edited 2011-01-16 19:53
    Now I am for sure gonna need a bigger workshop...

    Heh, Guess we upgraded from a thousand points of light, to a million points of light...:tongue:

    Seriosly, this thing would be cool in the hands of the general public, IC chips printed while You wait...:cool:
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2011-01-16 20:03
    I wonder how it will take for this to trickle down. I haven't done PAL/ASIC programming in years. 'Been relying on fast micros instead. It may be time to relearn digital design!

    -Phil
  • Bill ChennaultBill Chennault Posts: 1,198
    edited 2011-01-17 11:28
    All--

    Whenever something can be produced at far lower cost the impact is significant. If I understand the article correctly, DARPA is not claiming to be able to lower the price of integrated cicuits, but to be able to lower the price of custom integrated circuits.

    The impact on this segment of the industry could be huge. How many houses are in the custom IC business? (I don't know.)

    Lowering the price means increasing the availability. New ideas can be tried and discarded without the previously associated cost. In other words, it means far less risk may result in far more reward.

    Placing the ability to custom design ICs in the hands of "the masses" is an intellectual force-multiplier of great magnitude.

    I am a layman. I have followed IC and custom IC design issues over the decades. I know a little about economics. Just enough to think these thoughts.

    What do you think?

    --Bill
  • Invent-O-DocInvent-O-Doc Posts: 768
    edited 2011-01-18 16:42
    It sounds to me like this wont be replacing ASICs for prototyping, but would be good for small production runs of custom or obsolete designs. Also, beware that DARPA tries risky things that more often that not don't pan out in the end.
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