Moore’s Law Being Revoked

Intel co-founder’s statement made 40 years ago theorized about advancements in computer chips.

Gordon Moore, famed technologist, speculated in a magazine article that the number of transistors present on a computer chip would double every 18 months. As speed and miniaturization have driven the capabilities of chips, and in turn technology, Intel has offered a $10,000 bounty for a mint copy of the issue of Electronics magazine in which Dr. Moore’s statement first appeared.

“I re-read my 1965 article a year or so ago, and I frankly was surprised to see in it that I had predicted home computers as one of these uses for low-cost electronics, but had no idea what it would look like,” Dr. Moore told the BBC news service.

Dr. Moore’s theory came from his observation of integrated circuit development. Where a chip had 30 components, about a year later it had 60. His humble observation soon became a self-fulfilling prophecy, as chip makers continually pushed the boundaries of IC development.

He contends the next 40 years will be “mind-boggling” and wishes he would be around to see what develops.

David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business. Email him here.