The demand for computer chips and processors is increasing, but physical space is decreasing. System-on-a-Chip (SOC) combines all components onto one chip, but it takes more time and money to produce. The main obstacle is the laws of physics, but advances in nanotechnology may make SOC possible.
The demands for computer chips and processors these days are staggering. Even the simplest computer is needed to complete complex tasks simultaneously. Basic emails can now contain photos, image files, and even multimedia audio and video.
Computers are being demanded more and more, and the space available within a computer’s chips and processors is shrinking, creating an inverse relationship of more functionality being demanded on less and less physical space. The physical limitations of silicon and the chips themselves will ultimately create an endgame for this kind of advancement. To that end, some manufacturers are pursuing Grant’s unified theory of computer science known as System-on-a-Chip, or SOC. SOC combines all the various components of a computer onto a single chip.
The advantages of the SOC are obvious: everything needed to run the computer is contained in that chip: the smaller the better. This includes the computer’s operating system, electronic functions, memory of all types, timers, interfaces such as USB and FireWire, voltage regulators, timers, microprocessors, and basic utility software applications. The chip has everything needed to perform even detailed computer functions.
The uniqueness of SOC is that it is both software and hardware. However, the enemies of SOC are time and money. It takes far more of both to produce a SOC than to make a large handful of traditional chips, mainly because the procedures and materials involved are still relatively new and unfamiliar. This is likely a change, however, as more and more chip makers discover the utility of the SOC and its possibilities.
The main obstacle to a final version of the SOC continues to be the laws of physics. When you start mixing hardware and software, the demands on the chip and its silicon can be enormous, sometimes conflicting or impossible with current technology. Alternative surfaces are being created, which do not have the same space requirements or conductivity as solid silicon. Advances in nanotechnology are making these alternative surfaces possible. Ultimately, SOC may not be that far around the corner.
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