Intel inside?
The old familiar phrase could be taking on a whole new (sinister?) meaning if a recent article in Computer World magazine is anything to go by (www.computerworld.com/brain story). Apparently Intel scientists are actively looking at ways of harnessing brain waves to operate electronic devices. A slight worry to those of us whose brains are still running on Windows 95.

Crystal ball time 1
It would not be December without the advent of predictions for 2010. EETimes (www.eetimes.com/news/semi/emerging technologies) suggest that the emerging technologies to watch in 2010 are: Biofeedback or thought-control of electronics; printed electronics; plastic memory; maskless lithography; parallel processing; energy harvesting; bio-electronics; resistive RAM; through Si vias and battery technologies.

Crystal ball time 2
SEMI the microelectronics industry association has issued (www.semi.org/en/Press) figures relating to the sale of semiconductor equipment showing the drastic declines in 2008 (31%) and 2009 (projected 46%). However, based on current information, SEMI is predicting significant growth worldwide in 2010 (53%). Interestingly they are forecasting that Europe and China will be the regions with the greatest percentage growth in 2010. The largest spenders in 2010, the so called "Fantastic Six", are Samsung, Intel, TSMC, Flash Alliance, Global Foundries and Inotera. This week the Korea Herald reported that in 2010 Samsung was planning on spending $6bn (up 75% on last year) in its semiconductor businesses. SEMI are expecting to see the majority of the spending to be for technology upgrades and not in new capacity. The general feeling in the industry is that the strong fab tool vendors will get stronger. The weak will get acquired or disappear.

Glasgow can predict the unpredictable
Moving from crystal balls to science, a recent press release from Glasgow University (www.gla.ac.uk/news) has highlighted the importance of 3D modelling and simulations on the nanoscale. As part of a multi-University UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council project called NanoCMOS (www.nanocmos.ac.uk) the group has developed simulation tools which take advantage of grid computing to predict how billions of nano-transistors, each with their own unique and unpredictable atomic-scale variations, will perform within a circuit.

Apples into Acers?
Whilst clearly a few years away, the use of OLEDs and printed electronics may hasten the arrival of the truly recyclable laptop. Recent work by Yanko Designs (www.yankodesign.com-disposable-paper-laptops) on paper laptops has certainly raised a few eyebrows. So in the future would my laptop survive a deluge without a macintosh?

Taiwan targets e-Books
Taiwan's Industrial Development Bureau (www.moeaidb.gov.tw) has announced plans to invest more than 65 million US dollars in its competitive electronic-book sector over the next five years. The bureau said it will provide up to 40 percent of the research and development costs for creating an online Chinese-language digital publications service similar to the English-language version (Kindle) operated by Amazon. In addition the Ministry of Economic Affairs plans to discuss technical standards for exchanges of digital information with China to pave the way for e-book content providers having a common platform for the Chinese-language market.

Conference News

Compound Semiconductor Week 2010: IPRM 2010 (22nd International Conference on Indium Phosphide and Related Materials) and ISCS 2010 (37th International Symposium on Compound Semiconductors), Kagawa, Japan, 31 May - 4 June 2010 - www.iprm.jp

3rd International Conference on Nanostructures Self-Assembly, Cassis, France, 28 June - 2 July, 2010 - www.im2np.fr:80/nanosea2010/index.html

3rd International Symposium on Growth of III-Nitrides, Montpellier, France, 4 - 7 July, 2010 - www.isgn3.org

Semicon Europa, Dresden, Germany, 19 - 21 October, 2010 - www.semiconeuropa.org

Worth a look

http://w1.siemens.com/entry/cc/en/superstar.htm - The Siemens Superstar courtesy of 9000 LEDs.

www.xs4all.nl/~jcdverha/scijokes/Christmas.html - Festive science jokes.

www.microscopy-today.com/jsp/mto/common/home.faces - Piezoresponse force microscopy

www.digital-3d-art.com/pictures/science-pictures/ - Art meets science

Thought for the month

"Hockey is a sport for white men. Basketball is a sport for black men. Golf is a sport for white men dressed like black pimps". Tiger Woods, US Golfer (1975 - ).

And finally.....................................

As yet another year draws towards its close, Richard Thomson and his colleagues would like to thank all of those who have read our monthly missive in such large and regular numbers. We send you best wishes for a happy and prosperous 2010.