The 19 April 1965 edition of Electronics magazine contained a small article by one Gordon Moore, who claimed that the future of electronics was linked intimately with that of integrated circuits. The article stated that, computer chips double in power for the same price every 18 months.
This is now famously known as Moore's Law. And its author has moved from being a electronic engineer at Fairchild Semiconductor to becoming one of the most powerful figures in the software industry. He is the co-founder and former chief executive of Intel.
And the article, which finally culminated in being recognised as Moore’s Law, completes 40 years this year. It did seem a bit far-fetched in 1965 when Moore claimed that Integrated circuits would lead to such wonders as home computers -- or at least terminals connected to a central computer -- automated controls for automobiles, and personal portable communications equipment. However, time has proved him true.
The software industry sees Moore's law as a benchmark that tells it how fast it should progress. Moore himself is quite laidback about it. Speaking from Hawaii via a teleconference Moore chose to shift the focus from his law to that of the growing complexity in the software industry, "The capability of computers keeps growing and the number of applications running keeps increasing, but the people building the interface keep growing the complexity of that. It's not for lack of effort but the software people are losing ground," he said.
Meanwhile, Intel has launched a manhunt for a copy of the magazine in which Moore's article was originally published. The chipmaker announced a $10,000 reward on eBay for a copy of the April 19, 1965, issue of Electronics Magazine. So those of you, who have been putting off cleaning your attics, do it now. Who knows, you may just find $10,000 there..
