Reflections on the Past, Present, and Future of Semiconductor Electronics

Since Intel co-founder Gordon Moore formulated his famous law in 1965, progress in semiconductor technology has continued unabated, and the result has transformed the modern world. Microelectronics has become nanoelectronics, and the transistor—the device that made microelectronics possible—has become the most ubiquitous device on the planet. This lecture looks at the transistor from a simple, non-mathematical perspective, and reflects on how continued progress in electronics and the convergence of knowledge and technologies from different disciplines will impact the future and the way engineers stay current and educate students.