Experts Predict New Chips to Cause Software Crisis

Today's post isn't so much about an emergingproblem yet because Windows XP and Vista work
technology as it is an emerging technology problem.this way and because some applications - word
Wired News reports that in the near future, changes inprocessing programs and e-mail, for instance - won't
the way computer chips function could mean moreneed that much processing power. But experts say it
complicated software won't run on PCs with the newcould soon be a problem with more complicated
chips.applications.
Here's how Wired explains the problem:I don't know about you, but this just ticks me off. First,
Microprocessors makers are no longer aiming forbecause I just bought a new PC. Second, because I'm
speed - they're aiming for energy efficiency. To do this,beginning to suspect the computer industry spends a
they've borrowed an idea from supercomputers andfourth of its research budget studying how to create
data centers: Build multi-core microprocessors insteadnew crises.
of using a microprocessors.Of course, they say the Chinese symbol for crisis also
This, it turns out, is a great way to handle large chunkscontains the symbol for "opportunity." This, it turns out,
of data at the same time. It's fabulous for processingis total bunk. What is true, however, is that in market
large video files and great if you want to playvernacular, crisis contains a new opportunity for profit,
WarCraft while downloading "The Police's Greatestand that's exactly what this crisis could mean for
Hits" and burning a copy of the last "Lost" episode -savvy software companies, according to Wired. The
which, by the way, you probably shouldn't be doingarticle also outlines other advances in microprocessing,
anyway.such as the Intel 80-core research chip that's so
Here's the catch: Software isn't designed to work oncomplicated, there's not an operating system smart
this type of microprocessor. It hasn't become aenough to make it work.