December
1998, Issue 101
Hot
Chips
by
Tom Cantrell
It
just wouldn't seem like summer if Tom didn't make
it to Hot Chips. And it just wouldn't be winter if
we didn't read about everything he saw and heard.
SIMDs, Deep Blue, copyright law, and Microsoft— what
a mix!
The
annual Hot Chips conference has become part of my summer
ritual in the Silicon Valley. When I see the newly minted
Yups drop the tops on their Beemers, I know the latest
and greatest, IC-wise, is right around the corner.
Perhaps
it’s the idyllic environs of the Stanford University
venue. The presentations are given in the stately Memorial
Auditorium, which with elevated theater seating, is
much nicer than the typical conference room.
Hungry?
Instead of schlepping over to some aptly named concession
(to good taste) stand, just step outside for excellent
catered dining in the tree-shaded Dohrman Grove.
Want
to stretch your legs? You can wander over to Hoover
Tower or the Rodin Sculpture Garden.
Perhaps
I’m attracted by the nonharried and noncommercial nature
of the conference, delivered under the auspices of the
IEEE. No juggling an unschedulable array of meetings,
sessions, and keynotes.
Or
maybe it’s the chance to see old friends and meet new
ones in the rather eclectic audience. There are world-famous
academics, fresh-faced students, VCs (venture capitalists)
on the prowl, and grizzled IC vets.
Despite
the ambiance, Hot Chips wouldn’t have made it ten years
if it weren’t for worthy content, and this year was
no exception. Besides offering a glimpse at the latest
and greatest silicon, it features some interesting presentations
on other hot topics.
The
ultimate attraction, of course, is the chips themselves.
If the day comes when there aren’t any new hot chips,
there won’t be any Hot Chips conference. Fortunately,
silicon continues to march on and there’s no shortage
of stuff to write about.
