INTEL DEVELOPER FORUM, SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 21, 2003 - Pat Gelsinger, Intel senior vice president and chief technology officer, outlined Intel’s plans to accelerate convergence of computing and communications through advanced research in integrated silicon. Gelsinger said that silicon-based technologies with integrated computing and communication functions will help to expand Moore’s Law into new areas, thereby delivering new capabilities and customer benefits for at least the next decade.

“We envision a future in which every piece of silicon inside PCs, PDAs, cell phones or other electronic device will include computing technologies but also connect to multiple wireless networks and roam between them,” Gelsinger said. “Intel researchers are expanding Moore’s Law into new areas beyond traditional computing through advanced research and uncovering new opportunities, uses and benefits for silicon technologies that integrate computing and communications.”

Gelsinger described some of these technologies under development in Intel’s research and development labs, including silicon radios and “context aware” computing. Intel is pursuing the development of radios based on the company’s low-power CMOS silicon manufacturing process. Gelsinger said that Intel is closer to realizing its goal of developing “reconfigurable radios” that would automatically identify and connect to a number of wireless networks -- including 802.11, Bluetooth and Ultra Wideband -- enabling any device powered by one of these chips to have wireless capabilities across many different networks.

Gelsinger also said that Intel continues to make progress on research to make software applications “location-aware” by integrating technologies like global positioning system and wireless LAN. For example, context-aware applications would allow consumers to get the latest information on weather or road conditions, and alter their plans or route instantly and wherever they are.



Bringing Silicon-Based Technology Benefits to Health Care

“Above and beyond our continued efforts to accelerate the convergence of computing and communications through silicon research, Intel is actively expanding our research and expertise to focus on the life sciences and health care industry,” Gelsinger said. “By bringing the benefits of low-cost, silicon-based technologies to health care, we can potentially improve the quality of life for the world’s aging population and help to enable the early detection of disease.”

Through social science research and development of technology prototypes, Intel's Proactive Health Research team is exploring the benefits that silicon-based technologies could bring to the health and wellness needs of people in their homes and everyday lives. A key focus area is using a sensor network embedded throughout the home to help elders -- especially the growing worldwide demographic of people 60 years and older -- to receive better care in their homes. Intel is working with households dealing with Alzheimer’s disease today to understand if the sensors, combined with powerful computing and complex algorithms, can effectively send reminders or prompts through a variety of devices throughout the home to assist the elderly and to mitigate some of the workload of in-house caregivers. The proactive health research project is a collaborative effort with university researchers, industry labs and government agencies to understand how technology can support behaviors that help prevent disease, foster independence and improve livability.

Separately, Intel’s Precision Biology research team is exploring ways to apply Intel technologies to the analysis of biological molecules such as DNA and proteins, with the goal of inventing new types of diagnostic instrumentation that can lead to improvements in human

health. As part of Intel’s leading silicon manufacturing capabilities, the company has developed an extensive set of molecular analysis capabilities that permit it to detect trace contaminants that enter the semiconductor fabrication process. Intel also has developed a world-class capability to view, create, and modify nano-scale physical structures and devices.

Precision Biology is an advanced research effort that seeks to apply these technological capabilities in new ways to create highly sensitive and accurate biosensors that can aid in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. For example, by sculpting silicon nano-structures in a way that will cause molecules to march single-file past sensors that classify them, Intel researchers hope to someday detect unique molecular-scale signatures associated with diseases such as cancer. These types of future capabilities would dramatically lower the cost and increase the reach of life-saving diagnostic tools throughout the world.



About IDF

The Intel Developer Forum is the technology industry's premier event for hardware and software developers. Held worldwide throughout the year, IDF brings together key industry players to discuss cutting-edge technology and products for PCs, servers, communications equipment, and handheld clients. For more information on IDF and Intel technology, visit http://developer.intel.com.

Intel, the world’s largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of computer, networking and communications products. Additional information about Intel is available at http://www.intel.com/pressroom.