IEEE Solid-States Circuits Magazine - Fall 2020 - 5

PRESIDENT'S CORN ER

Kenneth O

Society Update: Fulfilling Our Vision

Can you imagine what the world
would have been like if the COVID19 pandemic had happened 20 years
ago? What it would have been like if
e-commerce, including GPS-assisted
delivery systems, was not in place?
Can you imagine what working from
home would have been like? What it
would have been like to learn through
online classes? What would have happened if we didn't have telemedicine?
What would it have been like without
automation in manufacturing?
Behind these civilization-saving services and capabilities, there are enabling
technologies: artificial intelligence, computing technology, high-speed Internet, wireless communication, GPS,
robotics, and more. These technologies existed 20 years ago, though not
as capable and not as easy to use as
in the present day. The technologies
would not have made the impact they
are making today, in 2020.
What changed? The most important difference is that these techDigital Object Identifier 10.1109/MSSC.2020.3021862
Date of current version: 18 November 2020

nologies are now accessible by a
global situation by persevering to
significant portion of the global popfulfill our vision. We will continue to
ulation. This is made possible due
foster innovation and excellence in
to the yearly production of approxisolid-state circuits for the benefit of
mately 300 billion ICs, designed by
humanity, as we have been.
our members and with an
I would like to end
average selling price of
this column once again
The most
around US$1 each. These
with a reminder that
important
ICs use a 100 billion trilthe health and safety
difference is that
lions of transistors per
of our members, volunthese technologies
year, and soon ICs will
teers, and IEEE staff are
are now accessible
use a trillion trillions of
the necessary and most
by a significant
transistors annually. (By
important requirement
portion of the
the way, 100 billion trilfor any activities we orgaglobal population.
lions is the number of
nize and sponsor. Recently,
stars in the universe.)
one of my research students
Our members, for many years,
contracted COVID-19. Fortunately,
have been quietly creating the mirache is recovering well. To me, this
ulous technology that today is helpwas a wake-up call that we must be
ing to save our way of life. The IEEE
even more vigilant to ensure health
Solid-State Circuits Society is a sociand safety as we continue to serve
ety of miracle workers. I have never
our members through this difficult
been prouder of our members, protime. Please share your thoughts
fession, and Society. Unfortunately,
and suggestions by emailing me at
these civilization-saving technolok.k.o@ieee.org. Be safe and healthy
gies are far from being available
wherever you may be.
to all those around the world who
need them. We have more work to

do. I am certain we can improve the

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IEEE Solid-States Circuits Magazine - Fall 2020

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