3-D a growth area for chips
More 3-D Buzz At Computex
The latest push by PC and TV makers to launch 3-D products may represent the next big area of growth for chip makers. In order to provide higher quality 3-D viewing, stronger computing power and processing speed are needed.
At a forum on the sidelines of Computex, Yu Lee, a vice president at European chip maker ST Microelectronics said he sees big opportunities for semiconductor firms to tap booming demand for 3-D products. Mr. Lee also says as more users want a better television viewing experience, demand for 3-D displays will also grow.
Nvidia, another chip maker, is also putting its money on 3-D. Many of the latest 3-D desktops and laptops displayed at Computex including ones from Asustek, use Nvidia’s “3-D Vision” technology. The technology uses graphics processing units together with 3-D glasses to produce 3-D images on PC monitors. Nvidia also makes processors that can convert 2-D images to 3-D.
Intel, the world’s biggest semiconductor maker, is also preparing for this market. Its executive vice president, David Perlmutter, said during a keynote speech at Computex that the firm is developing the next generation of its Core processor, codenamed Sandy Bridge, which will help spur big advances in multimedia and 3-D graphic capabilities. It is also working closely with 3-D software developers to bring 3D applications and gaming on handheld devices. |
