Next month, in May, we're going to talk about the concept of the singularity. This month, April, we're going to talk about semiconductors.

I've been thinking of presenting some ideas about the semiconductor industry, which I follow fairly closely, at the future salon, and I finally decided now would be the best time because I don't think we can talk about the singularity (Vernor Vinge's singularity) without first talking in some detail about the technology trends that the "singularity" concept is based on.

Moore's Law is the idea that computing power doubles roughly every 2 years. But why and how exactly does that happen? How are these machines we call "computers" that sit on our desks, on our laps, and now in our pockets (cell phones) built? How do they work? And why is it possible for them to double in performance every 2 years? How long can this continue?