Moore’s Law

How can a reserved boy from California turn his curiosity for blowing things up into laying the foundations of the modern technological world?

1. Gordon Moore's Early Passion for Science Shaped His Future

Gordon Moore discovered his love for science at the age of 11 when he started experimenting with explosives using a chemistry set. This hands-on exploration ignited a lifelong enthusiasm for the discipline. His analytical mind thrived in science, allowing him to visualize tangible results, unlike the abstract nature of mathematics.

Throughout his high school years, Moore's fascination with experimentation grew stronger. He excelled in chemistry classes, often surpassing his classmates. By the time he was 16, Moore had a confident grasp of chemistry and continuously tested his limits, often creating firecrackers with nitroglycerine for his friends.

While his scientific exploration was key, Moore also met Betty Whitaker during this period, who later became his wife. Despite being opposites in personality, their connection became a source of motivation for his academic pursuits.

Examples

• Experimented with a chemistry set to create explosives.
• Excelled in chemistry at Sequoia High School well beyond his peers.
• Met his lifelong partner, Betty, at a critical moment in his formative years.

2. Academic Foundations: From Berkeley to Caltech

Moore was accepted to Berkeley with strong recommendations from his professors. Here, he encountered Nobel laureates and renowned scientists, fueling his growth as a chemist. At Berkeley, George Jura's teachings about challenging scientific norms profoundly impacted Moore's approach to research.

His acceptance into Caltech further broadened his horizons. At Caltech, Moore worked under the guidance of Professor Richard McLean Badger, focusing on nitrogen compounds. This research had military applications, aligning with Moore's existing expertise in nitroglycerine and propelling him toward his Ph.D., which he completed in only three years.

Personal growth marked this academic journey as well. Moore and Betty married during his transition to Caltech, signifying the start of a supportive partnership that endured throughout Moore's career.

Examples

• Studied under George Jura, which shaped his experimental mindset.
• Completed groundbreaking research on nitrogen compounds at Caltech.
• Married Betty Whitaker, signaling the start of a lifelong personal and professional partnership.

3. The Move from Research to Industry

After finishing his Ph.D., Moore chose a career in industry rather than academia upon realizing that institutional roles constrained his independent streak. He joined the Applied Physics Laboratory, funded by the Navy, where his experiments aligned with national defense needs.

This decision was a significant pivot in Moore's life. Leaving academia allowed him to apply his knowledge in practical fields and begin exploring the nascent transistor technology. The move also required Gordon and Betty to leave California, embarking on a challenging yet transformative journey eastward to Maryland.

While this role at Applied Physics Laboratory marked his transition to industry, Moore's early inklings of the impact semiconductors could have were further honed during this time.

Examples

• Opted for industry work at the Navy-funded Applied Physics Laboratory.
• Continued his research focus, now directed toward practical and defense-related outcomes.
• Moved from California to Maryland, beginning a new professional chapter.

4. The Revolutionary Potential of Transistors

The invention of the transistor in 1947 at Bell Labs laid the groundwork for Moore's future contributions. Compared to bulky, fragile vacuum tubes, transistors were smaller, cheaper, and more energy-efficient, opening vast possibilities for future technology.

Moore attended a lecture by William Shockley, one of the transistor's inventors, and this encounter solidified his interest in semiconductors. In 1955, he joined Shockley's team to work on silicon transistors, driving west yet again with Betty and starting a new chapter in California.

This period wasn't without challenges. Despite progress, interpersonal conflicts and leadership issues at Shockley's lab led Moore and others to leave the group, setting the stage for their next breakthrough.

Examples

• Realized the advantages of transistors over vacuum tubes.
• Joined the Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory to work on silicon transistors.
• Left Shockley's company after 18 months due to frustration with management.

5. Founding Fairchild Semiconductor: The Traitorous Eight

Moore's departure from Shockley's lab led to the formation of Fairchild Semiconductor, funded by investor Sherman Fairchild. Alongside his colleagues, often referred to as the "traitorous eight," Moore focused on developing fast-switching silicon transistors.

Their determination paid off in 1958 when Fairchild produced the world’s first commercially viable fast-switching silicon transistor, the ZN696. This invention not only addressed IBM's needs but also brought Fairchild recognition and paved the way for Moore's later work.

This success highlighted Moore's capability to lead technical innovation while navigating corporate pressures, an ability that defined his career.

Examples

• Co-founded Fairchild Semiconductor with seven colleagues.
• Successfully developed the first fast-switching silicon transistor, the ZN696.
• Won the attention of IBM for advanced transistor solutions.

6. Moore's Law: A Vision for the Future

Moore observed that the complexity of microchips doubled approximately every year, while their cost halved. This observation, published as "The Future of Integrated Electronics," became known as Moore's Law. He predicted this exponential growth would revolutionize computing and electronics.

Microchips manufactured under this prediction powered NASA's Apollo missions and aided the development of advanced computing technologies. Moore's Law became a guiding principle for innovation in the tech world, influencing R&D for decades.

Despite skepticism from peers in 1965, Moore’s prediction of exponential growth proved accurate, shaping entire industries.

Examples

• Predicted exponential growth in microchip complexity.
• Published "The Future of Integrated Electronics" to introduce the concept.
• Influenced Apollo guidance systems with integrated circuits.

7. Revolutionizing Memory Storage Technology with Intel

In 1968, Moore co-founded Intel, recognizing a need for advanced memory microchips. Their EPROM technology enabled data storage without power and allowed reprogramming, which revolutionized memory devices.

The technology’s popularity made Intel a leader in memory storage, providing a critical revenue stream for years. The innovation demonstrated Moore's foresight in spotting market trends and aligning Intel's focus with growing consumer needs.

This advancement positioned Intel as a major player in the rapidly evolving tech industry.

Examples

• Co-founded Intel focused on memory microchips.
• Introduced EPROM, which retained power-off data and was reprogrammable.
• Dominated memory markets until shifting toward microprocessors.

8. Learning from Failure: The Electronic Watch Lesson

Moore's investment in electronic watches was less fruitful. Microma, a company Intel backed to enter the wristwatch market, struggled with technical issues and fierce competition, leading to significant financial losses.

This loss became a learning experience for Moore, steering him away from consumer markets and refocusing his energy on Intel’s strengths in microchip technology. It also influenced his initial resistance to entering the personal computer business.

Moore’s humor about dead ventures, like jokingly calling his own watch his “15 million dollar watch,” showed his willingness to embrace challenges and learn.

Examples

• Funded Microma to develop electronic wristwatches.
• Faced stiff competition in the consumer market from Texas Instruments.
• Used the failure to refocus Intel’s direction away from consumer goods.

9. Teaming Up with Microsoft to Dominate Microprocessors

Intel's partnership with Microsoft became a game-changer, as both companies collaborated on a PC that ran Microsoft software on Intel microprocessors. This partnership, exemplified by 1986’s Deskpro 386, ruled the PC market for decades.

By the 1990s, Intel controlled over 80% of the market share in microprocessors, solidifying their role in shaping computing's future. Under Moore's leadership and strategy, the company transitioned out of memory markets and became synonymous with microprocessors.

These advancements cemented Intel’s role as a global leader in technology.

Examples

• Partnered with Microsoft to launch the Deskpro 386.
• Achieved over 80% control of the microprocessor market by the mid-1990s.
• Transitioned Intel to exclusively focus on microprocessor innovation.

Takeaways

1. Stay curious and challenge conventional beliefs: Moore's willingness to question established norms fueled his path-breaking discoveries.
2. Learn from failure: Instead of dwelling on setbacks, such as the wristwatch venture, channel those lessons toward new opportunities.
3. Think forward: Predicting future trends, like Moore's Law, can help guide efforts in the right direction, even when others doubt you.