You know when your body is crying out for sleep, or a square of food, or even some warmth – but what about your transistors and chips which don’t have a voice? IEEE Spectrum has a fascinating little tale up about component ageing, and how manufacturers play it too safe by clocking the speed of them far lower than they should, to ensure users get longer lives out of them.
As IEEE Spectrum says though, this is akin to “never taking your Ferrari out of the slow lane because you’re concerned that its engine might throw a rod 10 years down the road”. Investment and research is needed in this field, so chips can run faster and still last a long time. This could take millions of dollars of research, but surely the benefits – including the environmental repercussions – make it worthwhile? [IEEE Spectrum]