[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 7596]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    40TH ANNIVERSARY OF MOORE'S LAW

 Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, 40 years ago, when having a computer 
in your home was inconceivable and being able to hold a miniature 
computer in the palm of your hand was the stuff of science fiction, 
Gordon Moore, then a young engineer with Fairchild Semiconductor, had a 
revolutionary idea.
  In the April 19, 1965, issue of Electronics Magazine, Moore first 
articulated what would come to be known as Moore's law: that the number 
of transistors on a computer chip would double in power approximately 
every 18 months but the price would actually decrease. Moore's law was 
revolutionary because it said that computer power improves essentially 
for free. Not only did this mean technology could be accessible and 
affordable for all Americans, it set the stage for increases in 
productivity unheard of since the Industrial Revolution.
  Today, Moore's 40-year-old prediction is not just the thought of a 
dreamer, written for the benefit of a few early high-tech pioneers; it 
is the metronome of the technology industry. The drive to keep up with 
the drumbeat of Moore's law has meant unparalleled innovation in the 
high-tech industry. It has resulted in quality, high-paying jobs and 
contributed to our Nation's economic stability. The growth of computer 
technology in the U.S. has brought countless benefits to consumers and 
businesses throughout this country.
  We are proud in my home State of Oregon to be part of the high-tech 
engine that helped build the digital economy. We are happy to be home 
to companies like Intel Corporation, which Moore helped found in 1974. 
Intel, which employs 15,500 people and has invested approximately $11 
billion in Oregon, is an important contributor to our economy and an 
example of the impact that leadership in technology can have at the 
local level.
  Oregon's high-tech industry continues to be a vital and growing part 
of the State's economy, creating jobs, fueling the growth of small and 
large businesses, and driving the innovation necessary to keep pace 
with Moore's law today.
  The fulfillment of Moore's 40-year-old prediction will continue to 
lead to advances in virtually every aspect of our lives. It means 
smaller and more affordable computers, and cameras the size of pills 
that can be swallowed to explore our insides without surgery. It also 
means family and friends can overcome great distances, connecting in an 
instant over the digital airwaves.
  Though his prediction has held true, Gordon Moore could not have 
foreseen the power and influence of his observation. I'm proud today to 
pay tribute to his contributions and recognize the impact Moore's law 
has had on our economy and our world.

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