The DACeZine also has a Letters to the Editor section to allow for shorter contributions to the contents and directions of the publication. When necessary, answers to the letters will come from the appropriate member of the team (including our readers), since I do not (yet) hold the total knowledge of the industry within me. I encourage all of you to write, either a viewpoint or a letter, and state your opinions on matters that impact our industry, the contents of this publication, or, for that matter, the publication itself. Send your letters to: dacezine@dac.com.

I hope you enjoy this DACeZine issue and pass it along to your friends and colleagues: I am sure they will want to subscribe as well. They can do so by visiting the www.dac.com web page.

Another Success for EDA

By Gabe Moretti, Editor

Against the backdrop of a global economic slowdown (unless you invest in oil futures), and a projected oversupply of consumer electronics goods, the 45th Design Automation Conference was a success when measured with the customary marketing tools.  More than 8,000 persons attended the conference, a figure very close to last year's count.   It was also a very good success when measured in terms of number of attendees (over 8,000), content and the level of interaction between presenters and audience.  Limor Fix, the chair of the event, gives her views in her wrap-up article: The Conference is Over, the Discussion Continues.

As Sean Murphy's article points out, blogging is a communication method that is just over 10 years old.  At this year's DAC, electronic design automation (EDA) bloggers had their own event where they began a discussion of issues germane to their trade. As with all other forms of communication, there are good, mediocre, and poor bloggers.  Sean Murphy's article (A Primer on Blogs for EDA Startups) shows how a blog can be a good marketing tool, describes the characteristics of a blog and gives suggestions on how to develop a professional blog.

DAC attendees found a number of occasions to explore the imminent future of semiconductor manufacturing.  If we continue on the present path, by 2011 semiconductor manufacturing will be introducing 22 nanometer (nm) technology.  Yet, there are still significant problems to be solved at either the 45 or 40nm manufacturing node.  Ed Sperling moderated a roundtable on the topic during DAC.   His article, Design Challenges Increase at
40nm, provides details.

Devadas Varma, chairman and founder of Calypto Design Systems, offers a Viewpoint on the technical and financial difficulties facing the industry as we continue to increase design complexity in order to serve more demanding markets and increase the pace of new product introductions. Facing Down the Perfect Storm gives an overview of the issues debated at the conference and those that will still be talked about at the next DAC.