Programmable processors

As Intel is in my radar for employment, I came accross an interesting innovation, programmable chips, on The Economist. Normally, chips are made for single purpose and designing and producing customized ones are very expensive. So, programmable processors will solve this problem. Also, take notice of sector growth, players and gross margins below...

http://www.economist.com/node/17528052

"ONE kind of hardware will probably never be virtualised: processors. After all, these are the brains of every digital device. Yet chips, too, are becoming more malleable. Demand is growing for processors that are not just made for a single purpose but can be reconfigured with a special programming tool, a bit like rewritable DVDs. The research arm of Deutsche Bank predicts this segment of the semiconductor market will grow by an annual average of 14% in the next few years.

“Programmable logic devices” (PLDs) help to solve a pressing problem in chipmaking. Developing a custom processor is becoming ever more pricey. Firms may spend up to $40m before the first chip is made. The risk of a design flaw is high, as are the costs of fixing it. PLDs lower both the upfront expense and the cost of getting things wrong. ..."