The Hindu Business Line : Driven by convergence

A MOBILE that doubles as a 5.2 mega pixel camera. Another invention that holds promise, the Samsung SPH-V7800 smart phone mechanically purrs at the touch of a button and reveals a high resolution digital camera.

The mobile was designed using latest design software and techniques from US-based Tensilica. The company's extensible processors and intelligent IDE (integrated development environment) tools helped double the power and hence the functions of the mobile's processor.

Unlike other camera phones in the market that offer a maximum resolution of 2 mega pixels, this mobile-cum-digicam offers the perfect package for the tech-savvy novice interested in photography.

Software is increasingly being used to power up processors. With increase in complexity of design software tools, companies such as ARM and Tensilica are able to offer many functions on a normal processor. The trend is now towards convergence — a single gadget with multiple functions. With increasing demand for a gadget that acts like a PDA (personal digital assistant), mobile, GPS receiver (for determining location), MP3 player and camera, the semiconductor industry is undergoing rapid change and giving birth to many innovations. Look out for more of such multi-function devices in the near future, many of which are being designed in R&D centres set up by electronic design companies and chipmakers right here.

eWorld team

More Stories on : Convergence | Telecommunications

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
It makes sense to share

The die is cast

Drawing on software

When one complements the other...

Power the process

Too snoopy for comfort, say some

Backup for e-mails in Outlook Express

Spike buster

`Now's the time'

Driven by convergence

Quiz

The art of being a CTO

Cartoon