We often consider fossil fuels, sunshine, clean water and air as the basic necessities of life. We know that we cannot exist without these basic resources. But there is a fifth resource without which our modern life will simply grind to a halt.
Astoundingly, this resource is controlled by a handful of global companies, and even more astonishing is the fact that there is only one company in the world that can produce a critical part of this resource.
What is this resource? It is semiconductors or chips.
At the core of almost every electronic device is either a memory chip or logic chip, or both. I am going to refer to these two, collectively, as chips. They are in your smartphones, computers, the infrastructure that runs the internet, military and medical equipment, cars, aeroplanes, industrial plants and machines, consumer electronics … the list goes on and on.
Basically, any device that has electricity running through it is likely to have a chip installed in it. Chips run our modern lives.
Next, let’s turn our attention to how chips are made. This knowledge is important as it will help you appreciate how incredibly complex the process is to design and manufacture chips – you can’t just set up a plant and start producing.
A chip is a set of electronic circuits etched on a small, flat piece of usually rectangular silicon sheet. This silicon-based chip is usually the size of a fingernail.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der February 2023-Ausgabe von Money Magazine Australia.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der February 2023-Ausgabe von Money Magazine Australia.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Is the public market shrinking?
Australia needs a healthy stock market to give companies access to funds and to allow retail investors to build wealth.
India: three steps to transformation
Massive investment and extensive reforms turbocharge the economy.
The ballet of business
Changing direction, products, models and marketing is a hard task for a business. We chart what it takes to turn a business around, plus profile four successful pivots.
Save money and the planet
Could the high cost of living give us the incentive we need to reduce how much water and energy we use or waste? These eco-friendly household tips will help you do just that.
AI adoption is the new black
Artificial intelligence is set to reshape the commercial world, and small enterprises can’t afford to miss the boat.
Spam attack! Murky laws jam our inboxes
Unwanted marketing material is one of the pain points of modern life.
From rags to riches in style
Rich Tran sported a bowl cut until he was 14 years old and had no intention of becoming a hairdresser.
New work deals are killing the 'old' office
The Covid pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns accelerated the trend to more people working from home. It was a mixed experience.
Points taken: the truth about rewards
Can hopping between credit cards really boost your frequent flyer haul and give you cheap or free travel - or is it doing more harm than good behind the scenes? Money puts it to the test.
Shortcuts to own a home
Innovative ideas with a focus on low costs and sustainability could help solve the housing crunch.