Large Scale Semis High Growth Potential?

[Arthur Hanson]

Much of the technology of the semi sector has been about shrink when this is only half the story. Large scale semis may be an additional large growth area for semi technology and should not be overlooked for it could allow many of the small scale technologies to leverage into large scale making them far more economic. Flat screen displays, super caps, batteries and solar cells are just a few of the large scale semis that are in high growth areas. When combined with MEMS technologies, semi technology has very large potential in filtration, desalinization, flow control and maybe even power generation taking on energy differentials both thermal and physical. There could even be significant opportunities in large scale processes such as refining or processing of materials from liquids to gasses. Leveraging existing technologies to lower their cost through broader distribution could become a major game changer for the industry if handled properly. Imagine whole screens of MEMS and other micro devices to handle a whole host of functions. I also feel touch controls are in the very early stages. Since autos and transportation now have electric everything from speed control to steering, what about touch controls and do away with gas and break pedals, even the steering wheel. Many of the controls of everything around us date from an era when direct connections were needed and we a long past that. Maybe we could even have a gesture control wearable standard that could be used for control and access of everything from finance to our house and transportation. Imagine the wealth of a company that dominated that standard? Flat panel control systems could offer such flexibility that they could make the standard controls we have now obsolete in no time. With the cost of making large scale applications of semis in display and lighting coming down, we should see other opportunities to extend these and similar processes to a whole range of products. Any thoughts or comments on this would be appreciated and news of any companies working in this direction. Some of this is being done now in various ways, but this does offer a new frontier that is almost untapped.

Any thoughts or views of new technologies in this are would be appreciated.