Silicon Valley pioneer and philanthropist, Gordon Moore, has died at the age of 94 in Hawaii. Moore co-founded Intel Corporation and made a significant contribution to the technology industry with his famous prediction that computer processing powers would double every year, a concept known as Moore’s Law.
The Birth of a Technological Revolution
Moore began his work on semiconductors in the 1950s and eventually joined Fairchild Semiconductor laboratory, where he helped manufacture commercially viable transistors and integrated circuits. In 1968, he and Robert Noyce left Fairchild to start Intel. Moore’s work on memory chips helped drive significant technological progress around the world, allowing for the advent of personal computers and tech giants like Apple, Facebook, and Google.
The Legacy of Moore’s Law
Moore’s Law became the bedrock for the computer processor industry and revolutionized the PC market. He predicted that technological advancements would double the number of transistors on microchips every year, and chipmakers targeted their research to make this a reality. Thanks to Moore’s Law, memory chips became more efficient and less expensive at an exponential rate, paving the way for an era of technological advancement.
A Life Devoted to Philanthropy
After Moore’s retirement, he dedicated his life to philanthropy, starting the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, which focused on environmental causes such as protecting the Amazon River basin and salmon streams in the US, Canada, and Russia. Moore’s philanthropic work was a testament to his wisdom, humility, and generosity, and he inspired many through his work.
A Visionary Remembered
Intel Corporation paid tribute to its co-founder, calling him a visionary who had defined the technology industry through his insight and vision. Intel’s current CEO Pat Gelsinger said that Gordon Moore had changed the lives of every person on the planet and inspired technologists and entrepreneurs across the decades. Moore’s memory will continue to live on, and his work will forever be an inspiration to those in the tech industry.
In 2002, Moore was awarded the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honour in the US, by President George W Bush. Moore’s contributions to the technology industry and his philanthropic work will continue to impact the world for many years to come. He will be remembered as a pioneer, a visionary, and a man who changed the world.