Re: Transistor replacement (Military applications?)
From: Al Dykes (adykes_at_panix.com)
Date: 02/04/05
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To: sci-military-moderated@moderators.isc.org Date: 4 Feb 2005 10:55:42 -0500
In article <BE27EB82.316B9%salmonegg@sbcglobal.net>,
Repeating Rifle <salmonegg@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>in article 1107321379.863545.94670@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com,
>dumpster4@hotmail.com at dumpster4@hotmail.com wrote on 2/1/05 9:16 PM:
>
>> A new technology has been developed that might replace silicon
>> transistors. See:
>>
>> http://informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=59300089
>> Anyone care to speculate on the military applications of this?
>>
>
>I took a look at the news release referred above. I am not mortaging the
>home to buy into this invention.
>
>You must realize, that announcements of this type are made all the time. It
>gives the researchers cachet, publicity, and possibly, a raise. It is a long
>haul from a scientific discovery to a product. Where are the tunnel diodes
>of a few decades ago? Where are the Josepheson junctions? For that matter,
>where are all the high temperature superconductive devices? How many issued
>patents ever have commercial value. Where are we in the star wars saga?
>
>Realize that most of these "breakthroughs" are failures. Every now and then,
>however, there may be a gem in the mine tailings. Military planners have to
>be conservative or else wild-eyed scientists would use up the military
>budget. IIRC, Admiral Harold Stark pooh-poohed the explosive potential of
>nuclear weapons. Good military planning involves keeping track of such
>inventions, but not going crazy.
>
>Bill
As early as 1970 there were announcements of flat screens that would
replace CRTs Real Soon, Now. There were patents, press releases, and
even hand-made prototypes. I knew a gentleman that had some patents
and spent a few million $ of Other Peoples Money trying to get
something in production (early 80's). He hand-made some huge screens
on contract for the pentagon for a situation room and AFAIK, they
worked, but he never got the process into mass production.
It took more than 30 years from the first press release for flat
screens to begin replace CRTs in the general market. For niche
products that only the Military buys the situation is even worse
unless they want it bad enough to throw money at the problem.
-- a d y k e s @ p a n i x . c o m Don't blame me. I voted for Gore.
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