Ernest Worthman

Members can download this article in PDF format. It seems that the edge has become the topic du jour lately, but it’s not as new as most of us think. But before we get into the weeds with this paper, let’s take a trip down memory lane; back to 1978 to see how TI engineers developed the first voice-synthesized DSP embedded device, the Speak and Spell, and how it led to today’s advanced embedded devices.

Members can download this article in PDF format. Advances in embedded processors have opened the field for bringing increased AI intelligence to the edge. However, one major challenge has emerged: Traditional edge AI solutions (graphics processing units (GPUs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs)) have bounded applicability because most of them are limited in terms of flexibility.

Any sci-fi aficionado, over 40, and the many younger Trekkies, know the myriad of spun-off series and movies spawned from the immortal original Star Trek series. For this discussion, I’m referring from a metaphorical perspective to the movie The Search for Spock. I’ve been writing about 6G for several years now. Many of my ruminations revolve around the hype that’s common whenever new telecom or other technology advances bubble up to the surface.