MCC chief McRary puts consortium in high gear

Article Abstract:

Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corp CEO John McRary has sought to end defections from the company's consortium and calibrate its research efforts to keep pace with the market. According to McRary, MCC has shortened the research cycle for most of its projects to three to five years. Previously, some research lasted from six to ten years. McCary criticizes some of MCC's past research efforts as inapplicable to the needs of its consortium members. McRary has also endeavored to stop the erosion of MCC's consortium membership by persuading inactive participant companies to reactivate their memberships. MCC has been exploring the changing nature of the electronics market through such efforts as its Low Cost Portables Project. Eight member companies participate in this project, which analyzes portable electronic products and devises prototypes of future devices.

Engineering Services, Engineering for Electronic Components, Planning, Electronic components, Electronics industry, Company business planning, Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corp.

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MCU vendors pick up the pace

Article Abstract:

The MCU market is valued at $10 billion and is currently still dominated by 8-bit architecture-based designs. However, new technologies are expected to soon take over the top spots, particularly for 16-bit and 32-bit designs. Market changes are due to systems makers who want more horsepower. Currently, many MCU companies are making the move to 16-bit architectures an easier transition by providing devices that offer backward compatibility to 8-bit lines. Also, there is more acceptance of 32-bit chips in cars and other applications, so industry experts predict a growth rate for 16- and 32-bit MCUs in 1996 that will be three times the rate of 8-bit MCUs. Observers indicate that it will take time to move beyond the 8-bit lines because many customers are slow to move away from tried and true technologies.

Forecasts and trends, Microcontrollers, Microcontroller, Market trend/market analysis, Market share, Market domination

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Cheap space shot

Article Abstract:

NASA's Lunar Prospector $63 million, one-year, moon mapping mission was originally conceived as a privately-financed project. Alan Binder, principal investigator of the Lunar Prospector project at Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space, and others conceived of the project in the wake of NASA's drastically-reduced output of space missions in the 1980s. The fund-raising efforts included the possibility of commercial endorsements and a free launch by the Russians. But the project fit well with the "faster, better, cheaper" motto of NASA's Discovery Program in the early 1990s and the agency picked the plan in 1995 for an inexpensive lunar probe. The project has been shielded from outside forces and allowed to accomplish its mission without writing specifications for each individual nut and bolt.

Management, Science and technology policy, United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Government contracts, Space flight to the moon, Lunar flights, Government contract management

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