■Max Baron, Principal Analyst, In-Stat

We know already that now and during the following years, system and processor designers and technical business managers will be facing more difficult decisions as the industry increases its focus on higher quality audio and video, better imaging and visual communications supported by higher bit rates over wired and wireless networks.

But, the new designs are no longer just about communications and performance. Compared with the problems of yesterday, system and chip architects must ensure that the new products will not be just more efficient, or overcome only the difficulties encountered in 45nm and lower semiconductor process technologies. The new competition parameters are tougher than before: many designs must be innovative but compete for the lower prices of the consumer market. Configurable processors, accelerators, multiple processor and massively parallel architectures may be increasing the designers' choices but may also make product decisions more difficult.

What approach will be successful? Will the desktop or an embedded design using x86 advanced processors take away embedded processor opportunities in portable entertainment, in our automobile or at home? Will it compete in price and features with embedded designs in the set-top box or high-end digital video or still image camera? And what are the best strategies available to embedded system designers that must compete with the PC-like offerings and inexpensive Internet browsers?

This year's Microprocessor Forum in Tokyo will provide insight from the leaders whose chips and support software will define tomorrow's designs. This time, as in previous Microprocessor Forum conferences, we felt that it is important to remove all marketing content and instead provide detailed technical presentations of new ideas and interesting solutions. Microprocessor Forum 2008 will offer valuable information by ensuring that each and every presentation shows detail and defines technical background and design considerations.

■Takatsuna Mamoto, Editor at Large, Reed Business Information Japan K.K.

This year's Microprocessor Forum Japan (MPF Japan) is the fifth in its series. We believe that the role of MPF Japan is not only to deliver information on state-of-the-art processor technology to Japanese engineers in the quickest possible way but also to offer the opportunity to processor users (e.g. appliance manufacturers) to make presentations on future technology trends in processor-mounted devices. We hope that MPF Japan will develop as a community for processor engineers, with engineers involved in the development of processors and processor technologies coming together to interact beyond their organizational boundaries and engage in closer exchange.

MPF Japan has targeted its attention on “processor technology that can improve performance without increasing power consumption.” One solution that has emerged is multi-core processor technology. Additionally, processor application has become another focal point for the Forum. In the past forum, we put an emphasis on new-generation cellular phones and car electronics. The focus for this year's MPF Japan is “Digital Entertainment at Home and on the Go.”

The Keynote Speech will outline the future of microprocessor technologies - such as “technology that would integrate digital broadcasting and mobile communication” and “LSI component technology that would propel the advance of digital home appliances”. Sessions will include presentations on multi-core processor technology and compiler technology for enhanced image processing using parallel processing, for digital home appliances and in-vehicle IT equipment.

MPF Japan will dispatch information relating to state-of-the-art microprocessor technology, embedded processor technology, and processor technology for image processing. Information on new design and technology trends will be plentifully available at MPF Japan for engineers and experts. We hope that attendees will assimilate and use the information in making future developments.