Pursuing flexibility

When you take a close look at the cost and competitive pressures faced by consumer electronics designers today, it’s clear that traditional silicon platforms are no longer up to the challenge. Unit cost, of course, is a key concern, as is time to market, but in the face of rapidly evolving technologies and unpredictable trends in consumer fashion, flexibility has also become a vital necessity. Increasing design flexibility impacts in two ways: a designer is able to innovate more easily and quickly – to ‘do something new’ – and, as a result, can differentiate more readily in orderto stand out from the crowd. Differentiation is paramount. When done well, the product becomes unique, has a distinct competitive advantage, has mass market appeal and sells in millions!