CASPA eLetter: No. 203, January 15, 2021

Dear Members,

You might think Smartphones will replace PCs soon. However, in the year 2020, there was a record of 300 Million Personal Computers sold worldwide since 2014. It is proven that the PC is still the primary productivity tool favored among us.

Last month, I assembled a PC for both AI training and gaming. However, the key components, such as Nvidia’s GTX3090 cards and AMD’s RYZEN 9 CPUs were tough to find. I had to use in-stock finders such as zooLert.com and nowinstock.net to alert me and order in time. In the finders, I also observed that flight simulation gears were also sold-out everywhere.

The pandemic is driving new opportunities. Internet becomes the bloodstream for live activities. Thanks to the advanced semiconductor process and ecosystem, a flight simulator machine used to sell for millions of dollars a decade ago can now play on your PC or game consoles. You can even add Oculus Quest 2 VR goggles for live-like pilot training virtually from any airport, any plane, and go anywhere on earth. Flying over Yosemite National Park, believe it or not, is a fun activity right at your home. It is so immersive and photo-realistic that you may not think you are in a simulated world.

With the help of semiconductor process advancement, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR) solutions are found their typical use during the COVID-19. Offices and schools are no longer centralized during this period and require using these virtual tools to have work done. To describe this trend for virtualizing everything, I introduced a new acronym, Virtualization of things (VoT), to highlight the significance.

The global Simulation Software market size is projected to reach US$14.4 billion by 2026, from US$ 6.8 billion in 2020, at a CAGR of 13.2% during 2021-2026. That said, our world will be more virtual than ever.

On the other hand, this week is also 2021 CES week, and we hear many new product releases and announcements. One thing worth to mention is that we are glad to see Pat Gelsinger, CEO of VMware, to be the new CEO of Intel. Mr. Gelsinger was CASPA’s annual dinner banquet’s keynote speaker in 2012. We congratulate his achievement.

In conclusion, 2020 is ending with crisis and opportunities, and Happy New Year 2021.

Best Regards,

Danny Hua

Executive Advisor, Board of Advisors, CASPA