IDF: Intel sees a future for Atom in hybrid devices

Intel is looking to its Atom processor line to spur the growth of hybrid devices that bridge the gap between conventional tablet and netbook systems.

The Cedar Trail platform will allow OEMs to build devices that offer the portability and touch-screen experience of a tablet while offering a physical keyboard and mouse controls, the firm said.

Cindy Ng, an Intel product marketing engineer, told attendees at IDF that the growth of consumerisation has prompted many workers to adopt a device that can offer netbook and tablet features.

Intel's early studies showed that staff want a mouse and keyboard for use with productivity tools at work, but touch-screen media tablets for personal use.

"They really want a device where they can play and they can work," Ng explained. "It is really juggling the best of both worlds where you have a touch screen and a keyboard and mouse."

Intel believes that Cedar Trail will push the benefits of hybrid devices. The 32nm processor can offer tablet-like advantages such as rapid start-up and wake-up, while adding connectivity options such as WiDi wireless display connection.

Building these devices comes with a unique set of challenges, however. Intel said that manufacturers have problems dealing with the individual demands and limitations of each platform, and new challenges unique to the hybrid concept.

One such problem is heat control and dissipation. Joshua Linden-Levy, a mechanical pathfinding engineer at Intel, explained that heat management is among the top concerns that Intel is seeking to address.

People have different acceptable heat levels for touch screens and the bottom casing on tablets than on netbook areas such as the back of the display, meaning that attention must be paid to setting heat thresholds for each area. Failure to do so can result in performance issues.

"You are sitting here for over a half-hour not getting optimal experience because your system is throttling down to drop the temperature," said Linden-Levy.