IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 7

A SSOC IATE EDITOR'S VIE W

Marcel Pelgrom

Wasted Time

T

Three teams of young managers were
staring at a helicopter constructed of
LEGO bricks. Each team had to build a
copy of the helicopter. Team 1 start-
ed right in, directly laying down the
landing skids and working its way up.
Team 2 divided the tasks, and every-
one started building their part. And
Team 3 reflected on the task, inspect-
ing the example thoroughly. Halfway
through the allotted time, the Team 1
helicopter was close to completion.
Team 2 had already finished the major
building blocks of the machine. Poor
Team 3, they were still hovering around
the example.
But during the second half, the tide
turned. Somehow Team 1 had used
essential parts of the rotor assem-
bly for the horizontal stabilizer.
Confusion followed by disassembly!
Team 2 had finished all subblocks,
but these did not fit together. Crisis!
And the slow starters? Team 3 built
the helicopter straightaway and fin-
ished ahead of time! The supposedly
wasted time had not been wasted
after all.
Wasting time and feeling bored are
curial for all intellectual and creative
processes. Our brains require time
for absorbing, structuring, and con-
solidating new information. Everyday
issues need to be put aside so the
deeper levels of one's awareness can
connect the new data into the men-
tal framework we call consciousness.
Reflection reveals deeper thoughts
or an unexpected solution to a prob-
lem. It's hard to explain these neces-
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MSSC.2017.2745920
Date of publication: 16 November 2017

sary mental pauses to a 21st century
audience, with its social media and
unlimited distractions. When bored,
smartphones or other gadgets will
entertain them!
Time efficiency is all around us,
starting as early as childhood. Modern
parents allow their children every-
thing except boredom. Dealing with
bored children is a horrifying pros-
pect to millennials! When school is
over, the family leaves preferably
that same night for their holiday
vacation. Electronic gadgets prevent
boredom during the trip, and the
next morning, a full day of sched-
uled activities awaits the children.
The parents follow their own over-
filled program. What if they were
left alone together, without a smart-
phone or tablet? Would the couple start
talking and realize how isolated
spouses in modern marriages have
b e co m e? Wa st i ng t i m e to get h e r
strengthens every relationship, with
family, friends, neighbors, and col-
leagues. Dining, playing, or just stroll-
ing together forms life-long bonds
between people.
The new CEO of a consolidated
semiconductor company took the
new management team for two weeks
into the desert without any commu-
nication devices. Some managers col-
lapsed while wasting their time in
a tent; they went home and left the
company. The remaining team grew
the market cap by sevenfold in a few
years' time.
In industry, wasting time violates
every economic principle. Especially
in our high-tech world, strict sched-
ules are irresistible. New IC designs

are first laid out not in silicon, but in
weeks, days, and hours. "Make sure
we have customer samples ready in
week 24!" Successfully designing a
complex IC starts with sitting back
and questioning what needs to be
done. Without thinking through the
fundamentals of a design, a redesign
becomes unavoidable. And often that
redesign is started without taking
sufficient time for evaluating and
reflecting on the first one, already
necessitating the second redesign.
Speeding up the process turns into a
nightmare for all.
Managers walking around and talk-
ing at ease to people can spot signs of
delays earlier than the Excel generals.
Preventive management pays off.
Today's authors don't waste any
time either. In 1656, the French sci-
entist Blaise Pascal apologized for his
long letter to a friend: "I would have
written a shorter letter, but I did not
have the time." Summarizing the essen-
tials of a scientific endeavor into a
concise, stylish description requires
time. Older publications often are
marvels of style and depth because
the authors had time to reflect. Edit-
ing required manually rewriting the
text several times. The process was
so slow that there was ample time to
reflect on how each sentence was best
phrased. Modern authors edit faster
than they can think.
Technology has reduced the time
mankind has to spend on dull, seem-
ingly unproductive tasks. But somehow
we forget to use the freed-up time in a
productive way. What a waste!

IEEE SOLID-STATE CIRCUITS MAGAZINE

FA L L 2 0 17

7



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017

IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - Cover1
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - Cover2
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 1
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 2
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 3
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 4
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 5
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 6
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 7
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 8
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 9
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 10
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 11
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 12
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 13
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 14
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 15
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 16
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 17
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 18
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 19
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 20
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 21
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 22
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 23
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 24
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 25
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 26
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 27
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 28
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 29
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 30
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 31
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 32
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 33
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 34
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 35
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 36
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 37
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 38
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 39
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 40
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 41
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 42
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 43
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 44
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 45
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 46
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 47
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 48
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 49
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 50
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 51
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 52
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 53
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 54
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 55
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 56
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 57
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 58
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 59
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 60
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 61
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 62
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 63
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 64
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 65
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 66
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 67
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 68
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 69
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 70
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 71
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 72
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 73
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 74
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 75
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 76
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 77
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 78
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 79
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 80
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 81
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 82
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 83
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 84
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 85
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 86
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 87
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 88
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 89
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 90
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 91
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 92
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 93
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 94
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 95
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 96
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 97
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 98
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 99
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 100
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 101
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 102
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 103
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 104
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 105
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 106
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 107
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 108
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 109
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 110
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 111
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 112
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 113
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 114
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 115
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 116
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 117
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 118
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 119
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 120
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 121
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 122
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 123
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 124
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 125
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 126
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 127
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 128
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 129
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 130
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 131
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 132
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 133
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 134
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 135
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 136
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 137
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 138
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 139
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 140
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 141
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 142
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 143
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 144
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 145
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 146
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 147
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - 148
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - Cover3
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2017 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/mssc_fall2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/mssc_summer2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/mssc_spring2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/mssc_winter2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/mssc_fall2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/mssc_summer2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/mssc_spring2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/mssc_winter2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/mssc_fall2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/mssc_summer2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/mssc_spring2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/mssc_winter2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/mssc_fall2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/mssc_summer2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/mssc_spring2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/mssc_winter2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/mssc_fall2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/mssc_summer2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/mssc_2019summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/mssc_2019winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/mssc_2018fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/mssc_2018summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/mssc_2018spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/mssc_2018winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/solidstatecircuits_winter2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/solidstatecircuits_fall2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/solidstatecircuits_summer2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/solidstatecircuits_spring2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/solidstatecircuits_winter2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/solidstatecircuits_fall2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/solidstatecircuits_summer2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/solidstatecircuits_spring2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/solidstatecircuits_winter2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/solidstatecircuits_fall2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/solidstatecircuits_summer2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/solidstatecircuits_spring2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/solidstatecircuits_winter2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/solidstatecircuits_fall2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/solidstatecircuits_summer2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/solidstatecircuits_spring2014
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com