Kevin,
> I was just wondering..
> can an operating system be a chip?
> [can] the BIOS (new BIOS of [course]) read instruction from a chip
> with its own seperate memory.
> Is this possible?
Yes. Many built-in computers have the OS on a chip. These
include the onboard computer for my Plymouth Reliant, and our
FANUC Robots (flash ROM). The advantage is protection against
change (once tested, it is nearly incorruptible).
You want your car, airliner, or robot to perform repeatedly.
The disadvantage is protection against change (when a bug is found
or improvement is desired, it is very difficult to upgrade). The
year after I bought my car, their was a new chip available that
reputedly solved some bugs and improved gas mileage 20%, but I was
never able to get a copy installed.
I understand that a Linux demonstration consists of a matchbox
sized web server in static ram. I have heard rumors that someone is
trying to market a microcontroller module with Linux in ROM. I have
heard rumors that Microsoft may release Windows CE in a ROM. I suspect
that both of these will happen, but not until a bus and CPU module
configuration becomes standard with the same performance level as a
current desktop (2-10yr). When this occurs, their present incarnation
will not be considered an operating system, just as the current
(no-longer-changing) BIOS level was the winning operating
system of the (rapidly changing) 80s and will no longer be considered
at the level of an (improving) operating system.
As occurred with hammers, canals, and motors, I believe that
this trend from supercomputer -> workstation -> desktop -> component
will continue until the component level reaches that of the human brain
(30-200yr).
My opinion,
Dr. Robert Meier
