Conference reviews design of complex electronic systems

To meet the UK's massive demand for mobile communications it is essential for designers and programmers to work more closely together.

This is the premise of the UK's first Electronic Design Automation (EDA) Tools Forum, which is being held at the Institution of Electrical Engineers on Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 November, to review the tools used to design today's complex semiconductors and electronic systems.

The EDA Tools Forum, which is being co-organised and chaired by Professor Bashir Al-Hashimi from the School of Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) at the University of Southampton, brings together speakers from industry developers and design companies such as Mentor Graphics, Synopsys, Cadence, Magma Design and ARM.

'We need mobile phones, PDAs and digital cameras and we want low power equipment at lower prices,' comments Professor Al-Hashimi. 'The challenge is to develop new EDA tools which will allow designers to produce error-free complex products much more quickly.'

As well as addressing the most pressing issues in the design, application and development of Electronic Design Automation tools, the conference will provide an opportunity for product designers and EDA tool-makers to look at how they can work more closely together and to review current barriers to progress. It will also enable newly-qualified engineers to familiarise themselves with the challenges ahead.

'Technology is changing all the time and EDA tools need to be updated,' comments Professor Al-Hashimi. 'This forum is about bringing together the developers of these tools and the designers to iron out the problems.'