The reason why business community is using term “Semiconductor Market” in reference to what basically is a “Digital IC Market” is not clear to me. Semiconductor is a material displaying outstanding characteristics, differentiating it from conductors and insulators, which is used in applications far beyond digital (logic and memories) ICs. For some reason, other markets, also based entirely on semiconductor materials are referred to according to what they are. For instance, Analog IC Market, MEMS Market, Photovoltaic Market, LED Market, etc.      

 If this misguided terminology works for business/investments communities, that’s fine. The problem is that it also shows up in some semi-technical writings which should be more precise in using technical terms. For instance, only yesterday I came across an on-line report stating “…transistors, semiconductors, and other electronic components in the future….” Total confusion… What materials are transistors and most of those “other electronic components” made out of?

 By the way, if you are interested in this subject matter and would like to clarify some of the issues raised in this blog, you may want to take a look at my book “Guide to Semiconductor Engineering”. Just a suggestion…