An ASIC chip has been designed to display the famous Rickroll meme along with 164 other functions as part of Matthew Venn’s Zero to ASIC Course. The course allows aspiring chip engineers to learn ASIC design and get their designs fabricated. The ASIC chip is created using a multi-project wafer (MPW) approach to save costs. The Tiny Tapeout series of chips includes a variety of designs, and one notable design is the Rickroll meme created by engineer Bitluni. The design had to be significantly scaled down due to limited space, resulting in a GIF resembling graphics from early gaming consoles. The Tiny Tapeout chips, including the Rickroll design, can be accessed through a custom circuit board. These designs serve as proof of concept for chip designers and are open source for inspection. The Tiny Tapeout project is ongoing, with more designs planned for the future.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rickroll meme immortalized in custom ASIC | Technological advancement | More custom ASIC designs with embedded memes or personalizations | Desire for unique and personalized technology |
| Zero to ASIC course allows designs to be fabricated | Access to chip fabrication | Increased availability of chip fabrication for aspiring chip designers | Removing barriers to entry in chip design |
| Multi-project wafer (MPW) reduces chip fabrication cost | Cost-saving measure | More affordable chip fabrication for multiple designs through MPW | Increased accessibility and affordability in chip fabrication |
| Tiny Tapeout chips include multiple designs | Increased design capacity | More designs included on Tiny Tapeout chips, potentially reaching up to 250 designs | Providing space for a variety of designs on a single chip |
| Inclusion of meme projects in chip designs | Integration of humor in technology | More chips integrating memes or humor-related projects, serving as proofs of concept | Adding an element of fun and creativity to chip design |
| Custom circuit board needed to access designs | Specialized hardware requirement | More specialized hardware needed to access specific designs on ASIC chips | Ensuring proper functionality and control over different designs on the chip |
| Open source nature of submitted designs | Transparency and accessibility | Public inspection and review of submitted chip designs, allowing for learning and analysis | Promoting collaboration and knowledge-sharing in chip design |
| Expensive buy-in cost for the Zero to ASIC course | High cost for customization | Potential for high costs associated with custom chip design, limiting accessibility for some | Diminishing the affordability aspect of customization |
| Future iterations of Tiny Tapeout already in progress | Continuing development | Anticipated arrival of Tiny Tapeout 3 to 9 chips with new designs, expanding the range of options | Sustaining the momentum and interest in chip design courses and projects |
| Memes integrated into designs on Tiny Tapeout chips | Presence of memes in technology | Inclusion of meme designs in future Tiny Tapeout chips, showcasing humor in chip development | Reflecting a culture of internet humor and incorporating it into technology development processes |