Guys Like This Can Make You Rich

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Most investors haven't heard of the man you're about to meet. But they'll certainly wish they had...

He's an executive with the storied Fairchild Semiconductor Int. Inc. (NYSE: FCS) - one of the original Silicon Valley chip makers that played an integral role in the computer revolution.

But don't expect to hear him extolling the virtues of semiconductors.

He's working on something bigger now.

Much bigger.

In fact, now that I've seen his research firsthand, demand for this rapidly growing technology could be twice as big as I predicted a month ago here in Money Morning.

So take notes...

When the history of the high-impact sensor revolution is written, you can bet there will be plenty of ink devoted to Janusz Bryzek.

There will be plenty of grateful investors, too...

Developing a $1 Trillion Industry

To be sure, the more than $300 billion semiconductor market is nothing to sneeze at. It's critical to our high-tech society, and Fairchild has remained a key player in this sector for decades.

But Janusz Bryzek - a high-tech pioneer for nearly 30 years - sees sensors as a far more pervasive technology. And he sees how quickly (and quietly) it's becoming a $1 trillion market.

I recently had the chance to meet with Bryzek at a conference on advanced sensors held here in the heart of Silicon Valley.

Indeed, our chat occurred shortly after I wrote to you here in Money Morning, predicting that the world will see the use of up to 4 trillion sensors. [See "Some People Will Get Stinking Rich on These Devices."]

Turns out, Bryzek's research and analysis makes me believe that I underestimated potential unit sales by nearly half.

Bryzek cites a study by German giant Bosch that says we're looking at a potential 20-fold increase in unit sales to 7 trillion sensors - or roughly 1,000 each for every person on Earth today.

So we're talking about a market that one day could be worth trillions. And this skyrocketing growth means big bucks for savvy investors who get in now while there is still so much upside...

Sensors Are Already All Around Us

See, sensors are on the verge of becoming completely ubiquitous. And the reason is really very simple. These solid-stated devices literally "sense" aspects of the world around us - temperature, humidity, pressure, sound, impact, tilt, angle, speed, and much more.

Bryzek even cites a new breakthrough in which sensors can be "printed" on the skin. Rather than made of ink, these "tattoos" are flexible electronics that will be used for medical monitoring.

They are the perfect components for our data-driven world. They work great for things like smartphones, medical devices, wearable technology, and deployment of airbags in auto crashes.

As a result, though most of us don't know it, sensors are all around us...

In fact, while writing this report I took the dog for a walk to clear my head. I got halfway around the block when I ran into a utility worker who had just hooked up a handheld device to a small water-monitoring station. She told me her device had four sensors designed to measure overall water quality.

Bryzek points out that sensors have been around for decades but have only recently entered the mainstream. If anyone would understand why that's true and the impact sensors will have on our lives and portfolios, it's Bryzek.

See, he's a leading authority on advanced sensors known as MEMS, which stands for microelectromechanical systems. MEMS are devices like accelerometers that measure gravity, tilt angle, incline, rotation, and vibration in things like smartphones and tablet computers.

Considered a pioneer in the field, he has roughly 30 years of experience, including stints as a CEO and chief technology officer at other firms. Bryzek has authored a number of papers and is frequently cited as a leading expert in the field. He chairs the group Tsensors (Trillion Sensors) Summit that will be held next month at Stanford University.

At Fairchild, Bryzek serves as vice president in charge of development for the MEMS and Sensors group. Fairchild is a storied firm that was one of the original Silicon Valley chip makers that played an integral role in the computer revolution.

Ironically, MEMS were around at the dawn of the semiconductor industry in the 1950s but were much slower to take off. They were difficult to make and integrate into other components.

But, driven by consumer needs, they recently entered the mainstream in a big way. Bryzek told me that two recent milestones really helped push mass adoption of this technology.

Games & Smartphones

In 2006, the Nintendo Wii broke new ground with motion sensors embedded inside the game's innovative wireless remote. Then in 2007, Steve Jobs gave this field a huge stamp of approval by including MEMS in the iPhone.

Since that time, the use of sensors has exploded.

For instance, mobile sensors alone grew at a rate of 200% a year from 2007 to 2012, the last full year for which statistics are available.

Some of the big growth drivers Bryzek sees for the immediate future are:

  • Mobile health, in which medical sensors communicate with smartphones and can extend quality healthcare to billions around the world.
  • The Internet of Everything, in which devices as disparate as forklifts and diapers communicate through a giant Web for objects running in the background.
  • Smart systems, like utility meters, the power grid, and autos. They combine computing, communication, and sensing.
  • The Central Nervous System for the Earth that will alone require 1 trillion sensors for things like energy exploration, climate monitoring, supply chain management, and earthquake warnings.

As I spoke with Bryzek, I couldn't help but think of all the great investments that lie ahead. Literally, MEMS and other sensors will touch every aspect of the global economy - from shipping to manufacturing to healthcare to utilities.

And that's just for starters...

These devices will find ever greater use by the world's militaries, mining and energy firms, agriculture, and biotech. You'll find them in robots, robotic cars, smart homes, artificial limbs and synthetic skin, light-filtering windows, security systems, and more.

[Editor's Note: The biggest role sensors will play also happens to be the most important one, as you'll see in Michael's presentation: "One Device to End All Disease... and It Costs Less Than $50."]

About the Author

Michael A. Robinson is a 36-year Silicon Valley veteran and one of the top tech and biotech financial analysts working today. That's because, as a consultant, senior adviser, and board member for Silicon Valley venture capital firms, Michael enjoys privileged access to pioneering CEOs, scientists, and high-profile players. And he brings this entire world of Silicon Valley "insiders" right to you...

  • He was one of five people involved in early meetings for the $160 billion "cloud" computing phenomenon.
  • He was there as Lee Iacocca and Roger Smith, the CEOs of Chrysler and GM, led the robotics revolution that saved the U.S. automotive industry.
  • As cyber-security was becoming a focus of national security, Michael was with Dave DeWalt, the CEO of McAfee, right before Intel acquired his company for $7.8 billion.

This all means the entire world is constantly seeking Michael's insight.

In addition to being a regular guest and panelist on CNBC and Fox Business, he is also a Pulitzer Prize-nominated writer and reporter. His first book Overdrawn: The Bailout of American Savings warned people about the coming financial collapse - years before the word "bailout" became a household word.

Silicon Valley defense publications vie for his analysis. He's worked for Defense Media Network and Signal Magazine, as well as The New York Times, American Enterprise, and The Wall Street Journal.

And even with decades of experience, Michael believes there has never been a moment in time quite like this.

Right now, medical breakthroughs that once took years to develop are moving at a record speed. And that means we are going to see highly lucrative biotech investment opportunities come in fast and furious.

To help you navigate the historic opportunity in biotech, Michael launched the Bio-Tech Profit Alliance.

His other publications include: Strategic Tech Investor, The Nova-X Report, Bio-Technology Profit Alliance and Nexus-9 Network.

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