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The next craze in art shows microscopic cartoons engraved on computer chips
02/24/99 01:00:00 AM
By Melanie Yeager
Knight Ridder Newspapers
But then again, at the time, who knew the minute circuitry of microprocessors would grace the pages of wall calendars in the 1990s?
Wee pictures of everything from animals to license plates have become the signatures of chip creators. But knowledge of this practice generally stayed within industry circles - until Florida State University researcher Michael Davidson discovered the imprints left by engineers under his high-power microscope.
Davidson, director of FSU's optical microscopy program, has generated publicity and revenue for FSU's National High Magnetic Laboratory by selling brightly colored photographs of his microscopic discoveries. His depictions of everything from beer to vitamins have become designs for products ranging from neckties to bedroom comforters.
Four years ago, while shooting the criss-cross circuitry of computer chips, Davidson zoomed in on a smiling face. The discovery gave him a jolt.
It was Waldo of the popular children's book that asks the question "Where's Waldo?" and presents a maze of faces in which to find him. Upon further study, Davidson found Daffy Duck of Warner Bros. cartoon fame. Both images were left by the chip's creator.
"When I first saw Waldo, I didn't know why he was there," Davidson, 48, said. "I was wondering if he was there to perform a special function on the chip."
Once Davidson realized the treasure-trove of minuscule drawings existed, he actively began to search them out and place them in the Silicon Zoo, which may be accessed at http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/creatures.
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