BENGALURU, India — Intel Corp. researchers have identified five focus areas for 2008, including "platform-on-a-chip" development.

Intel's corporate technology group, which includes about 1,000 researchers in 15 locations worldwide, including here, has outlined five areas it will focus on this year: terascale computing, platform-on-a- chip, trusted services, a mobile computing initiative called "carry small, live large" and "ultimate connectivity."

Justin Rattner, Intel's CTO and director of its corporate technology group, said researchers are working on other technologies that could enter production in three to five years. But the five focus areas would dominate its efforts during 2008, he added.

Intel demonstrated here the results of work on an 80-core teraflop research processor unveiled last year. Research teams here and in Hillsboro, Ore., are developing the technology. "We hope to unleash the next generation of applications through our work in terascale computing, which really is scalable computing for the future." Rattner said.

Applications include souped-up desktop computers with "the capabilities that Hollywood studios have for animation," he said.

Platform"on-a-chip is Intel's version of enhanced system-on-chip integration. Integrating processors, chip sets, communications, power management and other functions on a platform would enable targeted applications. "This grows existing markets and creates new markets [while delivering] greater benefits to the end user," Rattner claimed.

Intel's mobility research focuses on ultra-mobile, context-aware platforms such as developing digitally-enhanced radios. Rattner said research is focusing on integrating radio functions into a single chip. A Guadalajara, Mexico, lab is developing the mobile technology, but Rattner said a product is still several years away.

Intel's ultimate connectivity platform would include a mobile wireless phone, GPS, Wi-Fi and other capabilities. "These mobile Internet devices will be the next important class of consumer devices," Rattner predicted.