The final laboratory, the IAL, cond

The final laboratory, the IAL, conducts research into the future of
computer architectures, where Intel’s own products are used as components
in a future computing solution. This lab corresponds to the top
of the value chain that Citicorp shared with IBM’s McGroddy (see chapter
5). The IAL enables Intel to access external knowledge from many
sources and to develop architectures that integrate these future technologies
into coherent solutions. It is a key resource that lets Intel retain
the systems-level knowledge it needs to influence the future evolution
of its ecosystem. The IAL also helps coordinate the activities of the third-party developers. As with the CRL, the primary focus of IAL is on
accessing external knowledge and internally focusing on architectural
designs that integrate these parts effectively. Unlike CRL, though,
Intel’s IAL must plan its future systems-level architectures in conjunction
with other companies (such as Microsoft), whose capabilities and
resources also influence powerfully the direction of computing.