1. Are other aspects of computing advancing as well? At what rates? 3. What is a
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Question
1. Are other aspects of computing advancing as well? At what rates?3. What is a microprocessor? What devices do you or your family own that contain microprocessors (and hence are impacted by Moore’s Law)?
4. What is a semiconductor? What is the substance from which most semiconductors are made?
5. How does flash memory differ from the memory in a PC? Are both solid state?
6. Which of the following are solid state devices: an iPod shuffle, a TiVo DVR, a typical laptop PC?
7. Why is Moore’s Law important for managers? How does it influence managerial thinking?
8. What is price elasticity? How does Moore’s Law relate to this concept? What’s special about falling chip prices compared to price drops for products like clothing or food?
9. Give examples of firms that have effectively leveraged the advancement of processing, storage, and networking technology.
10. What are the five waves of computing? Give examples of firms and industries impacted by the fifth wave.
11. As Moore’s Law advances, technology becomes increasingly accessible to the poor. Give examples of how tech has benefited those who likely would not have been able to afford the technology of a prior generation.
12. How have cheaper, faster chips impacted the camera industry? Give an example of the leadership shifts that have occurred in this industry.
13. What has been the impact of “faster, cheaper” on Apple’s business lines?
14. How did Amazon utilize the steep decline in magnetic storage costs to its advantage?
15. How does Moore’s Law impact production and inventory decisions?
Explanation / Answer
A device that integrates the functions of the central processing unit (CPU) of a computer onto one semiconductor chip or integrated circuit (IC). In essence, the microprocessor contains the core elements of a computer system, its computation and control engine. Only a power supply, memory, peripheral interface ICs, and peripherals (typically input/output and storage devices) need be added to build a complete computer system. See also Computer peripheral devices. A microprocessor consists of multiple internal function units. A basic design has an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a control unit, a memory interface, an interrupt or exception controller, and an internal cache. More sophisticated microprocessors might also contain extra units that assist in floating-point match calculations, program branching, or vector processing A central processing unit (CPU) contained within one chip. Although all CPUs today are microprocessors, the term originated in the 1970s when an entire processor was first miniaturized onto a single chip. Since the turn of the century, the semiconductor manufacturing process has become so sophisticated that not only one, but two, four and more CPU cores are built on a single chip (see dual core and multicore). Microprocessor is often abbreviated MPU for "microprocessor unit" or just MP, the latter also spelled with the Greek µ symbol for micro or the letter "u" as an alternate (µP or uP). They Started as 8-Bit The first microprocessors were created by Texas Instruments, Intel and a Scottish electronics company. Who was really first has been debated. First-generation 8-bit families were Intel's 8080, Zilog's Z80, Motorola's 6800 and Rockwell's 6502. Today's Microprocessors Are 32 and 64-Bit The 32-bit and 64-bit microprocessors found in most of today's workstations and servers are the x86, PowerPC and SPARC lines. More than 200 million of these chips ship inside general-purpose computers each year. Eight-Bit Lives On For embedded systems, newer versions of 8- and 16-bit, first-generation microprocessor families are widely used and exceed the desktop computer and server market in volume. Each year, millions of microprocessors and billions of microcontrollers are built into toys, appliances and vehicles. A microcontroller contains a microprocessor, memory, clock and I/O control on a single chip (see microcontroller). For a list of microprocessor and microcontroller vendors, visit www.edn.com/microdirectory. See chip and embedded system. The 386 Microprocessor No technology is more incredible than the microprocessor. Every second, trillions of switch openings and closings occur all within a thousandth of an inch below the surface. The older 386 chip is shown here because it contains a mere 275,000 transistors, and you can see some slight detail. Contemporary chips contain hundreds of millions of transistors, which at this magnification would show up only as a sea of gray. (Image courtesy of Intel Corporation.) Intel developed what is considered by many to be the first microprocessor--the Intel 4004--in November 1971. This single microchip contained all the transistors (circuits) which had previously been on multiple chips. This drastically increased the speed of the processor (because electricity did not need to travel as far on the single chip) while reducing the required size. Furthermore, the size reduction reduced manufacturing and supply costs, a savings which electronics manufacturers would pass on to consumers. The Intel 4004 powered the Busicom calculator, not a computer. Progress Gordon Moore, who helped to found the Intel corporation, is credited with predicting that the number of transistors that can be placed on a single chip will double every two years. Not only has this proven true but, over time, it has become a goal for the industry. In fact, while the original Intel 4004 only contained 2,300 transistors, modern CPUs (central processing units, another term for microprocessors) contain 2 billion transistors. This trend has become known as Moore's Law and has further increased the efficiency of microprocessors and decreased production costs. Significance The microprocessor essentially paved the way for the personal computers we use today. The reduction in size and price allowed consumers to begin purchasing microcomputers, such as the Apple II, for personal use in the 1970s. Consumers were finally able to own a computer which was not the size of a traditional mainframe. The trend has continued with companies manufacturing even smaller computers such as the laptop. Furthermore, devices such as cell phones and digital cameras also rely on microprocessor technology. Currently, most people use computers and other CPU-based electronics both at home and at the work place (which are sometimes one and the same thanks to computer technology)--and every stop in between (Starbucks, for example). Because of computers, you might not have mailed a paper bill, purchased a paper airline ticket or used cash in years. Certainly, we would not be a planet connected by the Internet if the microprocessor hadn't made it feasible for consumers to own personal computers. It's obvious that our culture is powered by the computer which is, in turn, powered by the microprocessor. Cultural Effects The invention of the microprocessor has had a much more subtle effect on society, as well. While you certainly use many electronics which you might recognize as CPU-based (computers), this technology has affected society in other ways. Dennis Báthory Kitsz explains in his article "The Impact of the Microprocessor, or, Is 1984 Here Two Years Early?" that microprocessors allow machines to take over work which had traditionally been completed by humans. The result of this is the loss of certain skills. He specifically wonders, "Who knows how to beat a rug in the age of vacuum cleaners? Or cook on a wood stove in the age of Corningware electric stovetops? Or draw water from a stream in an age of municipal water systems?" Indeed, microprocessors power all of these tasks and more. Almost any electronic device you can name relies on a microprocessor, including refrigerators, coffee makers, electronic readers and CD players. You probably have never stopped to wonder how the anti-lock braking system (ABS) works in your car. It uses a microprocessor as well. Speculation The advent of the microprocessor has changed the face of society. Companies will continue to develop faster, more powerful microprocessors and incorporate them into devices of countless functions. Society will continue to depend on CPU-based technology, often without even realizing it. While we might have moved away from manual, blue-collar jobs because of computer automation, work in the computer and related industries continues to grow. It is more common than ever for someone to study some aspect of computer technology. Our increased reliance upon computers fuels further development of elements such as the microprocessor. Furthermore, service jobs--which frequently require you to use computers and electronics--have been on the rise.
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