Ch6

What is the observation/prediction known as Moore's Law?

Chip performance per dollar doubles approximately every eighteen months.

According to Moore's Law, chip performance per dollar doubles every _ months.

eighteen

To what two main types of technology does Moore's Law apply?

Microprocessors and chip-based storage.

What technology characterized the first wave of computing in the 1960s?

Mainframes.

What technology characterized the second wave of computing in the 1970s?

Minicomputers.

The third wave of computing in the 1980s was characterized by what technology?

PCs (Personal Computers).

The fourth wave of computing in the 1990s is known for what?

Internet Computing.

What revolution defined the fifth wave of computing in the 2000s?

The Smartphone Revolution.

What is the name for the sixth wave of computing that began in the 2010s?

Pervasive Computing.

What technology characterizes the seventh (and current) wave of computing?

AI via Computing in the Cloud.

At what rate does the capacity of data storage typically double?

Every 12 months.

The capacity of optical fiber in telecommunications is observed to double at what rapid rate?

Every 9 months.

What technology's performance doubles every 6 months, a rate significantly faster than Moore's Law?

AI Systems Performance.

Term: Kilobyte (KB)

Definition: One thousand bytes.

A Megabyte (MB) represents how many bytes?

One million bytes.

A Gigabyte (GB) represents how many bytes?

One billion bytes.

A Terabyte (TB) represents how many bytes?

One trillion bytes.

A Petabyte (PB) represents how many bytes?

One quadrillion bytes.

An Exabyte (EB) represents how many bytes?

One quintillion bytes.

Telecommunication capacity, also known as bandwidth, is typically measured in what units?

Bits per second (bps).

Term: RAM (Random-Access Memory)

Definition: Fast, chip-based, volatile storage.

A key characteristic of RAM is that it is _, meaning its contents are wiped clean when power is cut off.

volatile

Term: Flash Memory (Solid State Drive/SSD)

Definition: Chip-based, nonvolatile storage.

A key characteristic of Flash Memory (SSD) is that it is _, meaning it retains data even when powered down.

nonvolatile

What is the primary difference between RAM and Flash Memory regarding data retention?

RAM is volatile (loses data without power), while Flash Memory is nonvolatile (retains data without power).

What is the definition of E-Waste?

Discarded, often obsolete technology.

Why is e-waste considered a major environmental issue?

It contains a toxic cocktail of hazardous materials.

Name three hazardous materials commonly found in e-waste.

Lead, cadmium, and mercury.

How does US e-waste recycling generally compare to that of other wealthy nations?

US recycling lags behind other wealthy nations.

What is price elasticity?

The rate at which the demand for a product or service fluctuates in response to a change in price.

How does a phenomenon like Moore's Law influence the price elasticity of computing products?

By dramatically lowering costs over time, it creates high price elasticity, where falling prices lead to explosive new demand.

The effect of high _ is when a dramatic price drop for a product leads to an explosive burst of new demand, creating new markets.

price elasticity

What real-world technology trend is an example of new markets being unlocked by the price elasticity of cheap microprocessors?

The Internet of Things (IoT).