Moore's Law And More: Fast/Cheap Computing

Flashcards covering key terms and definitions related to Moore's Law, computing advancements, AI, machine learning, data storage, and data measurement units.

Moore’s Law

An observation that chip performance per dollar doubles approximately every eighteen months, primarily applicable to processors and chip-based storage.

Microprocessor

The part of the computer that executes the instructions of a computer program.

Artificial intelligence (AI)

Intelligence (perceiving, synthesizing, and inferring information) demonstrated by machines and computer programs instead of by humans and animals.

Machine learning (ML)

A field of study within AI devoted to understanding and building methods that 'learn' from data to improve performance on a given task.

Emulator

Software that acts as a real-time interpreter for other software, enabling compatibility between different instruction sets or standards.

Compiler

A program that turns the code a software developer writes into the instruction sets a microprocessor understands (machine language or machine code).

Latency

A delay in performing a task, often associated with an Internet round-trip when offloading complex tasks to the cloud.

Random-access memory (RAM)

Fast, chip-based volatile storage in a computing device.

Volatile memory

Storage that is wiped clean when power is turned off.

Nonvolatile memory

Storage that retains data even when powered down.

Flash memory

Nonvolatile, chip-based storage.

Semiconductor

A substance such as silicon dioxide used inside most computer chips that is capable of both enabling and inhibiting the flow of electricity.

Solid state electronics

Semiconductor-based devices.

Solid state drive (SSD)

A chip-based, nonvolatile storage device.

Optical fiber line

High-speed glass or plastic-lined networking cable used in telecommunications.

Bit

One binary digit (0 or 1), representing the smallest unit of data in computing.

Binary

The base 2 numbering system, which uses only digits zero (0) and one (1).

Byte

A group of 8 bits, typically representing one typewritten character.

Kilobyte (KB)

Approximately one thousand bytes (2^10 bytes).

Megabyte (MB)

Approximately one million bytes (2^20 bytes).

Gigabyte (GB)

Approximately one billion bytes (2^30 bytes).

Terabyte (TB)

Approximately one trillion bytes (2^40 bytes).

Petabyte (PB)

Approximately one quadrillion bytes (2^50 bytes).

Exabyte (EB)

Approximately one quintillion bytes (2^60 bytes).

Zettabyte (ZB)

Approximately one sextillion bytes (2^70 bytes).

Yottabyte (YB)

Approximately one septillion bytes (2^80 bytes).