The chapter describes CPU instruction and execution cycles; explains how primitive CPU instructions are combined to from complex processing operations; describes the key CPU design features, including instruction format, word size, and clock rate; describes the function of general-purpose and special-purpose registers; explains the methods of enhancing processor performance; and describes the principles and limitations of semiconductor based microprocessors. The chapter also summarizes future trends.
Wright’s Law Edges
Out Moore’s Law in Predicting Technology Development
In 1936, Theodore P. Wright wrote a paper entitled: “Factors
Affecting the Cost of Airplanes”. The summation of Mr. Wright’s paper can be
stated as “We learn by doing”. This
translates into the cost of a unit decreases as a function of the cumulative
production.
Wright’s Law, Moore’s Law and a few others were compared in
a Santa Fe Institute (SFI) working paper (Statistical
Basis for Predicting Technological Progress,) recently. What was compared
was the performance of Wright’s Law, Moore’s Law and four other technology-forecasting
models with constant-dollar historical cost data for 62 different technologies.
This analysis focused on cost that is the inflation-adjusted price of one “unit”.
What this working paper found was that Moore’s Law and
Wright’s Law were the most accurate of these technology models with regards to
production increasing exponentially. Wright’s Law did edge out Moore’s Law ever
so slightly because of the strength of its performance over longer time spans.
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