Communication Technology Update, 9th Edition

III

Computers & Consumer Electronics

Developments in computer technology are at the core of every digital technology discussed in this book. It is therefore not surprising that personal computers themselves are experiencing change as profound as for any other communication technology. This year’s computer technology will unquestionably be replaced in less than two years by a technology that has up to twice the performance at almost half the cost (a phenomenon known as “Moore’s law”). These advances in computer technology, in turn, lead to advances in almost every other technology, especially those consumer products incorporating microprocessors or other computer components. The next nine chapters illustrate the speed, direction, and impact of ...