A Nanosecond of Time (Future of Computing)
Known for handing out 11.8-inch pieces of wire to represent a nanosecond (the distance light travels in one billionth of a second), Admiral Hopper educated generations on computer efficiency.
Full Transcript
If you ask a programmer how long a nanosecond takes, they might say ‘one billionth of a second.’ But what does that actually mean in physical space?
I used to hold up a piece of wire 11.8 inches long. That is the maximum distance electricity or light can travel in a vacuum in one nanosecond.
When engineers wondered why satellite transmissions or microchips had to be kept compact, I showed them that wire. Every extra foot of wire adds another nanosecond of delay!
The most dangerous phrase in the language is, ‘We’ve always done it this way.’
Human beings are allergic to change. They love to say, ‘We’ve tried that before.’ But in computing and technology, if you don’t experiment and fail fast, you fall behind.
A ship in port is safe, but that is not what ships are built for. Sail out to sea and do new things.
Defining Key Excerpts
"The most dangerous phrase in the language is, 'We've always done it this way.'"
"A ship in port is safe, but that is not what ships are built for. Sail out to sea and do new things."
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