What Significant Impact Does the Microprocessor Have?
Chances are, there are more than a handful of devices near you which contain microprocessors. In fact, you owe your ability to read this article to the microprocessor whether you are reading this online from some sort of computer, Smartphone or other Internet-enabled device. It can be easy to forget how significant something is when you rarely think about its impact on your life.
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History
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Intel developed what is considered by many to be the first microprocessor--the Intel 4004--in November 1971. This single microchip contained all the transistors (circuits) which had previously been on multiple chips. This drastically increased the speed of the processor (because electricity did not need to travel as far on the single chip) while reducing the required size. Furthermore, the size reduction reduced manufacturing and supply costs, a savings which electronics manufacturers would pass on to consumers.
The Intel 4004 powered the Busicom calculator, not a computer.
Progress
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Gordon Moore, who helped to found the Intel corporation, is credited with predicting that the number of transistors that can be placed on a single chip will double every two years. Not only has this proven true but, over time, it has become a goal for the industry. In fact, while the original Intel 4004 only contained 2,300 transistors, modern CPUs (central processing units, another term for microprocessors) contain 2 billion transistors. This trend has become known as Moore's Law and has further increased the efficiency of microprocessors and decreased production costs.
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Significance
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The microprocessor essentially paved the way for the personal computers we use today. The reduction in size and price allowed consumers to begin purchasing microcomputers, such as the Apple II, for personal use in the 1970s. Consumers were finally able to own a computer which was not the size of a traditional mainframe.
The trend has continued with companies manufacturing even smaller computers such as the laptop. Furthermore, devices such as cell phones and digital cameras also rely on microprocessor technology.
Currently, most people use computers and other CPU-based electronics both at home and at the work place (which are sometimes one and the same thanks to computer technology)--and every stop in between (Starbucks, for example). Because of computers, you might not have mailed a paper bill, purchased a paper airline ticket or used cash in years. Certainly, we would not be a planet connected by the Internet if the microprocessor hadn't made it feasible for consumers to own personal computers. It's obvious that our culture is powered by the computer which is, in turn, powered by the microprocessor.
Cultural Effects
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The invention of the microprocessor has had a much more subtle effect on society, as well. While you certainly use many electronics which you might recognize as CPU-based (computers), this technology has affected society in other ways. Dennis Báthory Kitsz explains in his article "The Impact of the Microprocessor, or, Is 1984 Here Two Years Early?" that microprocessors allow machines to take over work which had traditionally been completed by humans. The result of this is the loss of certain skills. He specifically wonders, "Who knows how to beat a rug in the age of vacuum cleaners? Or cook on a wood stove in the age of Corningware electric stovetops? Or draw water from a stream in an age of municipal water systems?"
Indeed, microprocessors power all of these tasks and more. Almost any electronic device you can name relies on a microprocessor, including refrigerators, coffee makers, electronic readers and CD players. You probably have never stopped to wonder how the anti-lock braking system (ABS) works in your car. It uses a microprocessor as well.
Speculation
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The advent of the microprocessor has changed the face of society. Companies will continue to develop faster, more powerful microprocessors and incorporate them into devices of countless functions. Society will continue to depend on CPU-based technology, often without even realizing it.
While we might have moved away from manual, blue-collar jobs because of computer automation, work in the computer and related industries continues to grow. It is more common than ever for someone to study some aspect of computer technology. Our increased reliance upon computers fuels further development of elements such as the microprocessor. Furthermore, service jobs--which frequently require you to use computers and electronics--have been on the rise.
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References
- Photo Credit microprocessor image by Pavol Kmeto from Fotolia.com
