Introduction

Abstract

It has been roughly 60 years since the first mainframe was devised (Eckert and Mauchly 1947), starting the first generation of computing systems. During this period, extremely short if we consider the time it took mankind to accomplish such milestone, technological advances have succeeded at an incredible pace, mainly thanks to the rapid evolution of computers. This evolution has been in turn greatly supported by the density of transistors available to be integrated in circuits, which has been steadily increasing according to Moore’s Law (Moore 1965). Chips have been getting smaller and cheaper while their performance has been improving. Thus, it took less than 30 years to put directly at hands of individuals processing power unthinkable few years ago.