Abstract
Present-day computer procurements need to be planned on the basis of predictions of future technology. This is because present CPUs, peripherals and software will have to coexist and interconnect with future CPUs, peripherals and software.
“Prediction is very difficult, especially of the future.”
(Neils Bohr)[1]
crystal gazing: the practice of staring into a crystal ball in order to arouse visual perceptions, as of distant happenings, future events, etc.[2] [3]
NRAO is operated by Associated Universities, Inc., under contract with the U. S. National Science Foundation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Thomas A. Bass 1985, “The Eudæmonic Pie”Vintage Books (Random House), New York. The Bohr quotation is taken from the title page of Chapter 1. This is a very entertaining book about microcomputers and roulette and a variety of other subjects.
Definition of crystal gazing from: Random House Dictionary of the English Language, 1971, The Unabridged Edition.
Previous papers in the author’s “Crystal Gazing” series include:
I. “Gazing Into the Crystal Ball”pp. 490–494 in Image Processing in Astronomy, ed. G. Sedmak, M. Capaccioli, R.J. Allen, Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, the proceedings of an international workshop held June 4–8, 1979, in Trieste, Italy.
II. “Implications of Advances in Digital Data Storage Technology”pp. 345–359 in Astronomical Microdensitometry Conference, ed. D.A. Klinglesmith, NASA Conference Publication 2317, the proceedings of a workshop held May 11–13, 1983, at Goddard Space Flight Center.
III. “Image Processing Technology for the NNTT”a report and invited talk prepared for delivery before the NNTT Scientific Advisory Committee, 29 September 1983.
IV. “Workstations in Astronomy-Image Processing and Data Analysis”invited talk at the “Workshop on Applications of Supermicrocomputer Workstations in Physics and Astronomy”held 20–22 January 1984 at the Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
V. “Computer System Technology Projections”pp. 153–170 in Selected Topics on Data Analysis in Astronomy, ed. V. Di Gesù, L. Scarsi, P. Crane, World Scientific, Singapore, 1987, the general lectures given at the Second Workshop on Data Analysis in Astronomy held April 20–27, 1986, in Erice, Italy.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1989 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Wells, D.C. (1989). Crystal Gazing VI. Updating Computer Technology Projections. In: Di Gesù, V., Scarsi, L., Crane, P., Friedman, J.H., Levialdi, S., Maccarone, M.C. (eds) Data Analysis in Astronomy III. Ettore Majorana International Science Series, vol 40. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5646-2_30
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5646-2_30
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-5648-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-5646-2
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive