Raspberrry Pi Zero Shows How Remarkable Exponential Technology Is

Exponential Technology  

A recently shared comparison of a 'super computer' from 1957 and the latest offering from Raspberry Pi clearly demonstrates the power of exponential technologies.

Compared to its own predecessor, the Raspberry Pi Zero is half the size of a Model A+, with twice the utility. This tiny computer is even more remarkable for its cost and performance if we turn back the clock a few more years.

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Twitter users @SadHappyAmazing and @HistoricalPics recently posted two photographs showing the Raspberry Pi Zero juxtaposed in front of the Norwich City Council Treasurer's Department building, where the delivery of the Elliott 405 computer was photographed in 1957.

58 Years on... pic.twitter.com/rgMSmiMCTF

— Historical Pics (@HistoricalPics) November 28, 2015

The folks at blog dds extended the comparison here:

	Elliott 405	Raspberry Pi Zero
Year	1957	2015
Price	£85,000 (1957)	$5
Instruction cycle time	10.71-0.918 ms (93-1089 Hz)	1 ns (1 GHz clock)
Main memory	16 kB drum store	512 MB LPDDR2 SDRAM
Fast memory	1280 bytes (nickel delay lines)	32 kB (16 kB I + 16kB D L1 cache)
Secondary memory	1.2 MB (300,000 word magnetic film)	8 GB (typical micro SD flash card - not included)
Output bandwidth	25 characters/s	373 MB/s (1080p60 HDMI)
Weight	3-6 tons	9 g
Size	21 cabinets, each 2m x 77cm x 77cm	65mm x 30mm x 5.4mm

The comparison reminds us of another example we recently shared on our Facebook page:

SOURCE  blog dds

By 33rd Square

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