Bell’s Law of Computer Classes
E739754
Bell’s Law of Computer Classes is a principle in computer engineering that explains how new, cheaper, and smaller classes of computers emerge roughly every decade, reshaping the computing landscape.
Statements (49)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
principle in computer engineering
ⓘ
scientific law ⓘ |
| appliesTo |
Internet of Things devices
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
cloud computing infrastructures ⓘ edge computing devices ⓘ embedded systems ⓘ laptops ⓘ mainframe computers ⓘ minicomputers ⓘ network computers ⓘ personal computers ⓘ smartphones ⓘ tablets ⓘ wearable computers ⓘ workstations ⓘ |
| assumption |
continued progress in semiconductor density and cost
ⓘ
new applications emerge when computing becomes cheaper and smaller ⓘ |
| coreIdea |
new computer classes are cheaper and smaller than previous classes
ⓘ
new computer classes are enabled by advances in semiconductor technology ⓘ new computer classes create new markets and applications ⓘ new computer classes emerge roughly every decade ⓘ older computer classes eventually become mature or obsolete ⓘ |
| countryOfOrigin |
United States of America
ⓘ
surface form:
United States
|
| creator | Gordon Bell NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| describes |
emergence of new classes of computers
ⓘ
impact of new computer classes on computing landscape ⓘ long‑term evolution of computing platforms ⓘ relationship between cost and size of computers ⓘ |
| effect |
creation of new dominant vendors and ecosystems
ⓘ
obsolescence of some older computer classes ⓘ restructuring of computer markets ⓘ |
| field |
computer engineering
ⓘ
computer science ⓘ |
| firstFormulatedIn | 1970s ⓘ |
| mainSubject |
computer architecture
ⓘ
computer classes ⓘ evolution of computer systems ⓘ |
| namedAfter | Gordon Bell NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| notablePublicationContext | papers and talks by Gordon Bell on computer evolution ⓘ |
| relatedTo |
Dennard scaling
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Moore’s Law NERFINISHED ⓘ computer industry evolution ⓘ disruptive innovation ⓘ technology life cycle ⓘ |
| temporalPattern | approximately 10‑year cycle ⓘ |
| timeScale | decades ⓘ |
| usedFor |
analyzing historical trends in computing
ⓘ
forecasting future computer platforms ⓘ strategic planning in computer industry ⓘ |
Referenced by (2)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.