“It takes these very simple-minded instructions – ‘Go fetch a number, add it to this number, put the result there, perceive if it’s greater than this other number’ – but executes them at a rate of, let’s say, 1,000,000 per second. At 1,000,000 per second, the results appear to be magic.”
- February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011
- American
- Entrepreneur, businessman, industrial designer
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Quote
“It takes these very simple-minded instructions – ‘Go fetch a number, add it to this number, put the result there, perceive if it’s greater than this other number’ – but executes them at a rate of, let’s say, 1,000,000 per second. At 1,000,000 per second, the results appear to be magic.”
Explanation
In this quote, Steve Jobs explains the power of computers and how they can turn simple, basic operations into seemingly magical outcomes. He uses a simple example of basic instructions, like fetching numbers, adding them, and comparing values, which on their own seem trivial. However, the real power comes from the speed at which these operations are executed—millions of times per second. At such an incredibly fast rate, these simple instructions create complex results and provide users with the immediate, impactful outcomes that we often take for granted in the digital world.
Jobs’ description illustrates how computers, though built on simple instructions and binary operations, have the ability to perform tasks at such high speeds that the end result seems almost magical. This reflects Jobs’ appreciation for the elegance of computing and the underlying technology that powers it, which allows us to do incredible things with just basic computational steps.
Today, this quote remains relevant as we continue to push the boundaries of what technology can do, from artificial intelligence to machine learning. The underlying principle is that even the simplest actions, when executed at an incredible scale and speed, can produce extraordinary results. Jobs’ words remind us of the power of computing, and how it can transform everyday tasks into something that feels like magic through the rapid execution of simple instructions.
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