Achievement Quote by Henry Petroski
“The most amazing achievement of the computer software industry is its continuing cancellation of the steady and staggering gains made by the computer hardware industry.”
About This Quote
Source Book: "The Evolution of Useful Things" by Henry Petroski, 1992
Software advances often outpace hardware, making hardware gains seem stagnant.
In simple terms: Software outpaces hardware.
Key Takeaway
Recognize software’s role in progress.
Themes
technology
economics
innovation
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
observational
explanatory
When to use this quote
- tech startups
- product development
- IT budgeting
Key Concepts
Moore’s law
software abstraction
hardware limits
Questions to Reflect On
- Can software compensate for hardware limits?
- How does hardware lag affect innovation?
A Different Perspective
Hardware improvements still essential for performance ceilings.
![“Whether or not science can be applied to that mental construct [i.e. the designed entity] is a matter of availability. If there is body of scientific knowledge that can be applied, then it would be foolish not to exploit it. However, if there is none, it does not mean that the thing cannot be…” quote by Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/17d/henry-petroski-10198_availability_whether-or-not-science-can-be-applied-to_341822.jpg)
