At the end of about a week, I called back and said, 'I need something to compare this to. Could I please have a microsecond?'
Attribution disputed; shown as originally published.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Hopper humorously asks for a microsecond to illustrate how fast computers operate compared to human perception.
- In plain terms
- Computers work so fast that even a tiny fraction of a second feels long to them.
- What can you take from it?
- Understanding computer speed helps bridge the gap between human and machine timing.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do you explain speed to someone unfamiliar with tech?
- What analogies help others understand computer timing?
Another view
The quote is a joke and not a literal technical specification.
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In total desperation, I called over to the engineering building, and I said, 'Please cut off a nanosecond and send it over to me.'
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