Change In Technology

In the computer industry, technology is perishable and moves faster than in any other industry.

This rapid-fire pace means continuous increases in productivity and competitivenes for our industry and the myriad of other industries -- from health care and manufacturing to transportation and retail -- that have come to depend on computer products and services for their vitality.

It also means that cutting-edge products are obsolete practically overnight. So, as product life-cycles are continually decreasing, the value of quickly bringing products to market is continually increasing.

In this dynamic environment, speed is essential. So far, the computer industry has succeeded by using change to its advantage.

• Every 18 months, advances in technology virtually double the amount of computing power a dollar will buy.

• In the last 35 years, computer performance has increased by a factor of one million while the entry level price of a computer has decreased by a factor of 1,000.

• If automobile development had moved at the same speed as computer development, your luxury car would cruise comfortably at 1 million miles per hour, get a half million miles per gallon of gas, and sell for under $2.40.

• In 1991, more than 70% of CSPP member companies' revenue came from products that were less than two years old. That ratio is expected to exceed 80% by 1995.

• CSPP companies devoted 12% of 1991 worldwide revenue -- about $15 billion -- to R&D, despite cutting costs in many other areas. This represents 21% of all privately-funded R&D.

Change / Industry Change / Work Force