four key mathematical laws

There are four key mathematical laws that are very important for understanding growth, and value of technological development. They are:
Sarnoff’s Law, Moore’s Law^w, Metcalfe’s Law^w, and Reed’s Law^w.

David Sarnoff was a broadcast pioneer who point out that: The value of broadcast networks is proportionate to the number of viewers.

Gordon Moore, cofounder of Intel, predicted that the growth of computing power follows an empirical exponential law and doubles in every 12 month period.

Bob Metcalfe, who lead the team who invented the Ethernet, came up with a law that describes the growth of value in networks: Since the number of potential connections between nodes, grows more quickly than the number of nodes, the total value of a network, where each node can reach every other node, grows with the square of the number of nodes.

David Reed expanded on Metcalfe’s Law to say: When the same network includes ways for individuals to form groups, the value is exponential.

Consider these four laws together. And add in Ray Kurzwiel’s law if you’d like to include more recent theory. Consider what they imply for blogging/pod(vod)casting, wireless/mobile technology, and the trend of emerging online commnities. Then weave these streams of thought together; it creates a fascinating story of the future.

Tags: metcalfe’s law, moore’s law, reed’s law, sarnoff’s law, mathematical laws, future, technological growth