reincarnation, cycle of

reincarnation, cycle of
 n.

   See {cycle of reincarnation}.
    

cycle of reincarnation
reincarnation, cycle of

   A term coined by {Ivan Sutherland} ca. 1970 to refer to a
   well-known effect whereby function in a computing system
   family is migrated out to special-purpose {peripheral}
   hardware for speed, then the peripheral evolves toward more
   computing power as it does its job, then somebody notices that
   it is inefficient to support two asymmetrical processors in
   the architecture and folds the function back into the main
   {CPU}, at which point the cycle begins again.

   Several iterations of this cycle have been observed in
   {graphics-processor} ({blitter}) design, and at least one or
   two in communications and {floating-point} processors.  Also
   known as "the Wheel of Life", "the Wheel of Samsara" and other
   variations of the basic Hindu/Buddhist theological idea.

   [{Jargon File}]

   (1994-11-16)