| 释义 |
Metcalfe's law, n. Telecomm. and Computing.
Brit. |ˈmɛtkɑːfs lɔː|, U.S. |ˈmɛtkæfs ˈlɔ|, |ˈmɛtkæfs ˈlɑ|
[‹ the genitive of the name of Robert M. Metcalfe (b. 1946), U.S. inventor of the Ethernet, who first formulated the law (see quot. 1993) + law n.1]
A principle which states that the usefulness or value of a network is proportional to the square of the number of its users.
1993G. Gilder in Forbes 13 Sept. 160/1 In this era of networking, he [sc. Robert Metcalfe] is the author of what I will call Metcalfe's law of the telecosm, showing the magic of interconnections: connect any number, ‘n’, of machines—whether computers, phones or even cars—and you get ‘n’ squared potential value. 1999Time 3 May 65/3 Online companies tend to grow along Metcalfe's Law. 2002P. Kotler et al. Marketing Moves ix. 155 Metcalfe's Law works powerfully in favor of aspiring companies with abundant resources. |