It takes you 500,000 microseconds just to click a mouse. But if you’re a Wall Street algorithm and you’re five microseconds behind, you’re a loser.

Source: "How Algorithms Shape Our World." TEDGlobal 2011. Jul. 2011. Conference Presentation. Additional Information: This quote by algorithm expert Kevin Slavin is from Slavin's 2011 TED Talk about the complex computer programs (algorithms) that shape our world. The quote means that the incredibly brief amount of time it takes to click a computer mouse can be long enough to make an important difference in the world of the stock market. Accordingly, Wall Street algorithms need to be built for speed so that traders don't miss out on crucial opportunities to make money. Watch the full TED Talk here: Kevin Slavin - How Algorithms Shape Our World  

“How Algorithms Shape Our World.” TEDGlobal 2011. Jul. 2011. Conference Presentation.