Killer statistic:
Every two days we create as much information as we did from the dawn of civilization up until 2003. – Eric Schmidt, CEO, Google.
Question is, of course, what are we going to do with all this information?
What's Next: Top Trends
Diary of an accidental futurist – observations on current & future trends
We also produce more rubbish, more noise, more poo, more…..lots of things!
The Square Kilometer Array (when built) will produce vast amounts of correlated radio astronomy data: http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/319128/ska_telescope_provide_billion_pcs_worth_processing_updated_/#closeme
Right now they are assuming that a computer large enough to process this data will spring into existence before the SKA is finished.
Interestingly, astronomy data is so large that Fedex is still the highest (average) bandwidth transfer available – yep – they physically ship boxes of hard disks because it’s faster than optical fibre!
OK, so what happens when data storage capacity and data processing power is in effect infinite?
BTW, did you read about the world’s smallest computer? Size of a grain of sand (1 cubic mm) and contains a working microprocessor, pressure sensor, battery, solar cell and wireless radio. Idea is you place computer in your eye if you suffer from glaucoma and it monitors the pressure of fluid on your eyeball (and sends the data over the internet to your doctor).
This PC in front of me is effectively infinitely powerful compared with the 386 I used 20 years ago. Software and data requirements have grown in line – end result being that I sit waiting for this PC to do stuff despite the advances. I still use a 486 for instrument control. It runs Windows 3.1 and it feels zippy!! Boot and shutdowns are lightning fast!