Info 202 Fall 2011

We often under estimate the about of resources that go into creating and managing the services that we use on a daily basis. We take for granted that at the swipe of a finger we can use our mobile phones to send a message, check the weather, make a call, or play a game. The systems and procedures that make all this possible go unnoticed. The data centers, or "server farms" that are slowly engulfing are globe are a growing drain on our power grid with a significant carbon foot print. Currently these server farms consume close to 3 percent of our national power supply. The data load is created by us, the growth is tremendous and shows no signs of slowing down. The current volume estimates of all digital information is approximately 1.2 zettabytes, this is equivalent to everyone in the world posting messages on Twitter continuously for a century. Perhaps more daunting is that 75 percent of the information is duplicative. The result is we are forced to wade through an ocean of digital information in order to find and discover information that is relevant to us, and is ultimately creating inefficiencies, particularly among companies. Thus, it is becoming more import to develop new and improved ways to store, and organize our digital information. 

Increased demand is driving development of energy alternatives and data center innovation. Significant research is being done in artificial intelligence and other information retrieval processes that help recalling information easier and more efficient. These new techniques for storing and recovering information encourages companies rid themselves of information that adds no value to their business. the NY Times points out that advances in cloud computing and virtual storage continues to help consolidate applications and its corresponding data. However, at this time their is no solution that will solve our growing thirst for consuming digital information. The author of the article make a plea for each of us to take a proactive role in not hoarding information, and being smarter data consumers. Maybe we will all do our part and text a little bit less.