Gustible - under the rubric of [$_SELF]

I was fascinated to read about Google’s patent application for floating data centres. And immediately tweeted about it: Is there a move afoot to integrate technology systems with Gaian systems – viz Google floating DC’s, Sun’s coalmines ? Needless to say I had some witty responses…thx @fearsumm!

I believe this idea has merit, albeit in the blue-blue sky category. Let’s analyse this.

Data centres are growing in size, on a daily basis. They consume vast amounts of energy – ONE PERCENT of the world’s electricity consumption in 2005 (note – I have not verified this figure…). That represents a massive amount of energy. It is safe to assume that this energy consumption is growing continuously, if not in relative terms, then certainly in absolute terms.

We are now talking about the rise of the petacentres. As the tools which we use to examine the universe becomes more sophisticated, as we gain the ability to look into new and different realities, we generate ever more data. This data needs to be turned into information, and eventually into knowledge. But first it has to be stored, in an accessible manner – in a manner that makes it possible to easily retrieve and manipulate the data. Retrieving data is a mechanical operation…it generates energy. We can also look at this from a metaphysical perspective. When we retrieve data, we organise it. Because we lessen entropy by organising the data, somewhere, somehow, the equation has to be balanced. This balance is maintained by the generation of heat – the ultimate state of energetic chaos. And where does this heat go ?

The heat is fed into an external system – which comprises the Gaia organism, but by roundabout means.  At the moment, more often than not, we create artificial cooling systems – massive, heat generating artificial cooling systems. Why not use the cooling systems we have at our disposal already – for free ? Why do we not utilise the systems around us ? Why do we not recognise the fact that we are part of an extremely complex system, which we may take advantage of, as long as we do so in a manner that recognises the integrity and self-regulating nature of the system of which we form part.

Yes – by all means let us make use of the coolant baths that cover two thirds of the surface of the planet. We can use the heated water to extract energy from convection currents. We can use this energy to power more data centres – or to use less energy to power the same data centres. Either way – we slow down the rate at which we produce entropy.

Back to the original point – Google’s floating data centres. Fact or fiction – the idea strikes a chord in terms of utilising an existing system of energy redistribution. It is elegant, and sweet.

Shiva dances, and we may not change that. But we can change the music he dances to.