Internet Heading to Light Speed

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Internet Heading to Light Speed

Posted by CmdrTaco on Tuesday August 17, 2004 @05:32AM from the we've-gone-plaid dept.

dbaker writes "Wired Magazine has a very interesting article about the future of optical networks and the barriers we face before this technology is commonplace."

22 of 239 comments (clear)

magnetic media by TedCheshireAcad · 2004-08-17 05:34 · Score: 3, Funny

A lightning fast transmission medium is no match for a mechanical data access sytem, i.e. your hard disk.

I have a fast internet connection but a slow hard drive. Sigh.
1. Re:magnetic media by Xzzy · 2004-08-17 05:45 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Right! Just get a bunch of fibre optic cards and plug a loopback into each of them. Pipe your data into the interface, and it'll go 'round and 'round until you need to access it later.
  
  Need more capacity? Just fashion a longer loopback cable, so it can hold more light.
2. Re:magnetic media by boisepunk · 2004-08-17 05:54 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  it'll go 'round and 'round until you need to access it later
  There was something similar on the Commodore 64, a tape drive. 8 tracks anyone?
  
  --
  main(0)
3. Re:magnetic media by Guppy06 · 2004-08-17 06:42 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  "and it'll go 'round and 'round until you need to access it later."
  
  In this house we obey the laws of thermodynamics!
Light speed posting by Mr.+Flibble · 2004-08-17 05:36 · Score: 3, Funny

I was going to try for a first post - but the speed of light barrier slowed me down.

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Meh by Shadow+Wrought · 2004-08-17 05:39 · Score: 5, Funny

Call me when they reach ludicrous speed. Here's hoping the data doesn't all turn to plaid;-)

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If brevity is the soul of wit, then how does one explain Twitter?
1. Re:Meh by DarkHelmet · 2004-08-17 05:58 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  "Stop this thing... I order you... stoooooooooooop!" -Me
  
  --
  /^[A-Z0-9._%+-]+@[A-Z0-9.-]+\.[A-Z]{2,4}$/i
2. Re:Meh by JJahn · 2004-08-17 07:50 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Ludicrous speed sounds like a bad idea. If I pull the emergency brake by, say, unplugging a cable, it could mean serious injury or death!
Imagine... by databoing · 2004-08-17 05:43 · Score: 4, Funny

A Beowulf Cluster of.....

AAAARRRGHH! My Eyes!!
Re:A "light" transistor to the rescue! by Anonymous Coward · 2004-08-17 05:45 · Score: 1, Funny

With a name like "buckyball", is there anything it CAN'T do??
Great, speed of light infections too by 192939495969798999 · 2004-08-17 05:45 · Score: 5, Funny

You think it's hard getting a win32 broadband box on the net now? Wait till there are all-optical switches! You'll be hosed before the light from the screen reaches your eyeballs!

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stuff |
1. Re:Great, speed of light infections too by Anonymous Coward · 2004-08-17 06:16 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  You're assuming that windows runs instantaniously. Technically you'll be hosed as soon as the power hits, but you'll probably still be looking at a mysterious hourglass pointer.
Faster! by MarcoPon · 2004-08-17 05:46 · Score: 4, Funny

We can do better than that.
What we need is Bistromathic signaling tech!
Bye!

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SeqBox
Re:A "light" transistor to the rescue! by Anonymous Coward · 2004-08-17 05:46 · Score: 2, Funny

Well, either way, it's great sounding technology.

Cool! You must have the freakiest ears evah.
uhh... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-08-17 05:49 · Score: 0, Funny
This article left me devoid of any real good comment, so I'll make up a stupid one...
- Shouldn't it be Optical Magazine printing this article instead of Wired Magazine?
The next step in optical networks: by homeobocks · 2004-08-17 05:52 · Score: 5, Funny

$ beam me up, eth0
I sure hope none of my packets are lost.

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MOUNT TAPE U1439 ON B3, NO RING
Smokey the Bear says... by GillBates0 · 2004-08-17 05:57 · Score: 4, Funny

When using your 100Gb fiber-optic internet at the campgrounds, always practice safety. Surround your network card with rocks to keep the fire from spreading. Be sure when you're done with your internet to put it out with a bucket of water and make sure it has stopped smoking before you leave the area. Remember what Smokey the Bear says. Only you can prevent your 100Gb fiber-optic internet connection from starting a forest fire.

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An Indian-American Hindu committed to non-violent thought/speech/action alarmed by the global explosion of radical Islam
Re:CONTENT!! by liquidsin · 2004-08-17 05:57 · Score: 4, Funny

Net's content value improvement rate is trending downwards ..

And you're not helping the situation any...

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do not read this line twice.
Re:Universal access first by PitaBred · 2004-08-17 05:58 · Score: 4, Funny

Considering the nature of the Internet, aren't those two mutually exclusive?

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I have seen the future of the internet by Toby_Tyke · 2004-08-17 06:16 · Score: 2, Funny

More porn, faster!

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"I realise this is not a very popular opinion but it's the truth, and there for needs to be said" -Bill Hicks
Re:Yes, but can it go plad? by Tenebrious1 · 2004-08-17 06:27 · Score: 2, Funny

Yes, but can it go Plad!

I don't know anything that can go "plad". Maybe if you drop an iPod from the top of a building, it goes "iPlad" on the ground. You meant "Plaid"

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-- If god wanted me to have a sig, he'd have given me a sense of humor.
Re:Please Note 'n Stuff by Rick+the+Red · 2004-08-17 07:52 · Score: 2, Funny

Assuming you care what Wired does.
That's wired, you insensitive clod!

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If all this should have a reason, we would be the last to know.