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Stored Data to Exceed 1.8 Zettabytes by 2011

jcatcw writes "By 2011, there will be 1.8 zettabytes of electronic data stored in 20 quadrillion files, packets or other containers because of, among other things, the massive growth rate of social networks, and digital equipment such as cameras, cell phones and televisions, according to a new study by IDC. Data is growing by a factor of 10 every five years. According to John Gantz, IDC's lead analyst, "at some point in the life of every file, or bit or packet, 85% of that information somewhere goes through a corporate computer, website, network or asset," meaning any given corporation becomes responsible for protecting large amounts of data that it and its customers may not have created. The study, which coincided with the launch of a " digital footprint" calculator, also found that as the world changes over to digital televisions, analog sets and obsolete set-top boxes and DVDs "will be heaped on the waste piles, which will double by 2011.""

10 of 143 comments (clear)

  1. That is a lot of... by sleeping123 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Porn

    1. Re:That is a lot of... by NCG_Mike · · Score: 2, Funny

      "Documentaries".

    2. Re:That is a lot of... by Fission86 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Not to belittle your cause at all, but who still uses floppies any more?

      --
      Coming to you live from another dimension.
    3. Re:That is a lot of... by d3ac0n · · Score: 3, Funny

      Umm.. CD players can be had for as little as $10.00 USD. What's stopping you from getting one?

      --
      Official Heretic from the "Church of Global Warming". Proven right thanks to whistle blowers. AGW = Flat Earth Theory
  2. Y2k300! by xZgf6xHx2uhoAj9D · · Score: 5, Funny

    If, like the summary (but not the article for some reason) states, total data is growing by a factor of 10 every 5 years, then somewhere around the year 2300 we'll have 10^80 bits stored. The number of elementary particles in the known universe is estimated to be between 10^79 and 10^81. Seems we're kind of screwed at that point.

    1. Re:Y2k300! by Spad · · Score: 5, Funny

      Just Zip everything, it'll be fine.

    2. Re:Y2k300! by MyLongNickName · · Score: 1, Funny

      ZIP the ZIP'd file for even better space savings.

      --
      See my journal for slashdot ID's by year. Mine created in 2005. http://slashdot.org/journal/289875/slashdot-ids-by-year
  3. The worse part? by peragrin · · Score: 2, Funny

    Is that half of it will be copies of Windows Vista, XP, a few hundred Linux distro's.

    --
    i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
  4. Re:But what we really want to know is.... by oni · · Score: 4, Funny

    no no no, the proper term for journalists to use is library of congresses. Even though I've never been to the library of congress and have no idea how big or small it might be, large amounts of data should always be given in those units.

  5. Re:Which definition of a zetabyte? by pipatron · · Score: 4, Funny

    If by "astronomically larger" you mean 12.6%, then I'm astronomically larger than the average Indonesian male.

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    c++; /* this makes c bigger but returns the old value */