Computer Hope

Other => Other => Off topic => Topic started by: Computer Hope Admin on June 08, 2007, 03:05:13 AM

Title: How Much Does The Internet Weigh?
Post by: Computer Hope Admin on June 08, 2007, 03:05:13 AM
Why? I don't know, but interesting and could be used as useless geek trivia.

How heavy is information? Most of us know that computers represent all types of information—e-mails, documents, video clips, Web pages, everything—as streams of binary digits, 1s and 0s. These digits are mathematical entities, but they are also tangible ones: They are embodied and manipulated as voltages in electronic circuits. Therefore, every bit of data must have some mass, albeit minuscule. This prompted DISCOVER to ask the question: How much would all the data sent through the Internet on an average day weigh?

http://discovermagazine.com/2007/jun/how-much-does-the-internet-weigh
Title: Re: How Much Does The Internet Weigh?
Post by: Calum on June 08, 2007, 03:24:51 AM
That's really not much.
Worth a read.
Title: Re: How Much Does The Internet Weigh?
Post by: street1 (RIP) on June 08, 2007, 03:33:53 AM
In old terminology a coin was 8 bits so.....

http://www.geocities.com/fifth_grade_tpes/twobits.html
Title: Re: How Much Does The Internet Weigh?
Post by: CBMatt on June 08, 2007, 08:25:22 AM
That's pretty good, but if the internet ever plans on trying to make it in Hollywood, it'll have to go on a diet.
Title: Re: How Much Does The Internet Weigh?
Post by: The Saviour on June 08, 2007, 09:11:56 AM
That was a good read...

Quote
If we can work out the weight of the bits associated with a piece of information when it is assembled in a computer’s memory, we are halfway to figuring out the weight of the Internet.

One question, though...

If we were to measure the weight of the Internet...instead of just data...wouldn't we have to weigh the hardware it takes which makes the Internet possible?

Without this hardware...there is no Internet.
Title: Re: How Much Does The Internet Weigh?
Post by: Calum on June 08, 2007, 11:02:54 AM
That's a good point.
Although it does say "How much would all the data sent through the Internet on an average day weigh?"
Title: Re: How Much Does The Internet Weigh?
Post by: Computer Hope Admin on June 08, 2007, 06:43:41 PM
That would be very interesting to weigh something like that Saviour. Take into account of all the computers, servers, routers, switches, CABLES, racks, etc. and get a total weight from that.

Or another interesting thing for someone with a lot of time to do would be to see how much the Internet consumes in power.
Title: Re: How Much Does The Internet Weigh?
Post by: CBMatt on June 08, 2007, 06:57:29 PM
Or we could, you know, cure cancer or something.
Title: Re: How Much Does The Internet Weigh?
Post by: The Saviour on June 08, 2007, 07:03:09 PM
That would be very interesting to weigh something like that Saviour. Take into account of all the computers, servers, routers, switches, CABLES, racks, etc. and get a total weight from that.

Or another interesting thing for someone with a lot of time to do would be to see how much the Internet consumes in power.

At least that would be easier to measure...
Title: Re: How Much Does The Internet Weigh?
Post by: vic_i_eee on June 15, 2007, 06:40:22 PM
That was a good read...

Quote
If we can work out the weight of the bits associated with a piece of information when it is assembled in a computer’s memory, we are halfway to figuring out the weight of the Internet.

One question, though...

If we were to measure the weight of the Internet...instead of just data...wouldn't we have to weigh the hardware it takes which makes the Internet possible?
Without this hardware...there is no Internet.

And without the geeks there would be no hardware, and the food the geeks consume cause without the food there would be no geeks, and how much does a 944 weigh, because without them they can't get to there hardware.  :P

Keep in mind the term geek is now politically correct and meant in a good way.
Title: Re: How Much Does The Internet Weigh?
Post by: street1 (RIP) on June 17, 2007, 08:50:54 PM
Dork! Spaz! Nerd! ;D
Title: Re: How Much Does The Internet Weigh?
Post by: reaper_tbs on June 18, 2007, 01:29:10 AM
who said spaz was acceptable lol