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An International Data Corporation (IDC) study found digital
information created and replicated worldwide was bigger than what it
had estimated in 2007, and by 2011, it expected to grow tenfold.
The study, “The Diverse and Exploding Digital
Universe: An Updated Forecast of Worldwide Information Growth
Through 2011”, sponsored by the EMC Corporation, an information
infrastructure solutions company, showed that in 2007 there were 281
billion gigabytes (GB) or 281 exabytes in digital universe, 10
percent greater than it had previously projected. This was equal to
45 gigabytes of digital information for every person on earth or
equivalent of 17 billion 8GB iPhones, study revealed.
Ronnie Latinazo, country manager for EMC
Philippines, said, “They under estimated the amount of digital
information that was going to be created. In 2007, it turned out
there was 10 percent more digital information created than what they
originally estimated.”
In 2011, the digital universe is projected to
increase tenfold over the next five years and will reach 1.8
zettabytes or 1,800 exabytes with a compound annual growth rate of
60 percent. An exabyte is equal to one billion gigabytes.
The IDC study revealed the accelerated growth of
digital universe was a result of the growing popularity of digital
cameras, surveillance cameras, as well as better understanding of
information replication. In 2007, there were more than one billion
digital cameras and camera phones worldwide and less than 10 percent
of the photos were captured through film.
Digital Shadow
According to IDC, less than half of oneself
digital footprint is related to his individual actions, such as,
taking pictures, sending e-mails, or making digital voice calls.
While, more than half (70 percent) of the digital footprint of a
person is attributed by what they call the “digital shadow”, the
information about an individual including Web search histories,
names on mailing lists, financial records, or surveillance photos.
Digital footprint is the amount of digital
information created by a person actively or passively.
Impact on the environment
The white paper also highlighted the importance
of looking at the environmental effect of the digital growth. In
2000, the power consumption of per server rack was 1 kilowatt (kW)
only but now it is closer to 10 kW per rack. In addition, IDC
estimated about one billion of digital devices, mostly mobile
phones, are becoming an electronic waste a year.
-- Cris-Ann G. Odronia
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