Technology May Make It Possible for Us to Live Forever

Today’s IP news roundup highlights some of the latest headlines in IT, big data and more:

• IT is changing how our brains function. SearchCIO.com published highlights of a presentation by inventor and futurologist Ray Kurzweil. During the presentation, Kurzweil revealed that “Our neocortex — the convoluted rind of the brain responsible for this sustained technology evolution — has already been extended by our computer-enabled access to information. In the next few decades … our brains will essentially grow by harnessing the power of information technology. Why, if we can hang on long enough, information technology will extend not only our brains but our lives, perhaps forever.” Hmm … technology enabling us to live forever? It sounds like something Dr. Evil would dream up. For more information on how IT impacts our brains, see SearchCIO.com.
• Eighty-two percent of organizations that use big data are seeing benefits. According to Tech Pro’s Big Data Trends: Costs, Payoffs, Outcomes, Staffing survey, 46% of organizations are implementing big data or are in the process of implementing it. Of the organizations that are using big data, 32% have seen a clear and compelling return on investment and 50% have seen some discernible payoff. Only 4% say they have experienced no benefits. For more highlights from the Big Data Trends study, see ZDNet.
• Virtualization can simplify your data centre. According to a SiliconANGLE article, “For data centers, the old model of server deployment and management was complex, slow, and costly. The advent of virtualization has simplified life for many and may be just what your organization needs.” The article states that virtualization can allow for easy networking, as you can “network in seconds, allocating the bandwidth, IPs, and configuration you need remotely.” In addition, virtualization can allow you to do more with less and improve your diagnostics. For more ways virtualization can simplify your data centre, see SiliconANGLE.
• And finally … the convergence of new technologies may lead to a decline in the number of people who drive cars. A study by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) revealed that millennials are driving less than baby boomers, and that technologies such as transportation apps and Wi-Fi have played a role in this decline. For example, people can now use apps on their smartphones to get on-demand transit maps, schedules and arrival times.

According to Phineas Baxandall at U.S. PIRG, “For Baby Boomers, driving one’s car represented freedom and spontaneity. Today — especially for younger people — owning a car is likely to represent big expenses and parking hassles. Meanwhile, technology and vehicle-sharing are making it easier not to own a car or for households to drive less. Public transit systems, especially with on-board wi-fi and real-time apps, can be the backbone of this new mobility.” For more information, see the U.S. PIRG press release.  

What is your take on today’s news? Feel free to share your opinions below.