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Innovation in technology is usually born from the capacity limitations of the current technology. Companies will try to work around the issue for some time, devising solutions that push the current limits a little further. But then, there will be a breakthrough. One of the potential solutions pays off and raises the bar once again.

A major recent breakthrough in the commercial market has been in storage capacity. We saw commercial computers jump from storage capacities of megabytes to gigabytes then quickly develop to terabytes.

What limits are there on current data centre technology and how are innovators trying to overcome them?

Currently, one of the main limits to data centre technology is actually power. New high-performance machines require ever more energy to run and produce a lot more heat. The machines need cooling in order for them to run optimally which, in turn, requires more power. Thus a balance between cooling and infrastructure power must be reached and an adequate energy supply found.

As you may expect, one of the companies innovating at the forefront of this issue is Google. At their data centre in Belgium, Google have been experimenting with natural cooling solutions. By building their servers in individual cabins and locating them outside, they have harnessed natural air-flow for cooling.

Some of you may be sceptical of this approach, after all, if it were a case of using natural air flow to keep servers cool, wouldn’t everyone have done it? Well, the difference at Google is that they are experimenting by running their servers at much higher temperature than most data centres. At peak times, when the temperatures in their server huts are too hot for humans to work comfortably, they take ‘excursion hours’ away from physical maintenance to get on with other work, leaving their servers to run at around 30-40º C.

But doesn’t operating at high temperatures dramatically reduce server reliability?

Interestingly enough, not as much as you may think. Researchers at Toronto University have found that the error rate for servers in relation to temperature is not the exponential curve they initially expected. Rather it was a simple linear increase until you hit 50º C, meaning centres could run completely smoothly at far higher temperatures than is currently thought acceptable. In fact, they calculate that data centres could save 4% of their energy for every degree hotter they allow their servers to run (degrees Fahrenheit that is). This means the Google data centre in Belgium is by far their most energy efficient yet.

With the rise in technology came an increase in technology related pain. Statistics show that this is not just a minor issue, it has rapidly turned into an epidemic.

There are several parts of the body that can be affected by technology use. One of the more common problems is inflammation in the wrists, usually caused by typing on a keyboard or texting on the phone. Even young people are now developing arthritis in their thumbs thanks to constant texting.

Texting and typing not only inflame the tendons within the hands and wrists, these actions can also affect the entire arm, even causing pain in the shoulder.

Another frequently seen issue is caused by poor posture. In fact, this is the leading cause of technology related injuries of the neck and back. Something as simple as having your monitor in a bad position can strain neck muscles and using your shoulder to hold your phone while doing something else with your hands can also strain your neck.

Holding the phone down low so that you have to tilt your head down to look at it is also bad for posture. The lower it is, the worse the strain on the neck. This is exacerbated by the fact that many people spend time laying on the couch with their bodies in awkward positions, checking their emails on the cell phone or reading on a tablet.

Many people ignore the symptoms which can turn into tendinitis or carpal tunnel syndrome when not treated. Persistent pain in the back, neck or arms should always be checked by a doctor, since ignoring it can lead to worse conditions.

Treating Tech-Related Injuries with Massage
While pain caused by the use of technology may be on the rise, that does not mean you cannot treat it or even prevent it. Massage is an excellent way to ensure that you do not end up in worse condition.

Massage therapy can ease the tension that builds up in frequently used muscles and help relax them. The massage process also boost blood flow throughout the body and particularly in the areas being worked on. Since increased blood flow means faster healing, this can be very beneficial after a strain.

We live in a digital age that’s full of digital products. The technical revolution is fully underway and chances are you have more gadgets and gizmos than you could possibly need. Of course, nobody is blaming you. As technology progresses we all want to upgrade our items to have the latest and fastest products. However, what this does is create a lot of technological clutter that ends up sat in the dark, collecting dust. If that sounds like a few of your items, then go brush them off and consider selling them. This article will detail a few of the items you can easily turn into cash.

Mobile phones

Most people go through more mobile phones than hot dinners. Mobile technology companies are constantly releasing newer, quicker, more feature heavy models. Take the Iphone as an example. People are so desperate to get their hands on the new model that they camp out overnight just to be one of the first to have it.

Of course, all of this commotion comes at a price. Open up the average drawer and there’ll likely be a couple of ‘prehistoric’ mobile phones tucked away. These phones, although probably not desired by anybody anymore, still have useful parts that can be reused. Companies know this, and many have formed that offer mobile phone recycling. Depending on the age and functionality of your phone, you can usually get a fairly good price. Even if you don’t, it’s much better to recycle and make a bit of pocket change than it is cluttering up you’re drawer.

Televisions

Old TV’s can often be spotted sat out on the curb outside of a house, waiting to be taken to landfill or kicked to smithereens by an angry mob. Although your old TV may be worthless compared to your shiny new cinema sized model, it can still be useful to somebody else. Many people can use old TV’s as a spare for their garage, caravan, or whatever else. So advertise it for sale. You may be surprised at the response you get.

Spy technology is not only prevalent in movies and undercover operations of the military. Many consumers who wish to have a safer domicile have actually brought them home. There are several kinds of gadgets that are considered to be state of the art and very advanced which can be used in the home. Among these are cameras of unbelievable sizes, motion detectors and other spying equipment that can give access to private conversations and activities.

Cameras

These monitoring devices are among the most common spy technology devices prevalent in the domicile. These serve several purposes focused on the safety of the individuals and property in the house. The safety of the individuals in the dwelling is mainly connected to how these are installed. Some homeowners have actually contracted companies to monitor the activities that occur in and around their home. These companies surveil their clients’ homes regularly for any signs of danger or possible threats that may come from the outside and even within the home. There are also some homeowners who do not go to this extreme to protect themselves. They just leave their monitoring devices on and come home to check on the activities that occurred in and around their homes while they were away. They can also see if anybody has broken into their homes or if the help has been misbehaving while they are away. Spy technology also helps parents and homeowners who leave their cameras on while they are at work.

Parents and homeowners can access their individual private accounts via an encrypted network their Internet service provider has provided for them. At work, they can view the cameras which are equipped with this innovation and alert the authorities when there is something wrong at their house. Many of these cameras have recording devices that can playback the recording at the convenience of the homeowner. Mobile cameras mounted on everyday objects can also be positioned randomly in and around the house to be less conspicuous.

Motion Detectors

Motion detectors are monitoring devices that can warn the homeowners if there is a sizeable intruder that has crossed the perimeter on which the device is placed. It is usually made up of a laser light not visible to humans. When a sizeable intruder, usually bigger than a cat or thereabouts, breaks the line, an alarm sounds. This sort of spy technology is sometimes attached to other gadgets such as automatic lights, cameras and other recording devices.