Computing for the Future of the Planet
Lecture at The Royal Society (slides)
Google Tech Talk (video)
Summary
Computing
(computers, communications, applications) will make a major and crucial
contribution to ensuring a sustainable future for society and the planet.
Computing is an important tool that will enable developing societies to improve
their standard of living without undue impact on the environment. At the same
time, it will enhance the ability of developed societies to maintain their
economic success while reducing their use of natural resources. The greater
wealth generated using computing may reduce population growth and its
problematic impact on the physical world.
There are four levels at which I foresee innovation-driven
developments in computing being effective:
1 Simulation and modelling are important tools which will help predict global
warming and its effects. Much more powerful computers, interconnection systems,
and algorithms are required to make the predictions better, more accurate, and
relevant. This is a traditional role for computing.
2 The amount of infrastructure making up the digital world is continuing to
grow rapidly and starting to consume significant energy resources. In future
this infrastructure has to be absolutely dependable and implemented in very
energy efficient ways. It should also be operational only when delivering
a service for some real end-use. Otherwise it should be switched off; and off
means off. New architectures which monitor the use of energy precisely and can
turn systems on and off rapidly are required.
3 Computing will play a key part in optimising use of resources in the physical
world. This can be achieved by actively sensing the environment and using new
algorithms to optimise cost functions which reflect natural resources in
sectors such as transport or water management. New approaches to global-scale
monitoring, generation of information, and interpretation are needed, together
with technological and legislative frameworks governing the use of such data.
4 We are experiencing a shift to the digital world in our daily lives as
witnessed by the wide scale adoption of the world wide web. In future there may
be an even greater change so that the primary way we operate for the purposes
of wealth creation and entertainment is in cyberspace. This will reduce the
impact of our activities on the physical world while allowing societies to grow
sustainably. New tools, environments, and infrastructures need to be conceived
which will make an accelerated shift to a digital world enticing for us all.
To help generate momentum and achieve these goals, it is important that a
co-ordinated set of challenging international projects are instigated. An
example of a project would be the creation of a "personal energy
meter". This would measure and present an individuals use of energy (both
direct and indirect) at all times. The implementation method for such projects
requires the reduction (or removal) of the conventional legal barriers to
collaboration.
Andy Hopper
17 May 2007
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