Many of us suffer from an incurable addiction to data. We randomly seek
random information, frequently...and when we have questions, we don't just
want the answers....we need them. Worse, we need them NOW.
As a result, "search engine gymnastics" is a new discipline in which many of
us have become highly skilled. Armed with internet-connected devices, we
expect to answer any question in a matter of seconds. It's just data. It
should always be at our fingertips. ALL of it.
Memory to the Rescue
Memory lies at the heart of the instantaneous access we require. So when
"Zombie Vampire Alien Invasion" sweeps the honors at Cannes, it's likely that
you, me, and our 10,000,000 closest friends will start pulling up related
articles and pictures. When that happens, the data won't be travelling to us
from a slow hard disk somewhere...or even from a faster solid state drive
(SSD... (more)
Tiered architectures are all around us. You encountered one the last time you
boarded an airplane. By dividing the aircraft cabin into multiple classes (or
tiers) of service, airlines are attempting to maximize their profit. First
Class provides the highest level of service, and consequently, is the most
expensive. Economy Class provides a lower service level, but with a
corresponding lower price. The classes are sized according to established
expectations of customer demand...i.e. most air travelers will prioritize
cost over comfort (hence the high-capacity Economy Class), with ... (more)