A couple of months ago at the Techonomy conference, I had the privilege of attending a talk given by rock star computer scientist and Yale University professor David Gelernter, who’s widely credited with predicting the rise of the Internet. In the early 90s, he wrote a book called “Mirror Worlds,” which basically predicted that for everything in the real world, there would be an equivalent digital version. Now two decades later, could Gelernter’s theory be an important tool for fighting climate change?
According to a fascinating article in the Economist this week, the answer is yes. Economist and writer Ludwig Siegele equates Gelernter’s “Mirror World” with smart systems, or objects in the real world embedded with sensors and connected with always-on wireless networks that have an equivalent data trail in the virtual world. For example, smart meters produce a data trail for electricity consumption; Google Earth and Street View create data trails around geography and streets; and sensor networks in commercial buildings create streams of data about the environment within the building.
As we’ve covered repeatedly over the years (and dedicated an entire annual event to) smart systems, like the ones being touted by IBM’s Smarter Planet, and Cisco, have massive potential to promote energy efficiency. Software, chips, wireless networks and sensors — IT — will be fundamental in making power grids and transportation more energy-efficient, and cutting energy consumption will be crucial to fighting climate change.
According to the Climate Group, information and communication technology could help the U.S. “reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 13 to 22 percent by 2020.” As the CEO of phone company giant Ericsson put it earlier this year: “Broadband will be a pre-requisite for a 21st Century low-carbon economy, and will enable services such as smart grids, intelligent transports, e-health, all of which have significant contributions to reduce CO2″.
So let’s embrace the “out there” science fiction-style prediction of a computer scientist in the early 90s — before the Internet, smart phones, or the smart grid even existed — and use it as a way to combat global warming. Because, if the temperature of the planet rises enough, as portrayed in the movie “The Age of Stupid,” digital versions of ourselves and the biological systems of our planet could be the only ones left.
For more research on computing and energy efficiency check out GigaOM Pro (subscription required):
- Can Cloud Computing Dial Back the Data Energy Overload
- How to Make Cloud Computing Greener
- Car Data As the Next Platform for Innovation
Image courtesy of Elephantmania985.

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