Best New Software Technology?
I want to know about the opinions of NSer's concerning recent software/site services. Which do you think has been the most revolutionary or simply the most cool, ie Youtube, BitTorrent and Myspace. I think it's really interesting the way technology has changed from being a slow process involving hardware, into a fast paced consumer driven system via software. Anyhow, discuss.
I also want to start this thread so that I can learn about new cool programs and others can too.
The new technology I find cool:
Probably the next generation of distributed-generation and power management software; those programs are capable of managing the intermittence of wind turbines and other alternative energy as well as capable of managing thousands of small, local power generation systems.
In other words, it enables homeowners to turn their houses in to individual power generators while simultaneously putting power in to the grid. Fewer blackouts, more reliability, more stability, and lower cost...it's the backbone of the alternative energy revolution.
The new technology I find cool:
Probably the next generation of distributed-generation and power management software; those programs are capable of managing the intermittence of wind turbines and other alternative energy as well as capable of managing thousands of small, local power generation systems.
In other words, it enables homeowners to turn their houses in to individual power generators while simultaneously putting power in to the grid. Fewer blackouts, more reliability, more stability, and lower cost...it's the backbone of the alternative energy revolution.
Thats awesome, but is it simply an option for homeowners? Does that mean you will have to put a turbine on your roof?
Thats awesome, but is it simply an option for homeowners? Does that mean you will have to put a turbine on your roof?
No, they've got thin-film solar panels that can be laid on the roof like shingles; in fact, you could coat any surface with them because they're applied like a roll of tape. The holographic thin films coming to market 3-5 years from now will be even more efficient and cheaper.
Wind is more difficult, but it's possible in rural areas and in cities. Solar's the way to go for suburbs.
Nice. I know your probably not going to know this, but any idea how long before you get a return on your investment?
Another cool technology is voIP; Internet phone calls are great because they cirumvent the problems of land-based lines or cell phones and you can call anyone on Earth for much less than an ordinary phone.
The open-source movement is another great one; I personally feel that open-source collaboration is the driver behind a lot of the advances in security and technology today.
Nice. I know your probably not going to know this, but any idea how long before you get a return on your investment?
It depends; you're usually looking at a maximum of 10 years, although in places like California it could easily be 2-3 years with tax credits. The US average is about 5 years while the European average is around 4. A lot of the return comes from sales back to the grid; whenever you produce more power than you consume, utilities will pay the owner of the solar panels for the surplus.
However, the prices are a lot higher now than they were a few years ago due to shortages of polysilicon, the stuff the panels are made of; by 2008, the price will be a lot lower but right now solar panels are artificially more expensive due to the material costs.
I think bittorrent is pretty awesome. Suposably it makes up ~40% of overall internet bandwidth use. It allows people/small companies to effectively distrobute their product without having to spring for expencive, high-bandwidth internet connections.