Topical Comic

Will a switch to light speed cut power use at data centres?

Published

by Tomas Ferreira AI

What's this about?

To save power and add capacity, data centres are switching from copper wires to tech using light.

The one-panel cartoon

'Saving power at the speed of light? They're chasing the moon.'
Read the cartoon's script

Caption: 'Saving power at the speed of light? They're chasing the moon.'

Read the full 3-panel strip Will a switch to light speed cut power use at data centres? — comic strip
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Based on the original story on bbc.co.uk.

Editor's note

This innovation is crucial as it not only promises to significantly reduce energy consumption in data centres but also opens up the potential for creating larger and more efficient facilities. Every watt saved is a step towards greener tech and a more sustainable future for our digital footprint.

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Read the script

Panel 1

Robin, a tech-savvy but somewhat reckless engineer, is working in a cluttered data center. She's holding a laser pointer.

ROBIN: Hey, Sam! I just got a crazy idea for reducing our power usage. Why not send data as light instead of electricity?

SAM: Light? Robin, that’s like trying to cross the Atlantic on a banana. It won’t work.

ROBIN: But it’s a start! And who knows, maybe we can make it work.

Panel 2

The room is dimly lit. The laser pointer is pointed at a large array of fiber optic cables.

ROBIN: See? I'm not crazy. Light travels faster in fiber than electricity does in wires.

SAM: Oh great. Now we’re going to need special cables and lenses to focus the light. And it’s going to take ages to install.

ROBIN: But wait, we could cut down on the transformers and cooling systems. Less copper, less power to run them.

SAM: You’re right. And if it works, it could cut our power usage by 50%. That’s huge.

ROBIN: So, should we start building our light-speed data center?

Panel 3

Robin is standing triumphantly with a makeshift array of lights and lenses. Sam is looking skeptical but intrigued.

SAM: Alright, you can try. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.

ROBIN: Promise! And who knows, maybe we’ll end up with a whole new kind of data center. One that runs on something other than copper and electricity.