Too much information in 1981?

In 1981 The Police were singing "Too Much Information":

Too much information running through my brain
Too much information driving me insane

Sting, Summers and Copeland were already complaining of the information overload in 1981. It would be interesting to know what they'd write today, as the amount of "Information" is growing at an exponential rate.

Some data:

- The number of text messages sent and received every day exceeds the total population of the planet.

- It is estimated that a week's worth of New York Times contains more information than a person was likely to come across in a lifetime in the 18th century.

- It is estimated that in 2008 will be generated 40 exabytes (4 x 10^19) of unique new information. That is more than in the previous 5,000 years.

- There are over 2.7 billion searches performed on Google each month.

- More than 3,000 new books are published every single day.

- The amount of new technical information is doubling every 2 years. By 2010 it is predicted to double every 72 hours.

- Predictions are that by 2013 a supercomputer will be built that exceeds the computational capability of the human brain.

- Predictions are that by 2049 a $1,000 computer will exceed the computational capabilities of the entire human species.

Newsletter :  Tweet