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Vaidehi Joshi The internet grows every day. Every second, one of us is making calls to an API, uploading images, and streaming the latest content. But what is the cost of this—is it free? This talk explores the reality of data, and what responsibilities we have as creators and consumers of tech. Vaidehi is a senior engineer at DEV, where she builds community and helps improve the software careers of millions. She enjoys building and breaking code, but loves creating empathetic engineering teams a whole lot more. She is the creator of basecs and baseds, two writing series exploring the fundamentals of computer science and distributed systems. She also co-hosts the Base.cs Podcast, and is a producer of the BaseCS and Byte Sized video series. Produced by NDV: https://youtube.com/channel/UCQ7dFBzZGlBvtU2hCecsBBg?sub_confirmation=1 #ruby #rubyconf #rubyconfau #programming Thu Feb 20 09:30:00 2020 at Plenary Room
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In her talk titled "The Cost of Data" delivered at RubyConf AU 2020, Vaidehi Joshi discusses the often overlooked realities and responsibilities surrounding data storage in the digital age. She highlights the physical infrastructure of the internet, specifically data centers and cloud services, underscoring the environmental impact associated with their energy consumption. Key topics include: - **The Evolution of Data Storage**: Vaidehi outlines the transition from personal server rooms to professional data centers and cloud services, emphasizing the efficiency and convenience of modern cloud providers like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. - **Data Center Energy Consumption**: She reveals that data centers consume approximately 200 terawatt-hours of energy annually, accounting for 1-3% of the world's electricity usage, equivalent to the carbon footprint of the airline industry. - **Environmental Responsibility**: The talk explores the implications of this consumption, noting that many data centers primarily rely on fossil fuels. Vaidehi contrasts the varying sustainability commitments among cloud providers, such as AWS's goal for 100% renewable energy without a specified timeline versus Google's proactive approach of purchasing matching renewable energy for every kilowatt consumed. - **Future Predictions**: There is a discussion on the projected increase in global data usage and its impact on energy demand, potentially rising to 21% of total global electricity by 2030. - **Call to Action**: Vaidehi encourages developers and companies to become aware of where their data is stored and to advocate for greener options. She references tools like the Green Web Foundation and community initiatives like the Sustainable Servers petition, urging individuals to pressure cloud providers for more transparency and sustainability practices. The conclusion emphasizes the industry's potential to reduce its environmental impact through awareness and collective action, highlighting the privilege and responsibility technologists hold in shaping a more sustainable future.
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