Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Infinite Input. Finite Space.

A computer has a finite amount of storage space whether it be one megabyte or one terabyte. But there is a point where it gets full.

On the other hand, your finite brain is different. It never gets full. It processes information, purges what it doesn't need and stores other useful information. Yet, despite the daily dose of auditory, visual, olfactory and tactile sensory input, the brain always has room to store more. Every day you see new things, encounter new situations or live new experiences. You read new books, see new movies, make new friends, go new places, and yet, you can recall them at a later date with relative ease. The brain stores them and doesn't get full, no matter how much is poured in.

If computer memories had the same abilities, what an amazing machine that would be. But only the human mind has been created with that potential and ability. Wow! Now that's something to think about!

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

A Whole Glob of Colored Waves


Think of all the various waves that surround us. Radio waves, microwaves, electro-magnetic waves, light waves and more. The list goes on and on. Now imagine if all of those waves that exist outside of the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum could be seen. Let's assign a different color to each "invisible" wave. What would you see? A potpourri of colored lines intertwining and swirling through the air. So many would exist that it is doubtful that you could even see where you were going. Fortunately for us, we only see a tiny fraction of the waves that exist. Otherwise, we'd probably be be "blind" to everything around us!