[zeynel1]

''Recently, Eric Schmidt, of Google, remarked that “There was 5 exabytes of information created between the dawn of civilization through 2003.” He continued, “Now that much information is created every 2 days.” We are creating more than ever across this ever expanding medium that we love.''

I feel like a visionary! I wrote recently that ''we have more written-word saved in Google's servers than all previous written-words combined since the invention of the written-word.''

http://makebelieve1.wordpress.com/2010/08/24/a-pc-appears-on...

I wonder,though, how did Eric Schmidt calculate the ''5 exabytes of information created between the dawn of civilization through 2003.'' Because I thought about the same thing and I decided that given the incredible variery of mediums from clay tablets to books to computer discs it would be impossible to know. Do you know how he arrived at that number?

And I realize that some HN readers will downvote me for referring to my own blog but so be it, this is a very interesting question for me. I wonder how he arrived at that figure he quoted.

[mkramlich]

I'm guesstimating that he guesstimated.

[zeynel1]

Even just guesstimating seems difficult to me. I wonder then how did he guesstimate?

[inerte]

It was his interview question at Google, now he has to live by these numbers. He became the choir.

Just kidding. He has no idea if these numbers are true. The important meat of the message, that humanity now stores more information than ever jedi hand and Google helps you make sense of it /hand is what he wants you to believe.

And believe you will. I mean, we're so much smarter than previous generations (as usual), we've got to be doing whatever, better than previously.

It fits their company purpose. They are the good guys. Add 2+2. Why do you have to make so much trouble with these questions?

[lelele]

Didn't Google start a project on scanning all existent books to build a digital library? Maybe they derived their estimate from there.