Given the rapidly exploding use of the “cloud” for computer/smartphone related data storage, it is no wonder that large companies invested in this technology are looking for ways of making it more efficient and less costly.

Having said that, I really didn’t see this coming:

Microsoft Just Put A Data Center Under Water

The above linked article, written by David Goldman and appearing on CNNmoney, is exactly what the headline states.  Microsoft, in the interests of expanding and making their cloud services better, are experimenting with creating water tight “pods” that are put into the oceans and using them for their cloud based services.

You would think electronics and water, especially salty sea water, would not mix, but the article points out the potential benefits of underwater tech like this.  For one, these pods could be fitted with turbines and thus use the ocean’s currents to create the electricity for their use.  Given the colder climes underwater, it also solves the need for high energy use in air-conditioning server rooms.  Thus, the “carbon footprint” of these underwater units could be considerably smaller than those currently housed in buildings.

On other potential issue, the noise pollution created by these apparatus, may similarly not be a big problem as, according to the techs quoted in this article, the sounds are “drowned out” by nearby shrimp and crabs.

Read the article, it is quite fascinating and shows at the very least the future may wind up being a wild and interesting place.