The result: idle hardware.
In the past this data was left unused, but with computer hardware changes bringing improvements in speed and power it is becoming possible to gather and analyse that information on a grand scale - this is Big Data.
When sizing a data centre for such a scenario it has to be able to cope with the peak load; for the majority of the time this hardware remains unused.
They didn't really need a PC in the first place; all the start menus, "unused icons on your desktop", "New hardware detected" and so on were just distractions from what they wanted to do – which might be answering (or just deleting) email, browsing websites, writing something, calling someone, or playing games.
The latest to contemplate all that unused rear space and see dollar signs is London-based hardware startup Cliq Cases.
And unlike some other video conferencing systems, Highfive's hardware isn't just being installed and then going unused.
Your item must be returned in new and unused condition within 90 days of purchase, with the exception of: computer hardware, cameras/camcorders, gift cards, prepaid cell phones, and prepaid cards, which have to be returned within 45 days.
By outsourcing hardware and software to the cloud, companies strip out redundancy, or unused capacity, from their IT systems, argues Kathrin Winkler, chief sustainability officer at global big data and cloud computing firm EMC.
To get set up, you'll need some kind of iBeacon hardware, which you can hack yourself with a Raspberry Pi and a Bluetooth LE transmitter, or make using unused iOS hardware and specific apps.
