Seemingly Unlimited App Potential With Fiber
What program would you write if you, and your potential customers, were not limited by computer processing power? Would your program solve a new problem? Would you improve upon a program that currently exists but you feel could operate better?
While it’s not unlimited, Apple’s Mac Pro, with up to 12 cores of processing power, 64 GB of memory, three 4K displays, provides the opportunity for programmers to harness computer power never imagined. Despite it’s breadth of capabilities, some early reports reasoned that the Mac Pro was not worth the premium because software didn’t exist that could keep up with it. I have a hard time, however, imagining that this day will not soon come.
Let’s consider another question–what kind of game would you create if data transfer speed was not an issue? That’s a question presented in the NY Times article on the two Kansas Cities being the first two cities to implement Google fiber, which provides data transfer at a breath-taking one gigabit per second.
Fiber is a new market and It comes with the normal questions presented by a new market: What is its potential? What are the needs and desires of current customers? How quickly can it grow? What are the advantages of being an early entrant?
Fiber may be the new, “next big thing.” The mobile age was it and now it’s firmly implanted. Mobile apps were it and now they’re here. Wearable devices were it, they’re here, and rapidly improving. Space technology was it, it’s here, and rapidly improving. Fiber apps are coming. While someone interested in taking advantage of this opportunity doesn’t have to be ready for market within six months or nine months, it would be wise to start working on and refining a fiber-based software project. Perhaps this could be a project that devs work in during company-provided down time. Maybe it’s a personal project. Regardless of your angle in coding and growing a fiber app, don’t get lost with the masses who want to develop software after the market becomes saturated. After all, why wait?
Mozilla’s Gigabit Community Fund is a Devs Best Friend
Developers interested in obtaining funding for educational software projects may consider reviewing housing options in Kansas City, Missouri.
In July Mozilla’s Gigabit Community Fund announced, with the support of the National Science Foundation and US Ignite, announced $165,000 in funding for 10 projects in Kansas City and Chatanooga, Tennessee. I know. Why choose these software powerhouses over cliche software hubs such as San Jose, San Francisco, and Seattle? It turns out that Kansas City and Chatanooga are market leaders in fiber technology.
The Gigabit Community Fund then created the KC Hive Digital Drive Fund with support from Hive KC, Digital Drive, and Tech sHeroes, which focuses on schools, cultural organizations, and youth organization. Those interested in learning, funding, or being funded by KC Hive Digital Drive Fund may contact Kari Keefe (kari [at] mozillafoundation [dot] org).
