How Much Space Would Digital Files Use in Reality?

Have you ever wondered just how much space would be used up by the digital files stored on computers? Thanks to new research by Gradwell, there are now some answers to this unique question, and it is clear that the world would have far fewer trees if digital solutions for storage did not exist. Here are some of the findings.

The Industries

The industries which stood out in the research included customer services, health, education and IT/computer science. For each one, a character profile was created to help determine how much storage the average worker in that industry would use, as well as their age range, gender, device and most common file type.

For example, the character profile of a female dentist aged between 25-34 was created for the health industry. Her preferred device was a mobile and most common file type used was a PDF.* By combining the file type with the most common device, a visual representation was created to help illustrate the data.

The Results

IT was the sector which would use the most storage, potentially generating a stack of ring binders the height of Baltimore Wharf Tower in London in just 24 hours. A call centre worker could fill out an entire house with ring binders full of their work in just 9 days, and those working in the education sector could fill a double decker bus with images in 10 days.

Similarly, a dentist could fill a lorry with their various files in just five days. These results show the extent to which digital storage is now relied on, and using physical storage with these numbers is almost inconceivable.

Cloud Storage

It is hard to see how any modern day industry would cope without using digital solutions to store their files. Cloud storage has become an incredibly popular option for those wishing to store their files digitally, using remote servers which are accessed via the internet as storage for the data.

This service will no doubt render physical storage redundant in the near future, as it clearly frees up useful space for individuals and companies alike.

Many of today’s industries now have to rely on digital storage to keep all their data safe and secure. Cloud storage is one service which facilitates this, and the results of the research show just how many lorry sized rooms would be filled with paper if it did not exist.

*All research courtesy of https://www.gradwell.com/files-in- reality/

 

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