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Data Center World 2020

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A Brief History of the Data Center

Christian Pruett (Director, Data Center Services, Arrow Electronics)

Location: 206B

Date: Tuesday, March 17

Time: 8:00am - 9:00am

Pass Type : All Access, Standard

Track : Data Center Essentials

Session Type: Session

Vault Recording: TBD

Data centers are at least 130 years old. Although technology in the 21st Century is evolving quickly with new technologies like AI, blockchain, and quantum computing, the foundations of data centers go back hundreds of years. This includes everything from the 19 inch rack to fiber optic technology to the location of hyperscale facilities today. This session will provide a history of data centers in an engaging, insightful way, describing a high-level overview of how facilities operate, and tracing their roots to events in history and ancient inventions. Some examples include: -How the Civil War shaped the telecommunications design of the United States. -How Alexander Graham Bell developed some of the first light-based communication leading to fiber optics. -How recording technology in Abby Road Studios and Motown shaped all major rack technology in the world.