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Canals, and personal computers, and power shortages... any thoughts?

Two big articles to write last week, both touching on global warming, believe it or not. What can a technology hack have to say about it, that hasn't been said before (I can hear you wondering) ? Well, one aspect that interests me is canals, and PCs.

Next month's column in PCW will have the analysis of why I think electricity is going to become the primary obsession of computer users. But electricity has to be generated! - and if there is to be enough power to drive our desktop machines, we have to stop wasting power on other things.

Waste: using energy to do things which could be done without effort. When the wheel was invented, it became possible to carry loads without effort, as long as they were on the level. And the same for the boat; a teenager can pull a barge loaded to the brim with heavy steel ore - a load which would take a big diesel truck to move if you went by road.

Oddly, there's a shortage of water as well as a looming shortage of fuel (not to mention the problem of polluting the air we breathe!). So my Cunning Plan is to expand the canal network, using it to carry serious volumes of heavy cargo - and at the same time, acting as aquifers to provide dry areas with the water they need.

I've started a debate forum to collect ideas from readers. So I expect an article on that subject to appear on Monday, in The Register. Meanwhile, please drop by, and talk Canalways