IDC: digital data to double every 18 months.

• Position: INFO TECHNOLOGY - International Data Corporation - Brief article

An April poll conducted by National Public Radio, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and the Harvard School of Public Health revealed the public does not seem to be as optimistic about electronic health records (EHRs) as lawmakers.

Digital data stored worldwide now totals 487 billion gigabytes--the equivalent of 19 billion fully loaded Blu-ray DVDs, according to an International Data Corporation (IDC) study, sponsored by storage company EMC.

Today's 487 billion gigabytes of digital content will double in a mere 18 months, and every 18 months thereafter, according to John Gantz, IDC chief research officer.

Over the next four years, IDC says 600 million more people will begin using the Internet, while e-mail, messaging, and social networks will increase eight-fold.

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More than 30% of information created today is...