A good explanation of compressed sensing: http://terrytao.wordpress.com/2007/04/13/compressed-sensing-and-single-pixel-cameras/ http://terrytao.wordpress.com/20

A good explanation of compressed sensing: http://terrytao.wordpress.com/2007/04/13/compressed-sensing-and-single-pixel-cameras/ http://terrytao.wordpress.com/2007/04/13/compressed-sensing-.... I don't see it working for facial recognition as is but who knows what will happen when you combine this, clever linear coding, local networks and ubiquitous computing. Faces are highly compressible wrt recognition (we do it quickly at poor conditions). I have little doubt that certain timings, exploiting patterns in movements and clever arrangements of the devices will allow tiny, energy efficient cameras to recognize even faces. For sequencing, I agree. I don't see having a bunch of tiny sequencers auto sequencing everything to be particularly feasible or leading to anything like what he mentions. But then again, we are both thinking linearly when the tech is improving 'exponentially'. It is possible that sequencers will be chemical computers or DNA based or who knows? Current preprocessing limitations and seperability difficulties could turn out to be one of those "I can't believe they used to think that was hard!" moments. Regardless, the scenario itself, that of being able to monitor vastly more data at a biological and ecosystem level is almost certain. And that is what is important - not nitpicking the details of implementation. What happens to society when you have sensors and substantial computing power everywhere? This is one of the scenarios in Vinge's singularity...