Backing up everything on your computer is a good idea but backing up a couple of hundred gigabytes of data to DVDs is tiresome and there's not much point unless you then store those DVDs offsite. Backing up this much data over the internet is still pretty time-consuming.

This then is an idea for an offsite backup system which should be cheap enough to run for the home user and yet provide high bandwidth secure backup. First a small Firewire 250Gb drive is sent to you in the mail - you back up everything onto this, waterproof it (e.g. put it in a condom) and flush it down the loo. It gets identified at the sewage works by RFID and plucked out of the steaming pools of sewage by robot arms. The data is then copied onto their servers (which are made more secure by being in a remote location - the sewage works - and by not being connected to the internet), and they send you an email to say your stuff has arrived safely.
-- hippo, Apr 24 2006

The broadband version of this idea. http://www.google.com/tisp/
[jutta, Apr 01 2007]

Could we also deliver updates over the water pipes?

IP over Pyu Eee
-- Galbinus_Caeli, Apr 24 2006


Hey! Your back ups are causing a back up! Cut it out!
-- ConsulFlaminicus, Apr 24 2006


This idea's garbage.

And pouts a new slant on placing files in the Recycle Bin.
-- Jinbish, Apr 24 2006


Speaking of security... Sewage provides an immediate eaves-dropping deterrent along the transmission lines. If it is not received, chances are it was just missed and incinerated.

Speaking of missing 'packets'... RFID in a pool of sewage?
-- Shz, Apr 24 2006


Well I guess that would give a new meaning to the term "phishing". I will just pop open a cover on the street, drop my net, and wait for the data come down the line.
-- Jscotty, Apr 25 2006


Just imagine the look on the plumber's face when he fishes a condom-wrapped hard drive outta the john.

You may want to include something more durable than a Durex with which to waterproof the drive. I've seen some of the debris at a local water reclaimation plant here and it seems as though it would have a serious full-contact journey ahead of it. At any rate - still gets my bread!
-- Letsbuildafort, Apr 25 2006


Just wondering how they going to e-mail you if they not connected to the Internet.
-- Mister Sketchly, Apr 01 2007


Thousands of flaws in this plan and yet I can't help giving it a bun! [+}
-- simonj, Nov 09 2007


wow, that idea is so stupid it seems almost plausible. Definently a [+] for original thinking! Nice one Hippo made me smile
-- xxobot, Nov 09 2007



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