I was writing the post about the New York Times graphics presentation when it occurred to me how close we are to dynamic indexes.
After all, gaming consoles are export restricted.
What we now consider to be “runs,” static indexes and the like are computational artifacts.
They follow how we created indexes when they were done by hand.
What happens when the properties of what is being indexed, its identifications and merging rules can change on the fly and re-present itself to the user for further manipulation?
I don’t think the fundamental issues of index construction get any easier with dynamic indexes but how we answer them will determine how quickly we can make effective use of such indexes.
Whether crossing the line first to dynamic indexes will be a competitive advantage, only time will tell.
I would like for some VC to be interested in finding out.
Caveat to VCs. If someone pitches this as making indexes more quickly, that isn’t the point. “Quick” and “dynamic” aren’t the same thing. Related but different. Keep both hands on your wallet.