If transaction speed doubles every 2 years, then just imagine for a sec, if you could also increase the word length by 1 bit every 2 years. So in 2 years you increase the transaction ID from 64 bits to 65 bits -- you've now just DOUBLED the number of transaction IDs available. In 2 years times 64 additional bits, or in 128 years, and I would say long before 128 years, it will begin to seem like a no-brainer to just move to 128 bit transaction IDs, since by that time a simple 'int' will be 256 bits and a short will be 128 bits. Machine instruction sizes will be long enough to encode machine instructions in ASCII making assemblers / disassemblers unnecessary.. The number of bits per pixel will be a steganogropher's delight. We could increase the bit rate of mp3s from 64 kbps to 96 kbps which should please all audiophiles everywhere. Dial up internet speeds should reach 128 kbps by then. Colonies on Mars, but still no male contraceptive.
