On the maximal quantity of processed information in the physical eschatological context

Abstract

An estimate of the maximal computing power available to advanced extraterrestrial or future (post)human civilizations is presented. It is shown that the fundamental thermodynamical considerations may lead to a quantitative estimate of the largest quantity of information to be processed by conceivable computing devices. This issue is interesting from the point of view of physical eschatology, as well as general futurological topics, like the degree of confidence in long-term physical predictions or viability of the large-scale simulations of complex systems.