SIMULATION
Origin:
1300-50, Middle English simulacion Latin simulation (stem of simulatio ) a pretense. See simulate, -ion
Definition:
The representation of the behavior or characteristics of one system through the use of another system, especially a computer program designed for the purpose.
Concept in relation to data farms:
In today's modern age everything is run in simulation with almost everything you need being done online. The need to carry around stacks of papers or mail information is over and in its place we have the cloud. With the cloud you store everything online and can access it from anywhere with any online capable device. The product you place in the cloud or email to someone is not a tangible object but a simulation of that in digital form that is stored as code in a server somewhere in the world and does not physically exist. Simulation of information and process also saves space and resources that would otherwise be dedicated to making the physical copies of information stored and used in the cloud. Time saved may be the most important benefit through simulation as it is one thing you cannot get back. Through simulation of things like structural loads of a building to how a hurricane would affect a coastal city an analysis can quickly be done and time saved can be used elsewhere.
"The use of the computer in the simulation processes with large numbers of interaction variables is now commonplace. Simulation physical systems is relatively simple compare to that of social systems, of the interactions nations; but advances are also being made in the latter area. In large-scale economic, business and politico-military simulations, actions which might lake weeks or months to occur in real life may be run through in a few days."