There is more room sideways

Astronomy has been and is continuing to 
enjoy a golden phase. The light gathering
power of  successive generations of both
ground- and space-based telescopes has
steadily increased and thereby made
it possible for astronomers to probe the 
distant universe and study the faintest objects such as extra-solar planets.
I call this progression as the traditional or linear path for progress. However,
strong forces that lie beyond academia can have and have had equally
big if not larger effect on academia.

Exponential progress in semi-conductor industry has enabled astronomers
to build huge detectors and transmit, analyze and archive torrents
of data. Improvements in the quality of detectors and methodology (due
to funding by space agencies and weapons industry) have sustained
this exponential trajectory.The next frontier is defined by the
decreasing cost in manufacturing (optics, mechanical structures,
motors).

These three developments offer a distinct new path for astronomical
investigation (as opposed to the traditional approach).
I term this approach as lateral or sideways path
to exponential progress. The sideways approach is less capital
intensive than the traditional approach and is thus very well suited
for this decade where astronomers will have to learn do more with
less.  I will review the recent successes of this approach with
some examples (SDSS, PTF) and speculate on projects over this decade.