Category Archives: history

“The Internet, the World Wide Web, Library Web Browsers, and Library Web Servers.”

Link to Article

This article is about the advent of web development and other closely related technology. The web is sometimes synonymous with the Internet, the two terms are quite different, and they refer to distinct but related concepts in the computerized telecommunication system. The Internet is no more than many small computer networks that have been wired together to allow for electronic information to be sent from one network to the next anywhere in the world. The web is one of many high level data exchange protocols on the internet. Before the Web, there was Telnet, the traditional command-driven style of interaction. Then there was FTP, a file transfer protocol useful for retrieving information from large file archives. Later there was Usenet, a communal news system. There was also e-mail for individual information exchange, and e-mail lists, for large broadcasts. In addition to those, there was Gopher, a campus-wide information system shared among universities and research institutions. WAIS, a powerful search and retrieval system developed by Thinking Machines, Inc., was also used. In 1990 Tim Berners-Lee and Robert Cailliau at CERN, created a new information system called the “World Wide Web” (WWW). Designed to help CERN scientists with the confusing task of exchanging information on the Internet. The Web system was to act as a unifying force, a system that binds all file-protocols to a single point of access. Users could then use a browser to retrieve and display information form the internet.  The Web is best known for its ability to combine text with graphics and other multimedia on the Internet. Since the Web combines data exchange protocols it has backwards capabilities for other protocols, in addition to its native language HTTP.

 

 

Understanding the Internet: TCP/IP, The Internet, Intranets and Extranets

Chapter one , from a book called Understanding the Internet: A Clear Guide to Internet Technologies by Keith Sutherland, talks about some of the things that make the internet work. The author explained TCP/IP, intranets and extranets. He explained that the TCP/IP stands for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. Communication between computers on a network is accomplished through this protocol called TCP/IP. It creates the rules for how data is passed through the internet. I found it interesting to learn about the architecture of the TCP/IP. It has a 4 layer system: application layer (email, FTP, the web), Transport layer (TCP), Internet Layer (IP), and Network Layer (ethernet). The author elaborates on how everything works.

Additionally, the author goes to talk about the intranet and the extranet. The intranet is a private, internal network that uses TCP/IP for its own internal use. Extranets is simply an intranet that has internet connection, but with added security of an intranet network. The chapter has great illustrations to aid in understanding the concepts.

TCP/IP, The Internet, Intranets and Extranets

Where is the Cloud? Geography, economics, environment, and jurisdiction in cloud computing.

Cloud computing, what is it? Who uses it? Where is it? What rules govern the cloud? These are the questions that are answered in this article. Cloud computing has recently sprung up and is changing many facets of computing. The authors describe that cloud computing is where users can store, access and share data in the cloud or on the internet instead of on your own hard drive. Cloud users, especially within organizations have the benefit of focusing on their core competencies and not have to deal with the headache of purchasing, configuring, administering and maintaining their own infrastructure.  The authors explain three ways in which cloud computing can be used. First, the cloud just holds the application of the user. Second way is batch processing. This is where the user is able to transfer a large quantity of data over the cloud. Third way is cloud bursting, the short term use of cloud computing services along with the use of the user’s existing infrastructure.  Next the authors talk about where the cloud is located ? They explain the geographical, environmental, economical, and jurisdictional considerations that cloud providers have to make when looking to build and operate one of these massive data bases. The biggest issue with regards to cloud computing is the question of what rules govern the cloud? From the users point of view the issues are: access, reliability, security, data confidentiality/ privacy, liability, intellectual property, ownership of data, portability, and audit ability. Since these issue are important to the user, they are just as important to consider to the provider. Other issues include: legal jurisdiction, government intervention, and costs of doing business. All of these factors go into where the data center will be located. The main point is that cloud computing portrays the centralization of data and resources, which is vulnerable to being controlled by outer forces such as the government. The political infrastructure is not yet in place to sustain this new economy. Many issue have to be resolved still.

Cloud computing allows us to connect with people across large distances, analyze data and create solutions. Also, people will be able to store, access, and share date which is accessible from anywhere. This new technology is emerging fast. Imagine if organizations, governments, schools and communities all adapted cloud computing.

Where is the Cloud? Geography, economics, environment, and jurisdiction in cloud computing.

Internet Biographies: J.C.R. Licklider (1915-1990) – Internet Visionary

This article is a biography of one of the internet’s most important pioneers, JCR Licklider. He was the visionary that planted the seeds which grew into this massive giant, which we call the internet. Before Licklider had any sparked interest in computing, he was a researcher, and a scientist. Liicklider worked on the first interactive computer, PDP-1. Licklider saw computer technology as potentially having the power to give quick, automated support systems for decision making. He envisioned computers as a tool to augment human intellect. He put his ideas into a few articles and books which inspired many and gave path to the future of the internet.  (Man-Computer Symbiosis” and “The Computer as Communications Device)  He also wrote a book called the “Libraries of the Future.”

In Man-Computer Symbiosis article he states, “In not too many years human brains and computing machines will be coupled together very tightly, and the resulting partnership will think as no human being has ever thought and process data in a way not approached by the information handling machines we know today.” He saw the future of computing.  He wrote about internet publishing, tablet computing, speech recognition, network computing and many of the thing that were created decades after. He imagined the reality in which we live in today. In fact, the reason that we do live in such a digital age, is mostly due to the mind and vision of this man. In Licklider’s, The Computer as Communications Device, he states, “In a few years, men will be able to communicate more effectively through a machine than face to face.”

His biography shows how he communicated his vision throughout the IPTO, and how that vision was continued and carried on into the invention of the ARPANET,  and eventually the Internet. In many ways his vision is still being carried out.

The biography takes us through his life experiences, his accomplishments, through his forward thinking ideas.

Biography of J.C.R. Licklider pages (156-161)

How the Internet Created Its Own Currency

This is an article about Bitcoin written by Christina Warren, a Senior Tech Analyst at Mashable.  So, you might be asking yourself what in the world is bitcoin? The author explains that bitcoin is a form of digital currency or crypty-currency. It is completely decentralized, and independent of any banking authority. It is regulated by software. It is incredibly secure and users are anonymous. Without banks, bitcoin currency runs on a decentralized network. It has no borders, no country and no government.  There is no center for hackers to attack. Bit coins can be used anywhere in the world on the internet. Another advantage is that there is no way to create a counterfeit bitcoin. Even though every user in this network is anonymous, every bitcoin creates a digital footprint of where it has been.  It relies on a technology called cryptography for its security. In the article, Christina Warren describes how bitcoins are generated. Unlike paper currency, bitcoins are created through a process called mining. I found this video to explain this process. It is called The Internet Knows Bitcoin. The process is a lot like gold mining.

People are able to buy and sell bitcoin through bitcoin exchanges. The bitcoins then are stored in an ewallet through which you can purchase virtually anything. Every transaction is verified and recorded in a ledger. Additionally, the software is completely open source, and the code is open to the public for anyone to review.

Many businesses are starting to accept bitcoin as a form of currency, meaning that the people are gaining trust in technology and where its going. One thing for sure is that, people are losing trust in the value of the dollar. The question now is, can bitcoin become the future currency? We’ll see.

There is also a free internet course that is designed to make you into bitcoin expert. It discusses everything about the topic. Here is the link.

Link to the Article – Bitcoin: How the Internet Created its own Currency

Digital Dating and Virtual Relating: Conceptualizing Computer Mediated Romantic Relationships

This article shines light one how the internet has impacted our interpersonal relationships within the context of a romantic relationship. It talks about something called CMR (Computer Mediated Relationships). The article starts off by exploring the history and the culture of the internet. The internet has become so a part of our culture that people spend more time on the computer than the do with people. Today its not just a way of sending email, its a place that has had dramatic effects on social interactions. It gives us the power to meet new people, talk in chat rooms, social networks, date online, create online communities, find true love online, and sustain relationships through skype. People can even fulfill their secret sexual desires online. The author compares computer mediated relationships and face to face relationships by discussing four different parts: the process of relationship formation and dissolution, the nature of self disclosure, methods of conflict management, and meaning of infidelity.

Digital Dating and Virtual Relating

Political, Economic, Social, and Technical (PEST) Impacts of the Internet

This is a video of Dr. Vint Cerf giving a talk at Purdue University. Dr. Vint Cerf is one of the pioneers of the internet and is recognized as one of the fathers of the internet. Dr. Vint Cerf talks about how the internet has changed over the years. For instance, the world today is experiencing deep internet penetration, massive use and diversity. Although many parts of the world still don’t have the internet. The recent changes that have been made among many others are the IPv6, internationalized domain names, digital signed address registration (RPKI), domain name system security (DNSSEC), sensor networks, smart grid and mobile devices.  He spoke about the internet of things, and brought up many internet enabled devices that are out on the market today. For instance, a internet enabled refrigerator, light bulbs, surfboards, picture frames, bathroom scale, He presented and elaborated on a lot of issues that go along with the internet of things. For example privacy, configuration, management, infrastructure, architecture, the sensor network, and etc. On the political side of the discussion, Dr Cerf spoke on the impact of the internet on the populations of many countries. Topics such as cyber crime, cyber security, policy making, digital signatures, and digital velum were all discussed. Digital velum for instance was interesting to me because it talked about the preservation of digital data. It posed the question whether we would be able to open files from 1995 in the year 3000. The speaker also spoke on the impact the internet had on the economics of publishing, journalism, education and manufacturing. For instance, he compared the cost of paper to the cost of bits, and showed how the internet has rocked the world of publishing. He spoke on how the internet has changed journalism and education. Education is particularly interesting, because of this new MOOC structure. MOOC stands for massive online open courses. Explains how this model of free education is far more beneficial and even more profitable. With regards to manufacturing, the speaker spoke about 3D printing, which is another thing to keep an eye out for as it is predicted to be revolutionary and world changing in many ways. Finally, Dr. Vint Cerf spoke about a current project called InterPlanetary extension of the internet. This is a facinating topic that goes back to Licklider and his idea of intergalactic computer network. Here is the Link to the seminar.

“Successful Strategies for IPv6 Rollouts. Really.” By: Thomas Lemoncelli

Thomas Limoncelli describes 2 successful IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) rollout strategies and 1 unsuccessful rollout strategy primarily for businesses.  IPv6 is an extended address format that allows for 128 bits of source and destination host addresses.  That is enough for 340 trillion trillion trillion addresses that is enough to last for the foreseeable future.  The need for IPv6 came from a depletion of IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) addresses.  IPv4 only allows for 32 bit addresses, 4.3 billion potential addresses, which seemed sufficient at the time.  After the internet went public and grew substantially more address space was needed.  The IPv6 format is not backwards compatible with IPv4, because it does not have the 128 bits of address space needed to refer to an IPv6 only destination.  This calls for the implementation of a dual stack design that allows hosts to speak to either protocol.  Without investing in IPv6 compatible technology businesses would be missing out on a large client base as more addresses immerge.  Limoncelli does not recommend to convert everything now.  He does recommend to purpose a high-value reason to use or convert to IPv6 to have the funds allocated.  He also recommends the use of a load balancer that does IPv6-to-IPv4 translation to offer IPv6 to external customers immediately.

http://queue.acm.org/detail.cfm?id=1959015

Social Implication of the Internet

A lot of topics can be addressed when talking about what social implications the internet has had on the world. The article discusses in detail the digital divide, the impact on time use, community, social capital formation, politics, organizations, and culture. The digital divide is the gap between those that have access to the internet and those that do not. That has a lot to do with economic development of that particular society, and has very interesting correlations and implications. The author explains the social impact on time use. People now spend a lot of time online. It allows them to have instant access to any kind of information, be actively involved in online communities, and even their physical communities. The authors also go into detail the impact the internet has on social interactions. Research shows that internet users spend less time in the real world and more time in the virtual. Results show increase in loneliness, depression, hindered face to face communication, less time with families, and social circles. The internet also has heavily impacted the world of politics. People are more informed, more engaged and more empowered through the internet. Additionally, the article talks about how the internet has caused huge changes in operations of organizations. If organizations are not taking advantage of the internet, they are pretty much shooting themselves in the foot. All in all, the article is packed with interesting, thought provoking content. The internet is a part of our culture today, and its interesting that it has affected the way we live, work, communicate, and how we do business. It allows us to take control of our lives, build communities, start movements, educate ourselves, be a part of social organization, increase communication, and countless others. It has done a lot of good, and one can argue that it also has done some damage as well. Although I’d argue that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

Social Impact of the Internet

Summary of “The History of the Internet: YouTube video by Bilgil

This youtube video provides an understandable, short and to-the-point summary of the history of the internet.  I like this video a lot because it lays out a literal timeline for the viewer and goes into detail about each major points in the history of the internet.  I would definitely check this out because it puts all the important information right in front of you.  It explains batch processing, which was what they were using before 1957 in the beginnings of this internet history, all the way to the running of the internet in 1990.  ARPANET is explained in depth as well and the narrator explains all of the dates and significance of those dates in an easy to understand way.  I found that this video helped solidify what we talked about in class as well as the reading. LINK