The part I was most interested in was what the authors offered for the future of the Internet. The authors Barry M. Leiner, Vinton G. Cerf, David D. Clark, Robert E. Kahn, Leonard Kleinrock, Daniel C. Lynch, Jon Postel, Lawrence G. Roberts, Stephen S. Wolff say:I actually think they miss the mark on what the future is, and what the Internet's involvement will be in that future. They say the Internet is only a result of the computer, which I agree is true. But they say the Internet will only survive if it can keep up with the computer. This is where I disagree. I think for the computer to survive, it has to keep up with the Internet.
The Internet is a creature of the computer, not the traditional networks of the telephone or television industries. It will—indeed it must—continue changing at the speed of the computer industry to remain relevant. It is now changing to provide such new services as real-time transport, supporting, for example, audio and video streams (page 7).
My example is the ever-increasing popularity of mobile and touch devices. Many experts think that within five years, the Internet and websites will be designed for your fingers and not your eyes. I think that these portable devices are creations resulting from the Internet. The Internet provides endless amounts of information and vast knowledge on any topic imaginable. The Internet's information source can't even be depicted with words that I type.
This information, including live information on Twitter or maps and directions on Google Maps, or a phone number search on yellow pages websites have become luxuries the public have fallen in love with on the Internet. That information is now demanded on the go, as portable information. Products such as smart phones and iPads quench the thirst for the desire of this information on the go.
Without the Internet, and what it offers, computers would have no purpose in being portable. In fact, these devices are poor utilities for word processing or other non-Internet applications. Computers are becoming portable because of the Internet, because of what the Internet has to offer.
The Internet will continue to be demanded in new forms and new mediums, so the computer is the one that need catching up in this race.
I completely agree with you! Computers wouldn't have any purpose without the internet. I feel that as the internet is becoming more accessible in the future we won't even need computers! I feel like in a few years the classrooms will be full of IPADS or smaller gadgets that are easy to carry to class. I also feel like no one would use notebooks any more or go to the library to research for papers since everything will be online!
ReplyDeleteActually, I think that you are making the same argument, but it's an issue of semantics. I was under the impression that they meant computers in a broad context: my phone has the same base operating system on it as my laptop, they are both computers.
ReplyDeleteYou say, "Many experts think that within five years, the Internet and websites will be designed for your fingers and not your eyes."
The reason you see the internet changing is because computers are becoming devices that can be used with your fingers and not your eyes, therefore it is the computer that is spurring the growth in your example, too.
But I think you're right, just that so are they. They are basically championing the internet's morphing to be used by newer devices like phones and tablets, etc just the same.
Brian and Erika, thanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear that our arguments are similar. At the same rate, I think the authors should have distinguished that a little bit. Obviously, without "computing" machines, the internet wouldn't exist. I do think the Internet is what keeps computers going.
the internet is the incredible communication tools and it gives more access to communicate and to exchange information.it touches millions and even billions of lives everyday.
ReplyDeletetime to time the internet has become powerful today, the internet has become the reason of crimes, adultery, pornography...
but i hope that we the users use the internet for the good. i still believe that its just a matter how will we use it.