Internet still reshaping history

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: "David P. Reed" <dpreed () reed com>
Date: September 6, 2009 9:18:35 PM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Cc: ip <ip () v2 listbox com>
Subject: Re: [IP] Internet still reshaping history

The Internet, which was the idea that there could be one single  
interoperable network that transcended all others, was invented by Bob  
Kahn and Vint Cerf.   Others were involved - the idea of  
"internetworking" was flowering, but the timing was very clear - it  
happened in the middle of the decade of the '70's.  That was when the  
idea was reduced to practice.

It is true that in 1967-68, Taylor and Licklider wrote about a  
"network of networks" - this was a brilliant concept, but it was not  
yet reduced to practice.  Taylor and Licklider based their vision on  
the "mother of all demos" done by Doug Englebart at SRI.

Indeed, the idea of information sharing goes back farther.   Project  
MAC and the idea of a time-sharing system that allowed informatino  
sharing in a utility goes back to John McCarthy.

However, the idea that the ARPANET was an "Internet" is pretty  
wrong.   It was one of the threads creating the opportunity for the  
Internet.  But, if you want to find the beginning of packet-based  
communications, why not look at Sussenguth's commercialization of  
IBM's SNA.   Packets, of course, are not "internetworking".

The real problem with these "anniversaries" is that the idea of a big  
"ah-ha" by one lone inventor is the kind of stupid history that gets  
promoted by people who are too invested in their egos.   Almost every  
good idea is the evolutionary result of many, ,many progenitors.

On 09/06/2009 04:42 PM, David Farber wrote:
> Why do people say the internet is 40 years old. Is the Arpanet the  
> Internet -- I think not. djf
>
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: Suzanne Johnson <fuhn () pobox com>
> Date: September 6, 2009 4:38:05 PM EDT
> To: Dave () farber net
> Subject: Internet still reshaping history
>
>
>
> At 40, the Internet still reshaping history
> by Stephen Shankland
>
> At the time, it would have been hard to predict which of these  
> events 40 years ago would prove to be most momentous:
>
> * Humans step out of a spaceship and walk on the moon.
> * The Woodstock concert becomes a seminal cultural moment for the  
> baby-boomer generation.
> * A New York City police raid leads to the Stonewall riots and  
> modern gay-rights movement.
> * A handful of engineers at UCLA send some data from one computer to  
> another.
>
> You may disagree, but in my opinion, it's the last of the list: four  
> decades ago today, the Internet was born.
> ....clip......
>
> http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-10323175-264.html?tag=rtcol;inTheNewsNow
>
>
>
>
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