Re: What is "The Internet" TCP/IP or UNIX-to-UNIX ?

[Robert Brockway <robert () timetraveller org>]

On Sun, 4 Apr 2010, Jim Burwell wrote:

> I agree.  I remember back in the 80s when I first got access to UseNet
> and UUCP based email thinking and saying things like "the net will
> change the world", because for the first time people from all over the
> globe were communicating fairly openly and inexpensively, and somehow
> the internet and UUCP seemed to come in "under the radar" back then.  I
> had more than a few people scoff at me for thinking that way though.  :-)

I know exactly what you mean.  I first connected got online in 1992 (late 
by the standards of some around here :) ).  Right away I knew it was going 
to change everything.  I tried to explain this to people but mostly got a 
blank stare in return.

These days you hear people occassionally say that no one predicted the 
explosive impact of the Internet.  I did, and so did a lot of others.  I
will say that I expected it was going to take us longer to get to this 
point (near ubiquitous network access in the developed world, and network 
technologies being widely adopted by government & business to deliver 
services).

In any case, we're at the beginning of this revolution, not the end.  I 
expect it will take several centuries for the full impact of the 
information revolution to become evident.

Cheers,

Rob

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