Y490 Politics of the Y490 Politics of the InternetInternetSeptember 15, 2009September 15, 2009

Internet PioneersInternet Pioneers

Joseph Carl Robnett Licklider: developed the ideaof a universal network while working at DARPA

Robert Taylor: succeeded Licklider at DARPAInformation Processing Techniques Office (IPTO)

He also was a big supporter oftime-sharing vs. batch processing computers.

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What Did Licklider Want?What Did Licklider Want?

The Department of Defense operated The Department of Defense operated computers or computer-like equipment for computers or computer-like equipment for many different functions:many different functions: Missiles and satellites, Strategic Air commandMissiles and satellites, Strategic Air command Battleship control systemsBattleship control systems Army field operationsArmy field operations

Licklider wanted for all of them to be able Licklider wanted for all of them to be able to communicate with each otherto communicate with each other

More Internet PioneersMore Internet Pioneers

L-R: Vint Cerf, Robert Kahn, Len Kleinrock, and Larry Roberts –Team members from Bolt, Beranek and Newman (BBN) and the Lincoln Labs at MIT and later at UCLA who created the first IMP and connected the first two nodes.

Key InnovationsKey Innovations

TCP/IP Routers and Packet Switches Local Area Networks (LANs) (LANs) Fiber Optics (big Internet pipes) (big Internet pipes) UNIX with TCP/IP kernel with TCP/IP kernel Integration of TCP/IP into all computersIntegration of TCP/IP into all computers Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) (HTML) Multimedia standards and protocols standards and protocols

EthernetEthernet

Developed by Robert Metcalfe and Developed by Robert Metcalfe and others at Xerox PARC in 1973-75others at Xerox PARC in 1973-75

Connects computers locally and allows Connects computers locally and allows them to connect to the Internet from one them to connect to the Internet from one shared nodeshared node

Pioneers of the Web: Pioneers of the Web: 19801980

Tim Berners-LeeTim Berners-Lee Robert CaillouRobert Caillou

HTML developed for scientists atThe CERN complex in Geneva

The Rise of Microcomputers The Rise of Microcomputers and Hacker Cultureand Hacker Culture

1976 Apple I computer sold to computer hobbyists 1976 Apple I computer sold to computer hobbyists Paul Allen and Bill gates create a BASIC language Paul Allen and Bill gates create a BASIC language

compiler for microcomputerscompiler for microcomputers 1981 IBM PC begins to compete in the microcomputer 1981 IBM PC begins to compete in the microcomputer

marketmarket

Good Questions in the Good Questions in the TextbookTextbook

How has the historical development of the How has the historical development of the Internet shaped its contemporary characteristics?Internet shaped its contemporary characteristics?

Is TCP/IP a radical communication technology?Is TCP/IP a radical communication technology? How important is the do-it-yourself, or hacker, How important is the do-it-yourself, or hacker,

ethos for making sense of the Internet’s ethos for making sense of the Internet’s development?development?

Assess the impact of the World Wide Web and Assess the impact of the World Wide Web and the graphical browser on the diffusion of the the graphical browser on the diffusion of the Internet.Internet.