The Internet derives its disruptive quality from a very special property: IT IS PUBLIC. The core of the Internet is a body of simple, public agreements, called RFCs, that specify the structure of the Internet Protocol packet. These public agreements don’t need to be ratified or officially approved - they just need to be widely adopted and used. The internet’s component technologies - routing, storage, transmission, etc. - can be improved in private. But the Internet Protocol itself is hurt by private changes, because its very strength is its public-ness. Because it is public, device makers, application makers, content providers and network providers can make stuff that works together. The result is completely unprecedented; instead of a special-purpose network - with telephone wires on telephone poles that connect telephones to telephone switches, or a cable network that connects TVs to content - we have the Internet, a network that connects any application - love letters, music lessons, credit card payments, doctor’s appointments, fantasy games - to any network - wired, wireless, twisted pair, coax, fiber, wi-fi, 3G, smoke signals, carrier pigeon, you name it. Automatically, no extra
services needed. It just works.
David S. Isenberg ☀
Thursday 30 April 2009
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