What Is The Internet? by Thoth
February 4th, 2007 9:56 PMThe Internet works because all devices use the same Internet Protocol (IP). Currently, Version 4 of the IP is being phased out for Version 6, which allows more IP addresses. Each IP in a subnet must be unique, and with the growing popularity of the Internet, more addresses are desperately needed.
The Internet also works because it is not centralized; if one node goes down, Internet traffic is routed around the malfunctioning node. Because it is not centralized, it is not possible for one single entity to own the Internet.
In the early nineties, transmission of images and visual data became popular thanks to the Hypertext Transfer Protocol, or HTTP. The Mosaic browser was the first program to allow people to experience the Internet as a visual medium. The term "World Wide Web" became popular around this time.
Today, popular perception of the Internet is the HTTP, as advances in the technology have given rise to rich applications that replace much of the functionality of conventional installed software.
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The question is, have you?
I suppose the question "what is the internet" is subject to artistic interpretation and personal meaning, but all the same- looking at something from it's definition, history and present usage is a perfectly valid, if not a vital way of looking at something.
Is this criticism, or... ? With all due respect, please explain.
That said- Thoth. Great work. When I first read this, I appreciated the straight-forwardness of it and it's well-informed description. This is, simply put, what the internet is.
But there might be something to be said about interpretive meaning or depth. Without changing the important information, perhaps you could elaborate... ? Add a few paragraphs? Or, alternatively, why it is important to you not to "fuddle" your answer with such things, if you think that to be the case?
D00d, I'm in ur site trollin' ur comments?
I wonder what this puzzling comment portends. A disagreement over the nature of teh internets? Is it a series o' tubes?
Have you ever even used the internet? What does this mean????
Ack. I'm confused.
Thoth, rather literal interpretation of the question, but I cannot deny that an exploration of the technical and historical conditions surrounding a technology's inception and use are vital to pinning down questions of meaning and understanding its trajectory. Someone's gotta say it, and thank god for Equivalenz for giving us the specs.
It's my personal preference, in this instance, to not look at anything beyond the hard facts.
I do this because anything else is open to interpretation. While that in and of itself is not so bad, often times these opinions are misconstrued as facts. People involved in technology tend to have absolute ideas about how things work. If you want proof, scroll down to the first comment.
I am still learning about the Internet, and I'd prefer to stay away from things that cannot be proven as fact. It's also this reason I'm not using my own feelings to answer this question. I don't feel confident in my breadth of knowledge to say that my feelings are an adequate way to answer this question.
Completely understandable. Here's a quote for you-
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts." --Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan
Agree/disagree?
Completely understandable. Here's a quote for you-
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts." --Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan
Agree/disagree?
I was trying (and failing) to be funny (ironic 7331-speak, and yes of course he's used the internet unless a friend's been posting everything for him). This is a very literal response to the question, which is great and in a way might be more creative than a one-liner response. In fact, Thoth didn't allude to this in his comment, but this could even be an artist work in which Thoth adopts the voice of the internet - which, at least according to my wikipedia wanderings, just loves to talk about its nuts 'n' bolts.
is that his sense of humor is outer space-dry. And that none of the SF0 guys would ever really diss someone's task in this way. You need to just watch out for the big red "X." Otherwise, anything goes.
I really enjoyed reading your write-up, too, by the way--good job and welcome to the site!
the more things change, the more they stay the same. er... mr. mahan's sense of humor, that is.
D00d, have you ever even used The Internet?