The document outlines a short timeline of key events in technology: the first email sent in 1971, the creation of the World Wide Web in 1990, and debates around the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in 2012. It then provides more context on each event - the first email system, how the WWW was developed and launched, and the goals and opposition to SOPA which aimed to expand efforts to curb online copyright infringement.
The internet is ~60 years old. In its most basic form, it’s a system that sends packets across a network via a certain protocol.The first operational packet-switching network was called ARPANET, and was deployed in 1969.It was through ARPANET that the first email was sent.
There was already a system in place for sending messages to other users’ inboxes – a program called SNDMSG – but only on the same machine.What Tomlinson did was change the protocol of a file transfer program he was working on, called CPYNET, and incorporate the code into SNDMSG. He distinguished local mail from network mail using the @ identifier.
“Most likely the first message was QWERTYUIOP or something similar.”and so the first email with a purpose was sent to his colleagues announcing the ability to send inter-network messages to one another.
Instant, global and free communication.Perfect medium for sharing many kinds of informationDevelopment of other systems (IM)Practically unlimited storage (I have 7 gigs of email)
I think email is a great resource and tool!Unfortunately, some consider email a dying form of communication, being quickly replaced by the likes of Twitter and Facebook, to name just two.I much prefer having a universal inbox I can send and receive from, though, without the requirement of having to have an account with a certain provider.I don’t have Facebook, for example.
The WWW: not actually the Internet but a system for connecting and sharing through it.We have this man to thank for the web.Tim Berners-Lee created the web at CERN in 1990.The system he introduced included theHyper Text Transfer Protocol, the first web server called CERN httpd, HTML and the first browser called WorldWideWeb. Combining all this, he created webpages about the project.
He said “Looking around CERN, it was clear that if I needed the web, then others, especially the experimental teams, must be desperate for it.”Figures of those using the web (in terms of files fetched) doubled almost monthly.
Information is freely available30.2% world population have web accessInternet World Stats, 2011. World Internet Statistics. [Online] Available at http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm. Accessed 8 December 2011.2,000,000,000+ usersGrown 480% since 31 Dec 2000Instant updates, people “follow” each otherShare interesting thingsLearn, discover, and createConnect with people, new and old, Facebook, TwitterPut forward opinionsTake action for or against movement… which I’ll get onto next.
LimitlessnessLearnand Teach!Expand, understandHow it’s moved us forward as a society… mostly
SOPA first introduced Oct 26 2011.Nov 16 – The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing to examine the issues related to SOPA.Went to hearing Dec 15 2011 – changes of the bill were debated.
Copyright violation? Dept. of Justice decide if a site infringes on copyright.If so DoJ will notify the site owner of a court orderCopyright owners can also seek court orders (like Recording Industry/Movie Picture Association of America)Action taken -> Depending on the infringement: domain registrars ordered to take down site – search engines blocked from listing – order ad networks to halt businessIf the owner is found guilty, he or she will be sent to prison. For a first offense.
Right! If you break the law, you go to jail, or pay a fine. But there’s problems associated with the bill.First of all, it’s very invasive. ISPs will have to monitor everyone’s traffic so that they may block access to a site.There’s also the issue of censorship.Full title: To promote prosperity, creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation by combating the theft of U.S. property, and for other purposes.“And for other purposes.”This means the US govt. can shut down any website for any reason.
Really, everyone will be affected. Even us not in the US.Think of all the copyrighted material on YouTube – all the songs and film clips. Google will be given a grace period to implement a system to detect copyrighted content, but it’s a lot of work and practically impossible. People will come up with new ways to get content online.Then, a copyright holder will be able to report YouTube for violating copyright… and the entire site will be taken down. Everywhere.Same with Google, Twitter and Facebook. No more social networking. No more searching.
The end of the internet as we know it.Efforts have been made to stop the bill.Blackouts of Google, Facebook, Twitter.Lack of knowledge.Let’s hope it doesn’t pass.