SUPPORT THE BACKBONE

I Find Karma (adam@cs.caltech.edu)
Thu, 23 May 96 17:23:22 PDT


Is this another Imminent Death of the Net (tm) post, or does
this sound like the real thing?

> From veyr@primenet.com Thu May 23 14:17:19 1996
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> To: adam@cs.caltech.edu (I Find Karma)
> Subject: FYI on SUPPORT THE BACKBONE
>
> FYI - I've sent differently-edited versions of this to 3 places.
>
> ***************************************************************************
>
> INTRODUCTION: I'm a freelance writer experienced at expressing technical
> concepts in lay english. Articles I've written for MULTIMEDIA PRODUCER
> MAGAZINE and other writing samples are available on my web page.
>
> PROJECT WORKING-TITLE: Support the Backbone - Fight Web Brown-out
>
> ISSUE: Web/Internet technology must be prepared to accept traffic loads far
> in excess of present performance. For example, an additional 10 to 30
> million U.S. PPP connections in the next 2 years, or 100,000 sustained
> connections viewing a cybercast. Leaving all the client-server issues to
> the side (as much as possible), public attention and various funding
> solutions should address adequate capacity of the underlying "backbone".
>
> PROPOSAL: The first stage is to set up a website press kit with information
> summaries, interview transcripts, and whatever resource or contact
> information will help journalists compose their own independent pieces on
> this subject. In the process, the opinions of scientific experts on this
> subject will become more available to the sophisticated computer-literate
> public and the locations of high-end technical resources will be made
> available. Eventually, efforts may be targeted at the broad general public,
> but not until a concrete agenda evolves.
>
> PROGRESS: This is just starting. Tim Berners-Lee is considering letting us
> use him as a figurehead for this project. Bandai (whose Pippin networking
> settop-box launches in September) has expressed willingness to sponsor a
> (smallish) conference in the near future. Progressive Networks is also
> coming on board. I've started shopping around the CalTech faculty today too,
> since they're right around the corner from me.
>
> REQUEST: Any good information, leads, references, or interviews will be much
> appeciated.
>
> ***********************************
> * Philip Merrill *
> * 54 W Glenarm *
> * Pasadena, CA 91105 *
> V * (818) 403-9600 *
> E * veyr@primenet.com *
> Y * http://www.primenet.com/~veyr/ *
> R ***********************************
>
>