A Brief History Of The Future
(John Naughton)
Before the Internet truly became a worldwide household phenomenon as it is today, there was plenty of literature devoted to its origins, early days and growing advancements. But John Naughton?s book has enough differentiators that make it a special flower in an overflowing basket. Wonder, he points out, is sorely missing among us ? the plain, simple quality to marvel at technology rather than be its pompous users. In fact, he raises a moot question in the process ? are we not taking progress for granted in casually floating towards the next Big Thing at any point of time? Yes, we seem to be doing just that, all the time ? be it electricity, the telephone, the DVD player, the latest cell phone or the tablet PC. Naughton is brilliant in the case he makes for engineers ? a largely unsung and invisible tribe ? which achieves the unthinkable and yet is invariably accorded a lowly status compared to actors, musicians, artists, athletes, doctors and scientists. He openly admits his personal grudge, since he is an engineer himself, but rightly observes this plight is embedded in the very role they perform. While they focus on the technical means, the ends are invariably decided by a superior, a client, a government agency or a company. Naughton pays homage to the engineers of the Internet on two counts ? one, because they built an amazing world open to all and two ? because they invented institutions and traditions in the process that made the world a better place. He begins the voyage under the section A Brief History of the Future before devoting a chapter to the Radio days. Since the story of the Internet is closely entwined with computers, Naughton briefly traces the origins in Blaise Pascal?s adding machine, Scchickard?s mechanical calculator and Babbage?s Analytical Engine before finally zeroing in on the campus on the East Coast of the United States ? the legendary Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Naughton elucidates the anatomy of a computer, devices like the modem, or demystifies core concepts like packet switching, messaging protocols and email in an extremely reader- friendly fashion ? a rare feat for books devoted to technology. As the book proceeds, Naughton pays tribute to visionaries like Joseph Licklider, Robert Taylor, Douglas Engelbrat, Norbert Weiner, Vannevar Bush and Ted Nelson and engineers like Paul Baran, Donald Davies, Larry Roberts, Bob Kahn, Vint Cerf and Tim Berners- Lee. While Naughton throws light on the origins of the Net, its creators, mechanics and protocols, it also spares a thought or two on its social significance and impact. Here is a book written with passion, not just for the sake of history. It is only fair that it is read in the same spirit.
Resumos Relacionados
- Technology Has Made The World A Better Place To Live.
- The Internet Book
- The World Is Flat
- Streaming Create Your Own Web Radio And Digital Tv
- Necessary But Not Sufficient
|
|