Unit 7: Internet and WWW Technologies

Unit 7: Internet and WWW Technologies

Jeff Tyson "How Internet Infrastructure Works” http://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet-infrastructure.htm/printable

Although nobody technically owns the internet it is monitored. The Internet Society a non-profit est. in 1992 oversees how the internet forms, and the policies that define how we interact with the internet.

-Every computer connected to the internet is part of a network.
ISP (Internet Service Provider) - Home Office
POP (Point of Presence) - Business
NAP (network access points) how everything is connected

Without NAPs computers on different networks could not talk to one and another.
- Routers send messages across several NAPs in order to transmit a message, and it all happens in fractions of a second.
A Routers Job:
*It ensures that information doesn't go where it's not needed. This is crucial for keeping large volumes of data from clogging the connections of "innocent bystanders."
*It makes sure that information does make it to the intended destination.

High capacity backbones help keep internet traffic fast and responsive.

Every computer has an IP or Internet Protocol address so that it can communicate over the internet. It is typically displayed in a decimal representation of binary code.

URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator
-every time you use a domain name the internet's Domain Name Servers translate it into computer speak so it can connect you to that URL.

In the internet you are either a server or a client.
-machines that provide things for other machines are servers (email servers)
-clients are machines that connect to those services

Every web server on the internet adheres to the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP)


Andrew K. Pace “Dismantling Integrated Library Systems”

-“Today, interoperability in library automation is more myth than reality.”
How has the internet made the library more chaotic?
-Libraries have to build upon what they have and software providers need to build systems which
INTEROPERABILITY

-“Portals, metasearch tools, reference linking software, radio frequency identification tags (RFIDs), and digital asset management systems now dominate the world of library automation.”

“Better Costs More.” Libraries are going to have to spend money for integrated, interoperable systems software.

Open source software has given libraries the opportunity to mold, use and change software for their specific uses and needs.

Libraries may have to dismantle in order to reintegrate systems that are functional. New tools and electronic materials are forcing libraries to make upgrade upon upgrade. Will it be cheaper to just start from scratch or is open source the way to go?

Sergey Brin and Larry Page: Inside the Google Machine

This video was an interesting look into Google. I was really intrigued by the use of the globe that showed where searches were taking place using Google, at what frequency and in what language. Also, the globe depicting all the bandwidth required for those searches was very interesting. Brin made an interesting point that during the day, wherever there is power there is the internet and searches. Nowadays as long as you have power, you can benefit from everything the internet has to offer.

As Brin and Page described Google’s work environment I was even more intrigued. I had heard that Google was a very employee friendly company, but you can tell they really believe that a good work environment or ‘culture’ breeds innovation. It apparently has not failed them.