Difference between revisions of "Peer-to-Peer Technology"
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==Description:== | ==Description:== | ||
Since Napster appeared in 1999, various Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file sharing applications (e.g., WinMX, KaZaA, | Since Napster appeared in 1999, various Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file sharing applications (e.g., WinMX, KaZaA, | ||
Gnutella, Freenet, winny) have jumped from shadow into the spotlight. | Gnutella, Freenet, winny) have jumped from shadow into the spotlight. Although Napster nor ICQ was the first one, they were the first to use the standard of the internet as a backbone in their technology. The secret behind this P2P technology is that it enables electronical bi-directional communication. This is in contrast to client/server systems that require continuous polling of the client on the server, a technique with a very low efficiency, and forces centralization (and control) of knowledge. The number of software platforms that enable P2P communication is increasing heavily, and stimulates people to share information and digitalize our bi- or multi-directional communcation. | ||
==Enablers:== | ==Enablers:== | ||
Revision as of 23:55, 25 November 2004
Description:
Since Napster appeared in 1999, various Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file sharing applications (e.g., WinMX, KaZaA, Gnutella, Freenet, winny) have jumped from shadow into the spotlight. Although Napster nor ICQ was the first one, they were the first to use the standard of the internet as a backbone in their technology. The secret behind this P2P technology is that it enables electronical bi-directional communication. This is in contrast to client/server systems that require continuous polling of the client on the server, a technique with a very low efficiency, and forces centralization (and control) of knowledge. The number of software platforms that enable P2P communication is increasing heavily, and stimulates people to share information and digitalize our bi- or multi-directional communcation.
Enablers:
1. Software producers, consortiums (e.g. ISMIR), software free fighters.
2. Psychologic behavior of human beings: they want to be in control of their environment/knowledge
3. Technological development
4. Infrastructural development
Inhibitors:
1. Intellectual rights, patents, or in general: knowledge protection (e.g. RIAA)
2. Regulations, restrictions, fear for instability or in general: control
Paradigms:
1. Free fighters, software companies and consortiums like
2. P2P file sharing applications will increase the usefulness of the internet to many potentials users that were not users before. By enabling bi- or multi-directional communication, and the ongoing globalization, they are motivated to make use of this new communication highway.
3. Technological development will give birth to more powerful and efficient new products and therefore will stimulate the distribution of powerful devicesfor low prices.
Experts:
1. Philippe Aigrain: presently CEO of Sopinspace, Society for Public Information Spaces www.sopinspace.com.
His personal page is at http://www.publicdebate.net/Members/paigrain/
Timing:
Dates for key milestones in the development of the driving force.
1979: first version of USENET, a newsgroup application
1984: birth of Fidonet, decentralized system to exchange messages
November 1996: first version of ICQ was released by Mirabilis
1999: birth of Napster