Peer-to-Peer Technology
Description:
Since Napster appeared in 1999, various Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file sharing applications (e.g., WinMX, KaZaA, Gnutella, Freenet, winny) have emerged one after another. The secret behind this technology is that it enables electronical bi-directional communication, 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 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:
- Software producers, consortiums, free fighters
- psychologic behavior ("wanting to being in control of the environment")
-
Inhibitors:
- intellectual rights, patents, or in common knowledge protection
- regulations, restrictions, or in common control
Paradigms:
From " "
Experts:
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. Year - Average cost, in South Africa, for a ISP connection in (R)
1993 - 80,
1994 - 80,
1995 - 80,
1996 - 80,
1997 - 80,
1998 - 80,
1999 - 88,
2000 - 89,
2001 - 90,
2002 - 94,
2003 - 100.