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 jumped from shadow into the spotlight 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. New and useful applications stimulate the use of the internet.
Enablers:
1. Software producers, consortiums, free fighters.
2. Psychologic behavior of human beings: they want to be in control of their environment
3.
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. 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.
2.
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.
November 1996: first version of ICQ was released by Mirabilis
1999: birth of Napster