DEVELOPING THE INTERNET: A GENERATION OF OPENNESS

Developing the Internet: A Generation of Openness

Why has the Internet been so successful?

The key, Internet pioneer Vint Cerf explained to an audience of more than 200 at his recentVerisign Labs Distinguished Speaker Series lecture, is its openness.

"The openness of the net has allowed so many other people to contribute that it's sort of like creating a giant tidal wave," Cerf stated.  "We've been surfing (no pun intended) on that tidal wave for 30 to 40 years."

The tidal wave started when Vint and Bob Kahn invented the TCP/IP protocol for sending packets of data reliably from one location to another.  TCP/IP is the "lingua franca" of Internet communications, the common language by which computer systems exchange data of any kind.  How the data is exchanged -- dial-up, broadband, wired, wireless, or carrier pigeon -- is up to the network implementation.  What the data means is up to the application.  But the format of the exchange is standard:  a source address, a destination address, and data.

A standard interface between layers can often be the catalyst for innovation in both.  By reducing the diversity of interfaces, a standard can increase the diversity of parties on both sides of the service interface -- applications and network implementations in this case, service consumers and service providers more generally.  Instead of a polyglot of point-to-point interfaces within specific protocol "stacks", developers could master one interface, and focus instead on the applications above or the network implementations below.  This architecture of "loose coupling" would naturally attract more applications, because they could be used with more network implementations, and vice versa, a symbiotic relationship that would ultimately make the architecture dominant.

Open architecture takes the principle a step further, by inviting contributors to share their work with one another, and relying on their engagement in the ongoing evolution of standards, a point also made by IETF chair Russ Housley in his lecture in this series.  The parts that are built may have proprietary aspects, but the growing body of publicly available specifications and reference material on how they work together strengthens the system overall.  Vint described how similar openness benefited another layer of today's Internet stack, HTTP with its HTML format, where developers learned how to write HTML by copying one another's pages.  "Openness [created] new opportunities," he remarked, as "everybody learned from everybody else."

A generation of technologists has grown up surfing the Internet wave, learning along the way as a result of the essential openness that Vint has personally championed throughout his career.  More than the technical merits of TCP/IP itself, it's the open, collaborative environment around its development that has made the difference.  And that environment itself is shaped by the Internet:  the more easily technologists have been able to connect with one another, the more rapidly and confidently they've been able to develop TCP/IP and the Internet.  (Keeping in mind, of course, the ongoing value of meeting in person, in addition to the online interactions, whether at conferencesor in this series.)

My observations here are distilled from my reflections on just the first 10 minutes or so of Vint's lecture, the rest of which was equally well thought and presented.  Another thread he pursued was a three-fold classification of security responses (or more broadly, "safety", a phrase he prefers).  The best response, he said, is "a technical one that prevents the bad thing from happening."  The next best is "post hoc enforcement":  detecting a security incident and responding after the fact.  The third alternative, "social morays", has merits as well:  the admonition "don't do that."  Some actions, if not easily preventable or detectable, can simply be discouraged.

In the world of cybersecurity -- which would be a story of its own -- I'm not sure how much we can count on the last approach.  But in the world of Internet development, the converse has energized a transformation.  No technical action ensured the "good thing" would happen, but the social moray of "request comments" and "collaborate" has turned a protocol designed in the lab into a part of the lives of 3 billion people and counting, as well as an entire industry.

How has the open architecture of the Internet made a difference for you?

WHY WE SHOULD ALL BE THANKFUL FOR THE INTERNET

Why We Should All Be Thankful for the Internet

Ah autumn!  It is during this season that I tend to reflect more on my past, and for things I am truly thankful for.  Of course, topping this list are my family, close friends, and work that I am truly passionate about.  As I often reflect on the role of technology in the daily lives of a large portion of the planet, a recent addition to this list of thanks is the Internet.

Technology has always been present in my life. The possibilities of technology as platforms for discovery, communication of ideas, and creation have fascinated me going all the way back to the 1970s, when I first started playing rudimentary video games and first laid hands on an Apple II - leading to my Commodore VIC-20 in 1980. While the first home computers provided mostly a solitary experience, the advent of faster and cheaper modems allowed consumers to broaden their reach to Bulletin Board Systems (BBSs) into the early 1990’s.  This provided access to new communities, new thoughts, and new experiences, but they were limited by geography.

It was in 1994 that I realized that things were about to drastically change.  I remember where I was when I first booted up a Mosaic browser on a grey scale monitor at my office and managed to surf to a site that displayed the Dead Sea Scrolls.  The impact of this was immediate and forceful: thanks to the Internet, I was witnessing an ancient artifact from my chair that was located on the other side of the planet.  My reach was now global.

Fast forward to the present day and the Internet has grown to become the most transformative communication platform in the history of mankind.  Today, individuals can broadcast a message to the planet, meet with great minds from all corners of the globe, experience different cultures, and reconnect with old friends from the comfort of their living rooms or their local coffee shop.  It has become ubiquitous and it has changed the face of global industries - from music to manufacturing - in ways we could not predict, faster than we imagined.

The rapid growth of the Internet has led to tremendous understanding and sharing, and increased our view from a window into our backyards, to a window into the world.  This is exciting.  This is inspiring.

The next great leaps forward will manifest through a world of web connected and web aware devices and services. The potential to improve our lives through the connected fabric of the “Internet of Things” is staggering. Some impressive examples include  the acceleration of medical research through protein folding on PS3 game consoles, and micro-loans that allow business to start up in even the most impoverished of nations.

But there are also very (seemingly) basic ways the Internet has eased my daily routine – and that of others - that I am immensely thankful for. From online bill payment and account management, to keeping track of my friends and family on social networks and email, to providing a source of entertainment for my three kids (and myself) on long trips, the Internet is being woven into every aspect of our environment.  And there’s little argument that it will be critical to the advancement of human knowledge and discovery moving forward.

So, in addition to my family, my friends, and my work, I am thankful that the Internet continues to be an important growing and evolving presence.  How we use the Internet to better our lives and the lives of future generations is up to each and every one of us.

This week, as most of us in the U.S. prepare to gather with family and friends, and perhaps do a bit of shopping, think about the role that the Internet plays in these experiences and why we should all be thankful for it. Please send me your comments on what you come up with.

Tips to Develop Your Skills as a Successful Blog writer

Tips to Develop Your Skills as a Successful Blog writer

If you are a blogger you would certainly love to have a large traffic on your blog. The primary requisite for traffic generation and attraction is the quality and standard of the content you have on your blog. If the content is of high quality, interesting, thought provoking, dealing with hot issues and purposeful then the visitors will not only stick to your blog but would also recommend it to others. 

The question here is that how to get top quality content for high traffic generation. If you are not a well skilled writer or professional blogger you simply need to hire someone for the bestguest posting services. This will give you profitable results with you sitting relaxed with resting your back on the easy chair. There are a number of professionals out there who could do the best job for you. And, if executed in the right way the guest posting can grow your business.

However if you want to improve your own skills and do it by yourself then you need to follow the following few tips and tricks. It is much better to do it yourself rather than to leave it to armatures and your friends.

1. Improve Your Writing Power

Take your time. Don’t rush. Just give it some time to improve your writing. Extensive reading of articles on various topics by top professionals will enhance your capability of writing. It is important that you take time to analyze a few things first before you write content yourself. Till the improvement of your writing skill you had better leave it to some expert writer for some time and in the meanwhile you carry on working on your writing development skill.

2. Self Promotion

Self promotion is very important as it brings you in the limelight. Nowadays it is quite easy quite easy to advertise yourself without spending a penny. This can be done through social media. Social networks will place you on the map, because people who you know will read your content, and others are likely to follow suit.

3. Relationship Building

It is advisable to try and build a long lasting business relationship. This you can do by posting your article in a website that has much greater traffic than yours. Thus you can benefit from the backlink that you will get on posting your article to that site. It is all about business that you can blog on their site and they can blog on your site.

4. Quality of the Content

What really matters is your content. If your content is below standard, boring, containing errors, and slack readers are likely to lose interest very soon in your blog. It is not going to stop here but it will certainly pass on to others by the existing viewers to the potential visitors which will end up in a great harm to your blog. So, try writing a good content full of interesting matter giving the viewers’ choice a priority.

Your Favorite Color: What it Says About You

Your Favorite Color: What it Says About You

Whether we’re a vibrant Orange, or a peaceful Blue, our color preferences are a key to understanding our

personalities. Find out what this color expert has to say about your favorite color. What does it reveal about who you really are?

White: Symbolic of purity, innocence and naivete, white has strong connotations of youth and purity. If you are an older person, your preference for white could indicate a desire for perfection and impossible ideals, maybe an attempt to recapture lost youth and freshness. It may also symbolize a desire for simplicity or the simple life.

Red: The color of strength, health, and vitality, Red is often the color chosen by someone outgoing, aggressive, vigorous and impulsive—or someone who would like to be! It goes with an ambitious nature but those who choose it can be abrupt at times, determined to get all they can out of life, quick to judge people and take sides. Red people are usually optimistic and can’t stand monotony; they are rather restless and not at all introspective, so they may be unaware of their own shortcomings. They find it hard to be objective and may blame others for any mishaps. Quiet people with a preference for red may feel the need for the warmth, strength and life-giving qualities of the color, or they blanket their true feelings under a sober exterior. Red is usually chosen by people with open and uncomplicated natures, with a zest for life.

Maroon: Harsh experience has probably matured the Maroon person into someone likable and generous. It is often a favorite color of someone who has been battered by life but has come through. It indicates a well-disciplined Red personality—one who has had difficult experiences and has not come through unmarked but who has grown and matured in the process.

Pink: This color embodies the gentler qualities of Red, symbolizing love and affection without passion. Women who prefer Pink tend to be maternal. Pink desires protection, special treatment and a sheltered life. Pink people require affection and like to feel loved and secure, perhaps wanting to appear delicate and fragile. Pink people tend to be charming and gentle, if a trifle indefinite.

Orange: This color of luxury and pleasure appeals to the flamboyant and fun-loving person who likes a lively social round. Orange people may be inclined to dramatize a bit, and people notice them, but they are generally good-natured and popular. They can be a little fickle and vacillating, but on the whole they try hard to be agreeable. Orange is the color of youth, strength, fearlessness, curiosity and restlessness.

Yellow: The color of happiness, wisdom and imagination, Yellow is chosen by the mentally adventurous, searching for novelty and self-fulfillment. Yellow usually goes with a sunny and shrewd personality, with a good business head and a strong sense of humor. It is the color of intellectuality and all things to do with the mind. Yellow folks are usually clear and precise thinkers who have a good opinion of their own mental capacities and who have lofty ideals. They may at times tend to shun responsibility, preferring freedom of thought and action.

Green: The color of harmony and balance, Green symbolizes hope, renewal and peace, and is usually liked by the gentle and sincere. Greens are generally frank, community-minded people, fairly sociable but preferring peace at any price. Green people can be too self-effacing, modest and patient, so they may get exploited by others. They are usually refined, civilized and reputable.

Blue: Soft, soothing, compassionate and caring, Blue is the color of deliberation and introspection, conservatism and duty. Patient, persevering, conscientious, sensitive and self-controlled, Blues like to be admired for their steady character and wisdom. They are faithful, but are often worriers with somewhat inflexible beliefs and can be too cautious, and suspicious of flamboyant behavior.

Blue-Green: Exacting, discriminating, poised and attractive, the Blue-Green person tends to be sensitive, intellectual and refined, persevering and stable if rather detached. Blue-Greens have excellent taste, and are usually courteous and charming, capable but often refusing help or guidance.

Turquoise: Complex, imaginative and original, Turquoise people drive themselves hard and may be in a state of turmoil under their outwardly cool exterior.

Lavender: This is often chosen by a person who lives “on a higher plane,” who never notices anything sordid and who is always impeccably and beautifully dressed. Lavender people may be on a continual quest for culture and the refined things of life, high and noble causes but without the necessity of getting their hands dirty. A Lavender person is usually creative, charming, witty and civilized.

Purple: Purples are highly individual, fastidious, witty and sensitive, with a strong desire to be unique and different. Temperamental, expansive and artistic, a Purple person may become aloof and sarcastic when misunderstood. If you chose Purple, you tend to be unconventional, tolerant and dignified, likely to achieve positions of authority.

Brown: A Brown person has stamina and patience, tending to be very solid and substantial, conscientious, dependable, steady and conservative. Browns are not impulsive, and may be inarticulate and tactless but they love responsibility and are reliable and kindly. If you chose Brown, watch out for a tendency to be obstinate and inflexible.

Gray: The color of caution and compromise, diligent Grays search for composure and peace and often work hard without reward. Older Grays like life to run on an even keel with few ups and downs. Young Grays may be withdrawing from life and suppressing their personalities. Grays often have good business ability and tend to work too much.

Black: Dignified and impressive without being showy, Black people want to give the appearance of mystery, but their preference may also indicate a suppression of desires and worldly aims, suggesting hidden depths and inner longings.

Dog vs. Cat Diary

This classic dog versus cat diary has been circulating the internet for years, maybe since the advent of internet humor. However, I was not able to find the original author so this humor-filled comparison between felines and canines remains anonymous (if you know who the original author is, please let me know!). Personally, I just read it for the first time last month, so I thought it was worth sharing it with Care2 readers. Whether you have read it before or are reading it for the first time, ENJOY!

The Dog’s Diary

8:00 am – Dog food! My favorite thing!

9:30 am – A car ride! My favorite thing!

9:40 am – A walk in the park! My favorite thing!

10:30 am – Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!

12:00 PM – Milk bones! My favorite thing!

1:00 PM – Played in the yard! My favorite thing!

3:00 PM – Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!

5:00 PM – Dinner! My favorite thing!

7:00 PM – Got to play ball! My favorite thing!

8:00 PM – Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!

11:00 PM – Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

The Cat’s Diary
Day 983 of my captivity.

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates my capabilities.

However, they merely made condescending comments about what a “good little hunter” I am.

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of “allergies.” I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow, but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released, and seems to be more than willing to return. He has obviously gone mad.

The bird must be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now.

7 Useful Tips and Tricks for PayPal Users

7 Useful Tips and Tricks for PayPal Users

PayPal is one of those online entities like Google that everyone knows something about. You may be surprised about what you don’t know about PayPal, though. Whether you’re using it to pay for purchases on eBay, to sell some things, or to run a full-blown online business, here are a few tips and tricks to help you get the most out of PayPal:

1. Use the Right Type of Account
PayPal offers four different types of accounts. Most casual users of PayPal have a Personal account, which comes with limited debit card and merchant service privileges and has some tools for use on eBay. The premier account comes with a debit card and unlimited merchant services, while the business account offers access for multiple users under the same account. The student account is similar to the personal account, but it comes with a debit card and is meant to help students learn to responsibly manage money.

If you do any amount of selling through PayPal other than the occasional eBay auction, you should look into a premier account rather than just a personal account, since you can pay less fees for the payments you accept for the things you sell. Getting the account that fits your needs will mean you end up paying less fees in the long run!

2. Link it to a Credit Card Instead of a Bank Account
The main appeal of PayPal – other than how easy it is for buyers to use – is that it protects your credit card or bank account information. However, PayPal accounts, like anything else online, can get hacked. If your account is linked to your bank account or debit card, thieves can actually overdraw your account, and you may have a harder time getting your money back. Normally PayPal will help straighten out the problem, but using a credit card gives you a guarantee against fraudulent charges. Plus, you can link your PayPal account to your cash back credit cards to get the same benefits from shopping online that you would by just entering your credit card information directly on a website.

3. Check Out PayPal Communications in your PayPal Account Only
PayPal is one of those sites that’s prone to people trying to phish for information through fraudulent emails that look authentic. Even if an email that you get from PayPal has the logo on it and looks very official, don’t click on links in your email. They’ll often take you to a very official-looking PayPal home page, where you’ll enter your username and password only to find that you’ve just given that information away to phishers. If you get an email from PayPal, it’s wise to type in the actual PayPal web address in your browser and log into your account. Any communication that PayPal officially sends to your email address will also be available through your PayPal account.

4. Apply for Merchant Rates
If you do $3,000 a month or more of business through your PayPal account, you should apply for merchant rates. You’ll end up saving money for your business because each transaction will cost you less. Even if you can’t get merchant rates the first time around for whatever reason, you might as well apply for them to see if you’ll be able to save your business money.

5. Sign Up with a Gmail Account
Google has actually set up special authentication for PayPal emails, so if you sign up with your Gmail address and get an email from PayPal, you can be nearly positive that it’s not phishing. Since the web is always evolving and thieves are always finding new ways to circumvent such measures, it’s still a good idea to go directly to PayPal to check out any communications. However, signing up for PayPal with a Gmail account will make the whole thing that much more secure.

6. Watch the Exchange Rate Problems
If you’re a PayPal user outside of the US, be aware that PayPal does not necessarily use the exact exchange rate, and it can sometimes cost you money. It’s up to you to research the exchange rate and the rate used by PayPal so that you can determine whether or not it might actually be cheaper to use another secure payment platform for your business needs.

7. Use PayPal Sandbox to Test It Out
If you’re a merchant using PayPal on your website to take payments, you can test out your code to make sure it’s working in the PayPal Sandbox. It’s much better to test your code before you put it on your website than it is to have frustrated customers who can’t use your PayPal related links properly!

کمپیوٹر کے استعمال کے دوران آنکھوں کے درد کا بہترین علاج

کمپیوٹر کے استعمال کے دوران آنکھوں کے درد کا بہترین علاج

ٹیکساس… این جی ٹی… دن کا زیادہ تر وقت کمپیوٹر استعمال کرنےسے آنکھوں میں شدید تکلیف اور مختلف امراض کے لاحق ہونے کا خطرہ بڑھ جاتا ہے تاہم اب اس کا بہت آسان حل تلاش کر لیا گیا ہے۔امریکی ریاست ٹیکساس کی یونیورسٹی کے سائنسدانوں کے مطابق کمپیوٹر کے استعمال کے دوران ہر 20منٹ بعد 20فٹ فاصلے پر رکھی کسی چیز پر نگا ہیں مرکوز رکھنے سے آنکھوں کی تکلیف سے بچا جا سکتا ہے۔ کمپیوٹر اسکرین پر مسلسل نظریں جمے رہنے سے آنکھیں خشک ہو کر بوجھل ہو جاتی ہیں جس سے انتہائی تھکن کا احساس پیدا ہو جاتا ہے۔سائنسدانوں نے مزید واضح کیا کہ آنکھوں کی پلکیں جھپکاتے رہنے اور 20فٹ فاصلے پر رکھی اشیا کی طرف دیکھنے سے اس تکلیف سے بچا جا سکتا ہے۔ بس 20-20-20کے نہایت آسان فارمولے پر عمل کرنا ہو گا یعنی20منٹ بعد 20فٹدور20سیکنڈ تک دیکھیں ۔