Makeup Reading Notes, Week 7

See Muddiest Point #8...Zhen informed me that we may make up an assignment if we were short one as a result of thinking that 10, instead of 11, posts were necessary to complete all blogging assignments.



How Internet Infrastructure Works

This article gives a nice overview of what the internet actually is. I think most of us, at least I have, sometimes tend to think of it as a concept rather than a distinct network of computer systems. The illustration, while not all that necessary, helps explain how it works at its core.

While the internet is a collection of systems and not owned, it is, obviously, monitered and maintained in order to avoid numerous problems. I suppose that's part of the reason for ISPs.

Anyway, this is a good article. I think the router illustration and explanation is especially effective in trying to explain how the internet works. Also, if you're wondering about the seemingly random progression of numbers that makes up you IP, this article answers why it's not so random.



Dismantling Integrated Library Systems

I understand Pace's frustration with dismantling of the ILS. Every few years, it seems like it's going to have to be deconstructed from its current from in order to keep up with existing technologies...only to be dismantled once again. With technology increasing at a greater speed year after year, one wonders if an ILS can ever have an constancy.



Inside the Google Machine

Wow, a twenty minute video; this is probably twice as long as the longest video we've been required to view. Anyhow, this video enlightened me (how could it not?) on how Google works for all kinds of people, users and founders.

The beginning illustration was cool....and effective. It literally showed where the Google users are. Of course, it's not just Google users, but those who have an internet connection. Some of the answers were predictable: The US, China, Japan, India, parts of the Middle East, and Europe. Africa was almost completely absent, but as Brin pointed out, it's because there's a lack of power.

Part of Brin and Page's intent is to increase internet usage, mostly to places like Africa where there's very little of it. Obviously, yes, they'd like to turn a profit and promote their company; I mean, it IS called the Google Foundation, so it's definitely self-promotion as well. Still, I'd like to think that at least half their intent is altruistic. Besides, using Google searches to illustrate overall usage seems to be a pretty accurate measure since it's the most popular search engine on the internet.