What's special about networks?

One computer can perform some set of tasks. That's good, but to be useful, there needs to be a way to get data into and out of the computer. In the old days, this meant Data Entry (fingers on keyboards) and Sneakernet (floppies in boxes). Today, most of the interesting data is created electronically, and can be transferred electronically from one system to another. Unfortunately, most of today's computer networks aren't very efficient, and aren't very useful for some purposes. New technology like ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) networking will solve this problem over the next ten or twenty years, and I'd just like to do my part to hasten this process.

Ideafiles about networking

• ATM Hub (not available yet)

Conventional wisdom says there is no equivalent in ATM networks for the cheap Ethernet hub. Here I propose one. This allows up to eight ATM devices (for example, seven workstations and one ATM switch) to be connected through a device which should cost less than a hundred dollars to build.

• A Global Internet Broadcast Feature (not available yet)

There are some things that probably ought to be known to everyone on the net. Can there ever be a way to broadcast something to everyone on the net?

• Internet Censorship (not available yet)

Why would anyone want to censor the net? Well, I do. Not the way everyone else seems to think about it, though. Allow me to explain...

• ATM-Based Integrated LAN and Office Phone System (not available yet)

The idea here is that there's no need to run phone and LAN cables to every cubicle and office in a building. Just run one cable, and run ATM on it. A nice simple obvious idea, and I know darn well other people have thought of it. Here I just want to try to persuade people to make it happen.