Realizing the information future : the Internet and beyond / NRENAISSANCE Committee, Computer Science and Telecommunications Board, Commission on Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and Applications, National Research Council.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

National Research Council Staff, Corporate Author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

National Research and Education Network (Computer network).

Information technology.

Computer networks.

Learning and scholarship--Technological innovations.

Learning and scholarship.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (319 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academy Press, 1994.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The potential impact of the information superhighway--what it will mean to daily work, shopping, and entertainment--is of concern to nearly everyone. In the rush to put the world on-line, special issues have emerged for researchers, educators and students, and library specialists. At the same time, the research and education communities have a valuable head start when it comes to understanding computer communications networks, particularly Internet. With its roots in the research community, the Internet computer network now links tens of millions of people and extends well into the commercial world. Realizing the Information Future is written by key players in the development of Internet and other data networks. The volume highlights what we can learn from Internet and how the research, education, and library communities can take full advantage of the information highway's promised reach through time and space. This book presents a vision for the proposed national information infrastructure (NII): an open data network sending information services of all kinds, from suppliers of all kinds, to customers of all kinds, across network providers of all kinds. Realizing the Information Future examines deployment issues for the NII in light of the proposed system architecture, with specific discussion of the needs of the research and education communities. What is the role of the "institution" when everyone is on-line in their homes and offices? What are the consequences when citizens can easily access legal, medical, educational, and government services information from a single system? These and many other important questions are explored. The committee also looks at the development of principles to address the potential for abuse and misuse of the information highway, covering Equitable and affordable access to the network. Reasonable approaches to controlling the rising tide of electronic information. Rights and responsibilities relating to freedom of expression, intellectual property, individual privacy, and data security. Realizing the Information Future includes a wide-ranging discussion of costs, pricing, and federal funding for network development and a discussion of the federal role in making the best technical choices to ensure that the expected social and economic benefits of the NII are realized. The time for the research and education communities to have their say about the information highway is before the ribbon is cut. Realizing the Information Future provides a timely, readable, and comprehensive exploration of key issues--important to computer scientists and engineers, researchers, librarians and their administrators, educators, and individuals interested in the shape of the information network that will soon link us all.

Contents:

Realizing the Information Future

Copyright

Preface

Contents

Summary and Recommendations

COMMITTEE AND IT'S TASKS

THE VISION OF AN OPEN DATA NETWORK

DEVELOPING AN OPEN DATA NETWORK ARCHITECTURE

Configuring the Components

Defining NII Compliance and Setting Standards

Factoring in the International Aspect

DEPLOYING THE OPEN DATA NETWORK

Research and Education Concerns

Infrastructure Financing: Investments for Research and Education

THE GOVERNMENT ROLE

Long-term Strategy, Management, and Wise Investment

Leadership in Education

Technology Research and Development

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Vision of an Open Data Network

RECOMMENDATION 1: Leadership and Guidance

RECOMMENDATION 2: Technology Deployment

RECOMMENDATION 3: Transitional Support

RECOMMENDATION 4: K-12 Education

RECOMMENDATION 5: Network Research

1 U.S. Networking: The Past Is Prologue

WHERE WE ARE TODAY

Existing Communications Networks and Increasing Focus on Infrastructure

How We Got Here

Today in Transition

VISIONS OF THE INFORMATION FUTURE WHAT MIGHT IT BE?

The Internet-based Vision

The Entertainment-based Vision

The Clinton-Gore Administration's Vision

Possible Scenarios for Development of a National Information Infrastructure

The Committee's Vision: An Integrated National Information Infrastructure

CONVERGING THE VISIONS OF THE FUTURE

Technology Impetus

Benefits to the Nation-Last-mile Economics

How Can We Converge the Visions?

STRUCTURE AND CONTENT OF THIS REPORT

NOTES

2 The Open Data Network: Achieving the Vision of an Integrated National Information Infrastructure

THE OPEN DATA NETWORK

Criteria for an Open Data Network

Technical, Operational, and Organizational Objectives

Benefits of an Open Data Network

OPEN DATA NETWORK ARCHITECTURE.

An Architectural Proposal in Four Layers

The Centrality of the Bearer Service

Characterizing the Bearer Service

Middleware: A New Set of Network Services

Defining the Higher-level Services

Basic Higher-level Services

More Demanding Higher-level Services

QUALITY OF SERVICE: OPTIONS FOR THE ODN BEARER SERVICE

Best-Effort and Reserved Bandwidth Service

Assuring the Service

NII COMPLIANCE

STANDARDS

Role of Network Standards

Factors That Complicate Setting Standards

Network Function Has Moved Outside the Network

It Is Hard to Set Standards Without a Recognized Mandate

A Bottom-up Process Cannot Easily Set Long-term Direction

A Top-down Approach No Longer Appears Workable

Commercial Forces May Distort the Standards-Setting Process

Setting Standards for the NII-Planning for Change Is Difficult But Necessary

ISSUES OF SCALE IN THE NII

Addressing and Naming

Mobility as the Computing Paradigm of the Future

Management Systems

Measurement and Monitoring

SECURITY AND THE OPEN DATA NETWORK

Securing the Network, the Host, and Information

Developing a Security Architecture

Security Objectives and Current Approaches for Reaching Them

Computer System Protection

Protection of Information in the Host

Protection of Information in the Network

Authenticating Users

Control of Authorized Users

Taking a Comprehensive Approach to Ensuring Security

FINDING AND BALANCING OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD TOWARD CONVERGENCE

Development of Standards for Television-An Example

Reengineering of the Nation's Access Circuits

Cost and Function in Access Circuits

Options for Incorporating the ODN Bearer Service

Need for Government Action in Balancing Objectives

ACTING NOW TO REALIZE A UNIFIED NII

RECOMMENDATION: Technology Deployment.

RESEARCH ON THE NII-ENSURING NECESSARY TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT

Research to Develop Network Architecture

Defining the Bearer Service

Issues for the Lower Levels: Scale, Robustness, and Operations

Addressing and Routing

Quality of Service

New Approaches to Transport Protocols

Network Control Functions

Management Systems-Monitoring and Control

New Technology for Access Circuits

Middleware and Information Services Support

Navigation and Filtering Tools

Intellectual Property Rights

Computer and Communications Security

Research in the Development of Software

Experimental Network Research

Experimental Research in Middleware and Application Services

Rights Management Testbed

Research to Characterize Effects of Change

RECOMMENDATION: Network Research

3 Research, Education, and Libraries

RESEARCH

HIGHER EDUCATION

K-12 EDUCATION

LIFELONG EDUCATION

LIBRARIES AND THE BROADENING OF PUBLIC INTEREST NETWORKING

CROSS-CUTTING OBSERVATIONS

4 Principles and Practice

EQUITABLE ACCESS

FLOW OF INFORMATION

Government Information

PRIVACY

FIRST AMENDMENT

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION

BROADER CONSIDERATION OF ETHICS

5 Financial Issues

FEDERAL AND OTHER FUNDING FOR NETWORKING TO DATE

COST OF NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE

PAYING THE PRICE

Imminent Short-term Increases

RECOMMENDATION: Transitional Support

Costs of Local Infrastructure and Access to Services

Usage-based Pricing

Flat-fee Pricing

Covering User Charges (Subsidies and Mechanisms)

Deriving Specific Funds

Equity

6 Government Roles and Opportunities

LEADERSHIP AND VISION

Leadership in Development and Deployment of Infrastructure

RECOMMENDATION: K-12 Education.

BALANCING OF INTERESTS

Diverse and Fragmented Public and Private Interests

Coordination and Management

Uncertain Technical Expertise

Cross-agency and Uncertain Structure

RECOMMENDATION: Leadership and Guidance

INFLUENCING THE SHAPE OF THE INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE

Influence on Architecture and Standards

Influence Through Procurement

Influence on Future Oversight of the Internet

Influence on Network Deployment and Technology Development

Support for Experimental Networks

Approach to Operational Networks and Intermediate Technologies

Research and Development

CONCLUSION

APPENDIXES

APPENDIX A Federal Networking: The Path to the Internet

DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH OF THE INTERNET-A THUMBNAIL SKETCH

The Federal Networking Legacy

NSFNET-The Research and Education Communities' Link to the Internet

Synergistic Growth of NSFNET and the Internet

Continuing Evolution of Provisions for Research and Education Networking

The National Research and Education Network Program- Expansion from the Internet Base and Earlier...

Growth of Internet Use and Development Beyond the Research Community

Transition to a New Era in Networking

THE INTERNET TODAY-WHAT IT IS AND HOW IT WORKS

Features and Use of the Internet

The Internet's Services

How Can One Attach to the Internet?

What Does It Mean to Be a Part of the Internet?

Internal Components of the Internet

National and Global Interconnection of Internet Users

Oversight of the Internet

Internet Society

U.S. Federal Government

Paying for Use of the Internet

APPENDIX B Sample Principle Sets

APPENDIX C User Support Services

APPENDIX D State and Regional Networks

APPENDIX E International Issues

IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIVITY

Intercontinental Transmission.

Local Infrastructure

Foreign Research Networking

COST AND PRICING OF TRANSMISSION CAPACITY

STANDARDS FOR GLOBAL INTERCONNECTIVITY

EXPORT CONTROLS AND INTERNATIONAL NETWORKING

CONCLUSIONS

APPENDIX F Key Terms

Index.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-280-19568-1

9786610195688

0-309-58662-3

0-585-00225-8

OCLC:

42922307