Yesterday, interstate highways revolutionized American commerce. Tomorrow, computer networks will do the same.
So said Eric Schmidt '76 in the 1998 Gordon Wu Lecture yesterday afternoon. Schmidt spoke to a crowded lecture hall in the computer science building on the topic of "The New Face of Networking."
James Wei, Dean of the School of Engineering, introduced Schmidt as a "superstar in Silicon Valley." Schmidt is the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Novell, Inc. He also serves on the advisory council of the University's computer science department. Schmidt addressed issues surrounding computer networks as well as the future of networking. "Networks are really the dominant force for the 21st century," Schmidt said.
Rapid growth
He explained that the size and use of networks is growing worldwide at an explosive rate. The amount of data on the World Wide Web grows by 30 percent every three months, Schmidt said.
Schmidt also noted that the Web is growing so fast that the "Heisenberg effect" is coming into play. This means that researchers cannot accurately measure the size of the Web, because before they finish, it has already grown more.
This growth has forced companies to seek creative ways to connect buildings within cities to the network. As a result, sewers and gas lines are being considered as possible conduits. In Manhattan, old telegraph tubes are being used to run cable, Schmidt said.
As the Web grows, so does the portion of the population that uses it. Schmidt said that nearly half the homes in the United States now have Web access.
Schmidt explained that the increased use of networks will cause an evolution in networking. The "new face of networking is not an interface. . . it has a human face," he said, explaining that use of the Web will become more personalized and user-friendly.
Schmidt also said that online commerce will grow tremendously. Drawing an analogy between the rapid growth of the Web and the creation of the interstate highway system decades ago, he said "the interstate highway system begat Holiday Inn, McDonald's . . . What will the next Holiday Inn be?"
Read More
Princeton High School students walk out in support of ‘Gaza Solidarity Encampment’
Vitus LarrieuOn the 15th day of the ‘Gaza Solidarity Encampment’ and the seventh day of an associated hunger strike, students at Princeton High School walked out of school to the sit-in site at Cannon Green.
On the 15th day of the ‘Gaza Solidarity Encampment’ and the seventh day of an associated hunger strike, students at Princeton High School walked out of school to the sit-in site at Cannon Green.
Postdocs win unionization, vote finalized
Meghana VeldhuisIn the election held on Thursday, postdocs voted 484–89 in favor of joining a union with United Auto Workers.
In the election held on Thursday, postdocs voted 484–89 in favor of joining a union with United Auto Workers.
Students claim meeting with Eisgruber was unproductive, hunger strike will continue
Olivia Sanchez and Miriam WaldvogelOn May 6, a small group of protesters met with University President Christopher Eisgruber ’83, Dean of the Graduate School Rodney Priestley, and Dean of the School of Public and International Affairs Amaney Jamal to discuss the demands of the ongoing sit-in on Cannon Green. According to protesters, the meeting was unproductive, and the hunger strike will continue.
On May 6, a small group of protesters met with University President Christopher Eisgruber ’83, Dean of the Graduate School Rodney Priestley, and Dean of the School of Public and International Affairs Amaney Jamal to discuss the demands of the ongoing sit-in on Cannon Green. According to protesters, the meeting was unproductive, and the hunger strike will continue.
