Internet set for fresh improvements
Internet set for fresh improvements
University researchers from UCLA, in America, are in the process of experimenting with new ways to increase the capacity, speed, intelligence and security of the Internet to help pave the way for meeting the demands of multimedia.
These researchers are trying to defend the Internet from outside threats, such as an attempt last year by a private search engine to grab surfers who mistyped addresses.
In terms of security, Microsoft Corp., Yahoo Inc. and America Online inc., are some of the companies trying to refit their network so that email senders can be authenticated.
In addition, the researchers are looking into ways of preventing the skips and stutters found in video streaming. One project involves the next-generation numbering system called IPv6, which aims to accommodate the growing volume of Internet-ready wireless devices, such as game consoles.
Another project involves extending a network into space so that communication can be made with spacecrafts.
Apparently many of these improvements could not have been done when the Internet was first developed because of the slower computer speeds and narrower Internet pipes, or bandwidth.
Separate systems that parallel the Internet are also being developed. Undersea explorer Robert Ballard used a different network, Internet2, to host live interactive presentations with students and aquarium visitors from the wreck of the Titanic.
Internet2 has speeds that are 100 times the typical broadband service at home, but it is limited to certain universities, companies and institutions. Researchers believe however, that these advancements will eventually migrate to the main Internet.
Semantic Web has been created to make it easier to locate and process data for computers. This could be useful for scientists, for instance, who study genes, proteins and chemical pathways.
Semantic tags make it easier to find information in databases. They could be added to information in databases that describe gene and protein sequences, allowing data to be processed in a way which used to rely on human intervention.
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