Networking – Past, Present, and Future

The transformation of networking from the past to our current day, as well as the trends for our future
Websites (or digital channels as they were then called), were initially meant for connecting organizations with their clients. This was followed by the emergence of digital processes for supporting client interactions. Bigger digital ambitions implied establishing committed digital teams for managing their mobile and social channels (Atzori et.al 2010).
For better utilizing vast quantities of data, corporations began connecting their devices and processes into networks. Their potential caused companies to concentrate on platforms to connect all players, experimenting with e-business, more efficient information leveraging, talent retention, and improved agility.
Virtually every present-day digital transformation is founded on third platform solutions and technologies, such as mobile, big data/analytics, social technologies and cloud. Innovation Accelerators (e.g., next-gen security, IoT, 3D printing, robotics, etc.) are dependent on these (Atzori et.al 2010).
Forrester’s 2017 digital organization estimates reveal dramatic growths in transformation budgets during 2018. Digital organizations will eventually create comprehensive client experiences, overcoming gaps between internet, offline, and mobile app engagement.
It is evident that all digital transformations share a common characteristic: change. Digitalization has been giving rise to unprecedented opportunities; however, concurrently, it calls for a novel attitude and willingness to accept change. Individuals as well as organizations must acknowledge the novel reality of ongoing transformations for finding a place within the emergent digital era (Atzori et.al 2010).
A few future trends are;
Software Defined Networking (SDN). The static architecture of the contemporary world must improve. The days of the static computer are long gone. SDN has gained popularity as a concept capable of facilitating with keeping pace with the required flexibility and bandwidth.
5G and supported apps. 4G will not suffice when it comes to accommodating higher bandwidths for gaming and transmitting videos. 5G, fortunately, has the potential to cater to this need through annexing one millisecond radio spectra, enabling further progress in areas like driverless cars (Atzori et.al 2010)
Telecommunication and network taxonomy as they existed at the beginning of networking through to today
The term telecommunication has been defined as the process of transmitting signals, signs, words, messages, pictures, sound, text or other data using radio, wire, electromagnetic, or optical systems (Kurose, 2005).
Initial modes of distance communication encompassed visual signals like signal flags, beacons, optical heliographs, smoke signals, and semaphore telegraphs (Kurose, 2005).
A wireless communication revolution commenced during the 1900s with Nobel Prize winner, Guglielmo Marconi’s pioneering inventions in the field of radio communications. The progress of telecommunications from the start of networking until today is illustrated below:
Pigeons and beacons: Historically, homing pigeons were employed by diverse cultures for the transmission of messages. Persians are understood to be the first to use pigeons for sending post, a practice that was subsequently adopted by the Roman Empire for aiding its military. (Kurose, 2005)
Telegraphs and the telephone: On July 25, 1837, English scientists, Sir Charles Wheatstone and Sir William Fothergill Cooke, presented to the world its very first electrical telegraph for commercial purposes.
Radio and TV: Commencing in the year 1894, Guglielmo Marconi, an Italian scientist, commenced the development of a wireless form of communication by utilizing the novel radio wave phenomenon. He was able, by the start of the twentieth century, to successfully transmit messages across the Atlantic. This marked the beginning of radio telegraphy.
Computers and the World Wide Web: On September 11, 1940, researcher George Stibitz used a teletype to transmit his Complex Number Calculator problems within New York, receiving the calculated outcomes back at New Hampshire’s Dartmouth College (Kurose, 2005).
Explain how telecommunication and networking technology has changed from the days of ARPANet to our present day.
During the early 70s, when ARPANET’s initial 4 nodes became completely operational, things became slightly more complex. Information interchange even between multiple computers (much less multiple computer networks) proved more challenging as compared to the present day. The use of ARPANET was akin to being offered a phone with unlimited credit, though discovering that the sole users one will be able to communicate with speak a different language (Chong & Kumar, 2003).
For resolving this exasperating issue, Roberts’ team assembled a research team largely comprising of graduate students for coming up with host-to-host software. At first termed the NWG (Network Working Group) and headed by Steve Crocker (a graduate student at the University of California, Los Angeles), the group was subsequently renamed as the INWG (International NWG) in the year 1972, under a new leader, Vint Cerf. The team helped create the present client-guided data consumption, spurred by broadband and mobile services in Internet of Things (IoT) devices that have skyrocketed and unprecedentedly pressured networks (Chong & Kumar, 2003).
On account of the GDPR’s (General Data Protection Regulation) introduction, the year 2018 has witnessed heightened encryption practices, with users, policymakers and businesses alike showing ever greater concern when it comes to information and infrastructure safety and privacy.
Lastly, the landscape has evolved, with telecommunications companies being propelled into the Over-The-Top (OTT) space, increasing both user access capacities and headline-making high-profile mergers within the industry.
Apply telecommunication and network technical knowledge to the current business applications of networking and describe potential trends for the future.
A shifting trend is being currently observed from the previously-popular cable service to digital video and streaming services such as YouTube, Hulu and Netflix. Large competing brands are attempting to stay abreast by gaining an advantage over one another through original content, delivery and availability channels (Shim et.al 2003).
With an increasing number of extant and emergent technologies, individual users as well as organizations can anticipate more advanced technology in the future, developed at a swifter pace. Further, things will be better streamlined for simplifying work (Shim et.al 2003).
Some potential future trends include:
Smart Devices: Smart devices (in the form of smart phones, TVs, tablets, watches, etc.) are continually evolving and AI (artificial intelligence) is on the rise. Such devices will allow automatic information sharing, limiting the necessity of human involvement (Shim et.al 2003).
IoT: Technological evolution is accompanied by increased attempts at merging the virtual and physical worlds. Smart speakers, cars and homes are anticipated future inventions (Shim et.al 2003).
Research a minimum of two online professional resources related to future trends
With increased expansion of options for digital learning, learners’ expectations and requirements are expanding as well; two web-based professional resources associated with future trends are as follows;
 Data and analytics; The field of L&D (learning and development), with its multi-billion-dollar expenditure, is linked to high stakes and expectations of real, tangible returns. Corporate managers seek financial returns, though several L&D professionals find it a challenge to connect actual outcomes with talent development expenditure.
People leaders in the form of coaches; Taking time out to learn is a key growth challenge for corporate employees. The next biggest challenge is finding people leaders who are ready to actively participate in subordinate development. It is not solely the L&D division’s duty any longer to make sure personnel acquire requisite training (Alfonso & de Valbuena Miguel, 2006).
Describe what the current literature says about telecommunication and networking trends.
For attaining an advantage over competition, organizations must concentrate on offering personalized client solutions and on the forging of long-term bonds with them, using the following networking trends;
5G Networks – Telecom carrier companies have been working on improving 5G networks for tremendously improving internet speeds.
Reliable, secure services – The contemporary telecom climate provides a rich collection of services requiring secure, reliable authentication. An increasing share of smart phones now feature biometric fingerprint reading, a technology which is being employed by retailers, governmental organizations, financial organizations, schools, and other institutions as well, for verifying identities (Van Dijk, 2012).
AI – Incorporating AI capabilities into smart phones is the next expected technological shift (Van Dijk, 2012).


References
Alfonso, G. H., & de Valbuena Miguel, R. (2006). Trends in online media relations: Web-based corporate press rooms in leading international companies. Public Relations Review, 32(3), 267-275.
Atzori, L., Iera, A., & Morabito, G. (2010). The internet of things: A survey. Computer networks, 54(15), 2787-2805.
Chong, C. Y., & Kumar, S. P. (2003). Sensor networks: evolution, opportunities, and challenges. Proceedings of the IEEE, 91(8), 1247-1256.
Kurose, J. F. (2005). Computer networking: A top-down approach featuring the internet, 3/E. Pearson Education India.
Shim, J. P., Warkentin, M., Courtney, J. F., Power, D. J., Sharda, R., & Carlsson, C. (2002). Past, present, and future of decision support technology. Decision support systems, 33(2), 111-126.
Van Dijk, J. (2012). The network society. Sage Publications.