Internet2 and Next Generation Internet: Speed and Research

Introduction

The Internet was developed during the late 1960s and early 1970s as a network of computers capable of sustaining global communication. Originally intended as an educational and governmental tool, it has since reached a global commercial user base. The original Internet has proven a successful means of disseminating and communicating information to more than a billion users, thanks to continuous technological advances.

A new wave, however, has occurred in Internet technology. Educators and researchers are currently investigating and implementing new technology referred to as Internet2. This new communication network was built to help ease the congestion that researchers, government agents, and educators face when attempting to access the Internet. The information superhighway has, in fact, become jam-packed — much like an interstate during rush hour. Scientists, educators, and government officials have invested in a program that will hopefully result in a more technologically advanced superhighway allowing instantaneous communication at 100 to 1,000 times the speed of the original Internet. Researchers have already begun utilizing the new technology to make discoveries and share theories with scientists globally. The benefits of the new information superhighway far outweigh the costs associated with its implementation and development.

It is highly feasible that at some point in the near future, Internet2 will become commercially available, thus repeating the problem of congestion and frustration. This will likely lead to the development of an Internet3 and possibly an Internet4. In the meantime, Internet2 represents the latest in technological advances for the purpose of disseminating information more efficiently and quickly than ever before. The benefits and capabilities of this new system are explored in greater detail below, as well as the relationship of Internet2 to NGI, or the Next Generation Internet.

The Original Internet: History and Limitations

The Internet, developed primarily in the early 1970s, revolutionized the manner in which computer communications occurred. It at once introduced the possibility of a "world-wide broadcasting" agent; it was created as a tool for disseminating information and as a medium for facilitating interaction between individuals and computers "without regard to geographic location" (Leiner et al., 2004).

The concept of the Internet originated through a series of memos written by J.C.R. Licklider of MIT in August 1962, which discussed the potential for social interactions through computer networking (Leiner et al., 2004). Licklider referred to this vision as his "Galactic Network" concept (Leiner et al., 2004) and convinced others of its importance. Leonard Kleinrock at MIT later published a paper on packet switching theory, which suggested the potential feasibility of communication via packets instead of circuits — the first real step toward computer networking (Leiner et al., 2004). In 1965, the first two computers — the TX-2 in Massachusetts and the Q-32 in California — were connected via a low-speed dial-up link, forming the first wide-area computer network (Leiner et al., 2004). This networking concept was further developed, and Interface Message Processors (IMPs) were created; during the late 1960s, the first host computer was connected (Leiner et al., 2004).

The first Internet was referred to as the ARPANET. Eventually, networking research led to the development of the well-functioning web. The Internet itself was based on the idea that there could be "multiple independent networks of rather arbitrary design" (Leiner et al., 2004), and it now embodies an internetworking architecture (Leiner et al., 2004).

Over the last several years, the Internet has grown tremendously. What was once a small network connecting primarily researchers has grown into a global network connecting people and organizations all over the world (Dimitrov, n.d.). As the Internet has grown and changed, so too has its role in society. With the advent of technological advances, the Internet has become a commercially based tool, utilized by large organizations and small, by individuals and government entities alike, for a variety of purposes including banking and other personal affairs (Dimitrov, n.d.). There are now large networks of thousands of computers available for employees who work remotely, and suppliers and business partners have also taken advantage of the ever-increasing technology.

There are, however, limitations with the current system. Many have described the present-day Internet as very slow. Because of the incredibly large volume of users and the information exchanged on a daily basis, government agencies and researchers have raised concerns about performance. There are also a number of security issues that have emerged in recent years and are currently being addressed. Primarily because of the advent of newer technology and advanced educational and governmental needs, a next generation network — Internet2 — has been developed.