Cable can deliver Ethernet to a large number of users over existing cable. This scheme isn’t fully symmetric but it can support more than ISDN even as a back channel … Telcos have a variety of options to carry anywhere from 1.5 to 8 Mbps in either symmetrical or asymmetric configurations over existing copper wiring to the home.
Predictor: Bell, Gordon
Prediction, in context:In the keynote speech at InternetWorld 1995, pioneering computer scientist Gordon Bell, formerly of Digital Equipment Corporation and then a research leader at Microsoft, tells of his vision of the next version of the Internet – Internet-3 – saying: ”Cable can deliver Ethernet to a large number of users over existing cable. This scheme isn’t fully symmetric but it can support more than ISDN even as a back channel. It will work for many workers at home and for schools and for many small businesses. Larger information providers will need 1.5 and 45 Mbit lines for servers … Telcos have a variety of options to carry anywhere from 1.5 to 8 Mbps in either symmetrical or asymmetric configurations over existing copper wiring to the home. Providing these services requires installing POPs capable of communicating via InternetÕs IP protocol … How does information get from the home or desktop to the Internet? The simplest way is that a single Telecomputer or Internet Terminal would connect via Plain Old Telephone Service to Point-Of-Presence (POPs) centers owned by various Internet Service Providers (ISPs). For most homes and small businesses, a more likely scenario is to have a communication server in the home capable of IP dial-tone that supplies service to its local telecomputers and PCs. Such a server could connect directly to Internet via some ISP. For larger organizations, with LANs and WANs that have their own Intranets, telecomputers would be served centrally or via deparmental servers.”
Biography:Gordon Bell proposed a plan for a U.S. research and education network in a 1987 report to the Office of Science and Technology in response to a congressional request by Al Gore. He was a technology leader at Digital Equipment Corporation (where he led the development of the VAX computer) and with Microsoft. (Technology Developer/Administrator)
Date of prediction: January 1, 1995
Topic of prediction: Information Infrastructure
Subtopic: Pipeline/Switching/Hardware
Name of publication: InternetWorld 1995 Conference
Title, headline, chapter name: It’s Bandwidth and Symmetry, Stupid!
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://research.microsoft.com/~gbell/IntWorld/tsld002.htm
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Anderson, Janna Quitney