Bob Metcalfe, inventor of ethernet, coined the law that explains the power and pathologies of social platforms. He also just won computing’s highest honor.
When people talk of network effects, they’re unwittingly channeling that sales pitch. You can argue that the idea was behind the explosion of not just social networks, but the entire philosophy of “get big fast” that characterized the first two decades of tech in this century. So you would think that the day Bob Metcalfe actually visited Facebook, he would have been treated like a hero.
Metcalfe acknowledges that the power of networks isn’t always to the good. “We don't quite know how to handle all the connectivity,” he says. “That's why there are these pathologies emanating. But I am confident that we're going to figure out how to handle truth, so that, you know, fake news doesn't kill us.” After all, he notes, at one point people thought porn was going to ruin the internet. “But now we don't argue about porn anymore, that's been handled.
Speaking of the internet, I defied ChatGPT’s advice and reminded Metcalfe of the 1996 collapse he predicted that never happened. If the chatbot had truly understood Metcalfe, it would have known that he’d greet the subject with a laugh. He recounted that he’d been so confident of a crash that he had promised to eat the column if he was wrong.
. Twenty-seven years later, the only thing that’s collapsed is the uppercase in the internet’s first letter. Capitalization is no longer necessary because the word “internet” is now officially a common noun as opposed to a proper one, as common as air or water. Even thoughIn [Metcalfe’s] thinking, the Net is a fish already hooked; those routine brownouts are but the first few twinges at its mouth.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ethernet co-inventor Bob Metcalfe wins the Turing Award, the 'Nobel Prize of computing' | EngadgetEthernet co-inventor Bob Metcalfe wins the Turing Award, the 'Nobel Prize of computing'
Read more »
Ask Amy: Man’s man and mother-in-law don’t get alongDear Amy: Do you have any advice on how to possibly bring them closer?
Read more »
Utah man charged with killing a trophy deer, letting it waste on another man's propertyA man who is accused of killing two deer — one a trophy mule deer — on another man's property faces felony charges.
Read more »
Trixie Mattel, Bob the Drag Queen & More to Fight Back With ‘Drag Isn’t Dangerous’ EventWith states such as Tennessee and Florida taking aim at drag queens through controversial legislation, Trixie Mattel, Bob the Drag Queen and a troupe of other queens and performers are ready to fight back.
Read more »
Bob Saget's Widow Kelly Rizzo Addresses Dating After Comedian's DeathKelly Rizzo is not interested in dating after the sudden death of her husband, Bob Saget.
Read more »