Forum Archive Index - August 2000

["Matthew Darby" <mdarby@estaronline.com>]

Hi Mark

 

Yes, you are correct, Napster acts as a directory, but all Peer-to-Peer programs have to have a central server to check things like permissions, act as a directory to locate information if you want to control the environment you are in, otherwise you will have the problem of how do you collect revenues from any file that is sent across the Internet. This is why Peer-to-Peer has enormous potential as it removes central storage and can monitor permissions and payments. Napster’s argument is that it doesn’t serve the music but rather directs, this is the grey area for most. 

 

Gnutella was the first true Peer-to-Peer system developed from the old FTP (File Transfer Protocol) which was how the Internet was designed to work, the problem with this back then was personal computers were not powerful enough to support a system like Gnutella. I think the true value behind Peer-to-Peer is going to be how we interact with each other on the Internet. You will be able to become more selective about the information or services you receive and be able to create small communities (Townships if you like) that will cut out the unnecessary traffic that we all have to endure from time to time. It will also allow for real time messaging which could even spell the end of Email, now that would be a revolution.

 

Kind regards

Matthew Darby