Computer Protocols
Throughout my research, I have always considered that we are robots when using technologies based on the fact that we must submit to following specific protocols to undertake specific actions. This being the case, I decided to look into the various different protocols computers themselves use to undertake certain tasks.
The folowing protocols are used by each of us when using a network connected PC:
TCP / IP - Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol is used to send and receive information across a network.
When sending information, TCP is used to first of all break the information down into a series of packets, each of which could potentially be sent ot its destination via a completely different route. Once the packets have been sent the TCP protocol on the destination network node analyses each packet recieved, reconstructs them in the correct order and ensures that no packets have been lost en route. If one has been lost then TCP requests for it to be sent again.
Internet Protocol is used to identify each node on the network by assigning each individual node with an IP Address [i.e. - 127.0.0.1]. Each packet sent via TCP contains a number of IP addresses defining where it has come from and where it is heading, these addresses are read by each node that the packets travel through to get to their destination.
Further to TCP / IP [which can be seen to be a collective name for a suite of protocols] is User Datagram Protocol [UDP] which is similar to TCP but doesnt perform error-recovery checks when being recompiled on the destination node. It is usually used for sending small amounts of information as the lack of extra checks ensures that less system resources are used.
Internet Control Message Protocol [ICMP] is also used to communicate across networks, although it is mainly used to perform system administration and diagnostic tasks such as PING or TRACERT.
When using the internet are systems need to use a combination of the following protocols:
HTTP - HyperText Transfer Protocol is used to transmit webpages across the internet. When using a web browser [which is an HTTP client] we use HTTP to request and display HTML [HyperText Markup Language] pages. The actual protocol itself operates on top of the TCP/ IP protocols.
FTP - File Transfer Protocol is used when uploading or downloading files to a web server. This protocol is used to download the actual files, rather than to display them [as is the case with HTTP].
When we are accessing our email we are likely to be using a system which incorporates the following protocols:
SMTP - Simple Mail Transfer Protocol is used to both send and recieve email. It is however limtied in its capabilities for receiving mail. It is therefore used mainly to send mail and is used in conjunction with either POP3 or IMAP which would be used to handle the receiving of new mail.
POP 3 - Post Office Protocol [Version 3] is commonly used by applications such as Thunderbird or Outllook to handle the receiving of email. Those of you who use an email client to read your email will know that both SMTP and POP3 servers need to be declared in order for that email account to funciton.
Each of us will have used all of these protocols in our daily lives. Although we do not actually have to know the ins and outs of each of them we must follow certain protocols in order for them to funciton properly. When surfing hte internet for example, we must enter a valid URL [i.e. - http://www.hud.ac.uk] in order to allow TCP/ IP & HTTP to know which server we wish to access, in order to send an email we need to specify an email address [i.e. myname@myserver.com] and of course there is all of the protocols that are to be followed in order to use the system with which we wish to undertake these simple tasks.
In my opinion these protocols are not going to get simpler, if anything they will do the opposite and get more complicated. But that shouldn't bother us, we humans don't need to use TCP/ IP in order to speak with one another face to face, nor do we need to know them in order to access all types of data across various networks. We do however still need to follow certain rules in order to utilise the protocols functionality. If anything, I believe that the interfaces that we must use are going to become more organic and natural [such as BrainGate - see previous post].
That being said though, I have to admit that the systems that I have to submit to in order to use all of the above protocols seem so natural now. Will robot like interfaces and protocols be adopted into a part of future human nature?
One of the chapters in Cloud Atlas shows a race that uses a range of technologies that are magical in comparison with the technologies [or lack there of] of the more primative cultures that they deal with. I wonder how people from a more primative up bringing may view the technologies that currently sit on my desk. A laptop, digital camera, MP3 players a mobile phone and a printer. Surely my use of these must seem completely robotic compared to anything they may use in day to day life. But then would they make that comparison if they didn't know what a robot was?
It seems that as technology is advancing, so are we. Even without technological enhancements humans are becoming more and more adept to using various complex technology driven devices. I am begining to think that as the future unfolds we may still appear to be as 'robot-like' as we are now - simply because as the technolgy has developed, we have developed to interface with it. Evolving like 2 interconnected species, human need technolgy in order to keep up with and achieve the ideas we are having and technology needs human research and development to allow it to expand and grow.
I wonder what Darwin would have to say about all of this?
The folowing protocols are used by each of us when using a network connected PC:
TCP / IP - Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol is used to send and receive information across a network.
When sending information, TCP is used to first of all break the information down into a series of packets, each of which could potentially be sent ot its destination via a completely different route. Once the packets have been sent the TCP protocol on the destination network node analyses each packet recieved, reconstructs them in the correct order and ensures that no packets have been lost en route. If one has been lost then TCP requests for it to be sent again.
Internet Protocol is used to identify each node on the network by assigning each individual node with an IP Address [i.e. - 127.0.0.1]. Each packet sent via TCP contains a number of IP addresses defining where it has come from and where it is heading, these addresses are read by each node that the packets travel through to get to their destination.
Further to TCP / IP [which can be seen to be a collective name for a suite of protocols] is User Datagram Protocol [UDP] which is similar to TCP but doesnt perform error-recovery checks when being recompiled on the destination node. It is usually used for sending small amounts of information as the lack of extra checks ensures that less system resources are used.
Internet Control Message Protocol [ICMP] is also used to communicate across networks, although it is mainly used to perform system administration and diagnostic tasks such as PING or TRACERT.
When using the internet are systems need to use a combination of the following protocols:
HTTP - HyperText Transfer Protocol is used to transmit webpages across the internet. When using a web browser [which is an HTTP client] we use HTTP to request and display HTML [HyperText Markup Language] pages. The actual protocol itself operates on top of the TCP/ IP protocols.
FTP - File Transfer Protocol is used when uploading or downloading files to a web server. This protocol is used to download the actual files, rather than to display them [as is the case with HTTP].
When we are accessing our email we are likely to be using a system which incorporates the following protocols:
SMTP - Simple Mail Transfer Protocol is used to both send and recieve email. It is however limtied in its capabilities for receiving mail. It is therefore used mainly to send mail and is used in conjunction with either POP3 or IMAP which would be used to handle the receiving of new mail.
POP 3 - Post Office Protocol [Version 3] is commonly used by applications such as Thunderbird or Outllook to handle the receiving of email. Those of you who use an email client to read your email will know that both SMTP and POP3 servers need to be declared in order for that email account to funciton.
Each of us will have used all of these protocols in our daily lives. Although we do not actually have to know the ins and outs of each of them we must follow certain protocols in order for them to funciton properly. When surfing hte internet for example, we must enter a valid URL [i.e. - http://www.hud.ac.uk] in order to allow TCP/ IP & HTTP to know which server we wish to access, in order to send an email we need to specify an email address [i.e. myname@myserver.com] and of course there is all of the protocols that are to be followed in order to use the system with which we wish to undertake these simple tasks.
In my opinion these protocols are not going to get simpler, if anything they will do the opposite and get more complicated. But that shouldn't bother us, we humans don't need to use TCP/ IP in order to speak with one another face to face, nor do we need to know them in order to access all types of data across various networks. We do however still need to follow certain rules in order to utilise the protocols functionality. If anything, I believe that the interfaces that we must use are going to become more organic and natural [such as BrainGate - see previous post].
That being said though, I have to admit that the systems that I have to submit to in order to use all of the above protocols seem so natural now. Will robot like interfaces and protocols be adopted into a part of future human nature?
One of the chapters in Cloud Atlas shows a race that uses a range of technologies that are magical in comparison with the technologies [or lack there of] of the more primative cultures that they deal with. I wonder how people from a more primative up bringing may view the technologies that currently sit on my desk. A laptop, digital camera, MP3 players a mobile phone and a printer. Surely my use of these must seem completely robotic compared to anything they may use in day to day life. But then would they make that comparison if they didn't know what a robot was?
It seems that as technology is advancing, so are we. Even without technological enhancements humans are becoming more and more adept to using various complex technology driven devices. I am begining to think that as the future unfolds we may still appear to be as 'robot-like' as we are now - simply because as the technolgy has developed, we have developed to interface with it. Evolving like 2 interconnected species, human need technolgy in order to keep up with and achieve the ideas we are having and technology needs human research and development to allow it to expand and grow.
I wonder what Darwin would have to say about all of this?
posted by Paul Coffield at 9:04 AM
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