Peer-to-Peer Technology

Description:

Since Napster appeared in 1999, various Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file sharing applications (e.g., WinMX, KaZaA, Gnutella, Freenet, winny) have emerged one after another. The secret behind this technology is that it enables electronical bi-directional communication, in contrast to client/server systems that require continuous polling of the client on the server, a technique with a very low efficiency, and forces centralization of knowledge. The number of software platforms that enable P2P communication is increasing heavily, and stimulates people to share information and digitalize our bi- or multi-directional communcation. New and useful applications stimulate the use of the internet.

Enablers:

1. Software producers, consortiums, free fighters.

2. Psychologic behavior of human beings: they want to be in control of their environment

3.

Inhibitors:

1. Intellectual rights, patents, or in general: knowledge protection

2. Regulations, restrictions, fear for instability or in general: control

Paradigms:

-

Experts:

Philippe Aigrain: presently CEO of Sopinspace, Society for Public Information Spaces www.sopinspace.com. His personal page is at http://www.publicdebate.net/Members/paigrain/

Timing:

Dates for key milestones in the development of the driving force. Year - Average cost, in South Africa, for a ISP connection in (R)

1993 - 80,

1994 - 80,

1995 - 80,

1996 - 80,

1997 - 80,

1998 - 80,

1999 - 88,

2000 - 89,

2001 - 90,

2002 - 94,

2003 - 100.

Web Resources:

http://ismir2004.ismir.net/