The Secrets Behind how the Internet Works

Summary

This ColdFusion video delves into the origins and evolution of the Internet, starting from ARPANET in 1969 to the modern-day World Wide Web. It explores the physical infrastructure, including undersea cables, and the organizations like ICANN that govern it. The video also discusses the Internet's impact on society, the challenges of misinformation and echo chambers, and the potential future with 5G and the implications of Article 13 on content sharing.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The Internet began in 1969 with ARPANET, funded by the US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), which aimed to connect computers across universities.
• 🌟 Sir Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web at CERN, creating a way to access information via the Internet, distinct from the Internet's infrastructure.
• 🌍 The modern Internet is a vast network of interconnected points, with approximately 420 undersea cables spanning over 1.1 million kilometers as of 2017.
• 🚧 The process of laying undersea Internet cables involves ships pulling cables across oceans, with sea plows creating trenches for the cables to be buried by natural ocean currents.
• 🛠️ Despite the physical vulnerability of undersea cables, the Internet's robustness is ensured by multiple routes, making it nearly impossible to disrupt entirely by severing a single cable.
• 🌐 The Internet is decentralized, with no single government or entity owning it, but governments can regulate access through laws affecting Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
• 🔑 In 2016, the US government transferred the ownership of the Internet's domain name database to ICANN, promoting a more community-driven approach to Internet governance.
• 🔒 ICANN manages the Domain Name System (DNS), ensuring that web addresses correctly resolve to their intended destinations, and performs ceremonies to renew the DNS's security.
• 🚀 The Internet's future includes advancements like 5G, which promises significant increases in speed, although concerns about its safety and health effects have been raised.
• 📉 The European Union's Article 13, a controversial copyright law, has sparked debates on its potential impact on content sharing and the livelihood of small independent creators.

Q & A

What was the initial purpose of ARPANET, the precursor to the modern Internet?

ARPANET, funded by the US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), was initially developed to connect computers across a few universities for communication and research purposes.

Who is credited with the invention of the World Wide Web, and what was his primary motivation?

Sir Tim Berners-Lee is credited with inventing the World Wide Web. His primary motivation was to address the incompatibility of different networks and systems at CERN, creating a uniform and usable system for accessing information via the Internet.

How does the Internet infrastructure physically connect different countries?

The Internet infrastructure physically connects different countries through a network of approximately 420 undersea cables spanning over 1.1 million kilometers as of 2017, which are laid by ships and buried by ocean currents on the sea floor.

What are some of the challenges faced by undersea Internet cables?

Undersea Internet cables face challenges such as vulnerability to damage from ship anchors, natural disasters, and uneven sea floor conditions that can leave them exposed. Repairs are constantly carried out to address severed cables.

How does the Internet remain functional even if one cable is cut?

The Internet remains functional even if one cable is cut due to its decentralized nature and the presence of multiple redundant routes for data traffic, making it nearly impossible to disable the Internet by severing a single cable.

Who owns the Internet, and how is it governed?

The Internet is decentralized, meaning no single government or body owns or controls it. However, governments can regulate access through laws affecting ISPs. Organizations like ICANN manage critical aspects like the DNS, ensuring the Internet's safe and open operation.

What is the role of ICANN in the governance of the Internet?

ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, is responsible for managing the domain name system (DNS), ensuring that web addresses correctly resolve to their intended destinations and maintaining the security and stability of the Internet.

What is the significance of the 'key ceremony' mentioned in the script?

The 'key ceremony' is a secure process where a group of trusted community members renew and insure the DNS system for the next three months. It involves the use of a master key controlled by seven smart cards, emphasizing the importance of security and redundancy in Internet governance.

How has the Internet impacted society, both positively and negatively?

The Internet has positively impacted society by providing a platform for creators, artists, and journalists, and enabling rapid information sharing. Negatively, it has contributed to misinformation, echo chambers, and changes in societal structure, as discussed in the video 'The Death of Facebook'.

What are some of the anticipated developments in the future of the Internet?

The future of the Internet includes advancements such as 5G technology, which promises at least a tenfold increase in speed, and the potential impact of regulations like Article 13 on content sharing and creation.

What is Article 13, and why has it been a point of controversy?

Article 13 is a controversial copyright law approved by the European Union, which has raised concerns about its potential to impact content sharing and the livelihood of small independent creators on the Internet.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 The Birth and Growth of the Internet

This paragraph delves into the origins of the Internet, tracing it back to 1969 with the US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA). It discusses the development of ARPANET, which initially connected computers across universities and eventually evolved into the modern Internet. The narrative then shifts to Sir Tim Berners-Lee's invention of the World Wide Web at CERN, highlighting the distinction between the Internet and the Web. Berners-Lee's decision not to patent his invention is noted, emphasizing his contribution to the democratization of the Internet. The paragraph also covers the physical infrastructure of the Internet, including the history of undersea cables dating back to 1854 and the current global network of approximately 420 cables spanning over 1.1 million kilometers. It discusses the process of laying these cables and the potential vulnerabilities they face, such as damage from ship anchors or natural disasters. Despite these risks, the redundancy in the system ensures the Internet's resilience. The paragraph concludes with a reflection on the decentralized nature of Internet ownership and the role of organizations like ICANN in managing critical aspects like the Domain Name System (DNS).

05:02

🔐 Governance and Security of the Internet

The second paragraph focuses on the governance and security measures that underpin the Internet. It introduces ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, as a not-for-profit organization responsible for managing the DNS. The paragraph describes the quarterly 'ritual' performed by a group of trusted community members to renew the DNS system, emphasizing the high level of security involved, including guards, safes, and alarms. It details the complex key management system involving seven smart cards and the necessity of at least five trusted members to generate the master key. The paragraph also touches on other organizations contributing to Internet standards and safety, such as the Internet Engineering Task Force and the World Wide Web Consortium. It discusses the dual impact of the Internet on society, highlighting both the ease of access to information and the potential for misinformation and echo chambers. The paragraph concludes with a call to responsibility, urging users to harness the Internet's power constructively.

10:02

🚀 The Future of the Internet

The final paragraph looks ahead to the future of the Internet, predicting faster connectivity with the advent of 5G technology. It addresses concerns about the safety of 5G, comparing the frequencies used to the international limits, and notes the expected increase in speed. The paragraph also mentions the European Union's controversial Article 13 copyright law, discussing its potential impact on content sharing and creation, and the role of public debate in shaping such legislation. It concludes by emphasizing the collective responsibility of Internet users in shaping the future of the Internet, suggesting that its evolution will be determined by how it is used and governed by the majority.

Keywords

💡Internet

The Internet is a global network of interconnected computers and servers that use the Internet protocol suite to communicate. It is the infrastructure that allows for the exchange of information and data across the globe. In the video, the Internet is described as having been revolutionized by ARPANET and Sir Tim Berners-Lee's invention of the World Wide Web, which sits on top of this infrastructure, making it a tool for accessing information.

💡ARPANET

ARPANET, or the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network, was an early packet-switching network and the first network to implement the TCP/IP protocol suite. It was funded by the U.S. Department of Defense and was instrumental in the development of modern Internet technology. The video mentions ARPANET as the starting point of the Internet revolution, connecting computers across universities and eventually leading to the modern Internet.

💡World Wide Web (WWW)

The World Wide Web is a system of interlinked hypertext documents that are accessed via the Internet. It was invented by Sir Tim Berners-Lee at CERN and is not the same as the Internet, which is the underlying infrastructure. The video explains that while the Internet provides the network, the Web is the means by which we access and navigate information on the Internet.

💡Cables

Undersea and terrestrial cables are the physical infrastructure that connects different parts of the Internet across the globe. The video discusses how these cables, which consist of optical fibers, are laid across oceans and continents to facilitate data transmission. It also mentions the vulnerability of these cables to damage and the efforts required to maintain them.

💡ICANN

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is a nonprofit organization responsible for coordinating the maintenance and procedures of several databases related to the namespaces of the Internet. The video explains that ICANN oversees the Domain Name System (DNS), ensuring that web addresses correctly resolve to their intended destinations, which is crucial for the safe and functional operation of the Internet.

💡Domain Name System (DNS)

The Domain Name System is the system that translates human-friendly domain names (like 'google.com') into IP addresses that computers use to identify each other on the network. The video highlights the importance of DNS in the functioning of the Internet, noting that ICANN manages this system to prevent fraudulent websites from impersonating legitimate ones.

💡Satellites

Satellites play a role in the Internet infrastructure by providing connectivity to remote areas where laying cables might not be feasible. The video mentions satellites as a part of the evolving methods through which the Internet is accessed, particularly in areas not connected by terrestrial cables.

💡5G

5G is the fifth generation of mobile networks, promising faster data transfer speeds and lower latency compared to previous generations. The video discusses the upcoming implementation of 5G and its potential to significantly increase Internet speeds, although it also mentions concerns about its safety and the impact on the Internet's future.

💡Article 13

Article 13 refers to a controversial copyright law approved by the European Union, which has raised concerns about its potential impact on content sharing and creation online. The video touches on the debate surrounding Article 13, suggesting that it could have far-reaching effects on how users interact with and produce content on the Internet.

💡Echo Chamber Effect

The echo chamber effect describes a phenomenon where individuals are exposed primarily to information that confirms their existing beliefs, often due to algorithms that personalize content. The video mentions this effect in the context of social media and the Internet, suggesting that it can lead to a reinforcement of existing viewpoints rather than a broadening of perspectives.

💡Decentralized

Decentralized refers to a system or network that is not controlled by a single entity but is instead managed across many different points or participants. The video explains that the Internet is decentralized, meaning no single government or organization owns or controls it, which is a key aspect of its design and operation.

Highlights

The Internet revolutionized humanity and is perhaps the greatest tool ever built.

ARPANET, funded by the US Defense Department, laid the groundwork for modern internet communication.

Sir Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web, which sits on top of the Internet's infrastructure.

The Internet is a decentralized network; no single government or entity owns it.

ICANN manages the domain name system, ensuring the accuracy of web addresses.

The Internet is physically connected by approximately 420 undersea cables spanning over 1.1 million kilometers.

Cable laying is a complex engineering process involving ships and sea plows.

Damaged undersea cables can disrupt internet service, as seen in 2008 with India and Egypt experiencing outages.

Satellites play a crucial role in beaming internet access from the sky.

Internet access is still growing, with only about half of the world's population currently connected.

Governments can control their citizens' internet access through laws affecting ISPs.

The Internet Engineering Task Force and the World Wide Web Consortium set standards and protocols for the internet.

The Internet has both positive and negative impacts, influencing how society functions.

5G is expected to increase internet speeds by at least tenfold, with some concerns about its safety.

Article 13, a controversial EU copyright law, may affect how content is shared and produced online.

The future of the Internet is in the hands of its users, who shape its evolution and use.

Transcripts

hi welcome to another ColdFusion video

there's no question that the Internet

has revolutionized humanity it is

perhaps the greatest tool we have ever

built for better or for us but how does

it work who owns it where is the

internet and who makes sure it keeps on

running today let's explore the Internet

its pioneers the organizations that keep

it running its present and its future

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the revolution begins in 1969 during

this time the US Defense Department had

a branch called the Advanced Research

Projects Agency or Appa Appa funded

researchers developed many of the

technologies used for internet

communication today at first they

connected computers across a few

universities and called it ARPANET and

over the next few years

ARPANET grew connecting more and more

computers and eventually inspiring the

modern Internet 20 years later English

computer scientist Sir Tim berners-lee

was working at CERN in Geneva he was

hired to fix the mess that grew out of

the incompatibility of different

networks and cern system his solution

was the World Wide Web

although the Internet and the web are

often used as synonyms they are not the

same thing the Internet is the

infrastructure of the network while the

web stats on top of this and is

essentially a way to access information

via the Internet Tim berners-lee

invented the core on which most websites

work he allowed the Internet to become

uniform and usable yet he never patented

his idea one can only imagine the riches

he gave up in order to allow for his

invention to flourish the modern

Internet is now a huge array of

interconnected points across the globe

so the question must be asked how

exactly it does the internet connect us

all together while cables span across

entire oceans to connect countries this

isn't a new idea as we've been laying

cables since 1854 when construction

began on the first transatlantic

telegram cable the process is a

surprisingly simple engineering feat for

incredible complex technology each cable

consists of nothing more than some

optical fibres wrapped in materials for

protection globally approximately 420

cables have been laid spanning over 1.1

million kilometers as of 2017

so here's how it works a ship pulls a

cable from one country to another and

then on the sea floor cable is laid by

sea plows and dig a little trench for

the cables to fall into eventually

natural ocean currents bury the cable if

the ground is uneven however the cable

is unburied and vulnerable to damage

from ship anchors and other natural

disasters in 2008 one such disruption

happened due to cable damage about 60%

of India and 70% of Egypt's Internet

services to a briefly cut with this

being said damaged cables are not

uncommon repairs are constantly carried

out on severed cables around the world

but really it is interesting to think of

how physically vulnerable the Internet

is of course there are so many other

routes for traffic to take that is

almost nearly impossible to kill the

Internet by just cutting off one cable

especially in more recent times since

satellites now circle the earth beaming

down the internet from the skies after

their path across the sea there are

systems of cables spanning across your

country leading right up to your door

that is if you're lucky and live in a

place wealthy enough and populated

enough to allow for a cable connection

to the internet as a whole the internet

is still growing and about half of

everyone that lives on earth has access

to it so we still have yet to see what

the internet evolves into by the time

mass adoption reaches saturation so who

owns the Internet well technically no

one and everyone the internet itself is

an autonomous interconnection of various

voluntary networks it's decentralized so

no one government or body owns or

controls the Internet however

governments have the ability to control

their citizens access to the Internet

via laws that impact the Internet

service providers or ISPs of that nation

for example China restricts its citizens

from accessing YouTube in 2016 the US

government officially handed over the

ownership of the database which holds

the domain names of the Internet to a

body called ICANN or the Internet

Corporation for Assigned Names and

numbers these guys have been overseeing

this database for the last 20 years this

meant that we reached a point where the

ownership was given back to the people

I can is an independent body which is

comprised of a multi-stakeholder

community this means that I can tries to

consult the internet community about

changes and at least tries to be as open

and as transparent as possible so it's

unlikely that you've ever heard of I can

but the nonprofit organization performs

one of the most important rituals to

keep the internet safe they manage the

domain name system or DNS ICANN the

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names

and numbers which basically assigns web

addresses the california-based

organization is technically a

not-for-profit but it has one of the

biggest jobs in governing the internet

to manage the domain name system or DNS

this means that when you type in WWE

Google com the response you receive is

from Google and not a fake version of

Google created by a nine trillion prints

or other scammer every three months a

group of trusted community members

gather to perform a ritual which will

renew and insure the DNS system for the

next three months the ceremony is

recorded with tight security such as

guards

safes cages and alarms in fact the

alarms are so sensitive that at one

ceremony a slamming door set off the

seismic sensor locking people into one

of the cages an evacuation had to be

triggered to release them the master key

is stored in a cryptographic device this

device if dropped or tampered with will

erase all of its contents fragments of

keys are distributed among the trusted

members ensuring that no one person can

create the master key this requires the

presence of at least five of these

people to come together to do so at the

heart of this new system lies one master

key that key is controlled by seven

smart cards locked in one of two high

security deposit boxes one on the East

Coast one on the west the keys to those

boxes are scattered around the world in

the hands of two groups of seven online

security experts this is just one

organization that helps make sure the

internet runs smoothly but they're not

the only ones there's a host of others

such as the internet Engineering Task

Force and the World Wide Web Consortium

run by none other than Tim berners-lee

these organizations set the standards

make the protocols and ensure that the

Internet is safe and open

it's undeniable that the Internet has

changed our life forever it has taken

over so many facets of our lives it's

allowed people to carry around every

encyclopedia in the world just in the

palm of their hand I wonder how many

people have used Google to solve

arguments but with massive information

also Karma's massive misinformation it's

much easier now for people to use

confirmation bias to validate their own

point of view leading to the infamous

echo chamber effect the use of social

media has also drastically changed our

lives it's been said to be tearing apart

the actual foundational fabric of how

society functions I've discussed this

all much further in my video the death

of Facebook and I'll leave a link for

that below and at the end of this video

so of course the Internet has some

negative aspects almost any technology

does and this is because human nature is

to blame for the way we use the tools we

make not the tools themselves with that

being said the internet also has many

positives the Internet has given

creators artists journalists and many

others a platform that would otherwise

just not exist your favorite youtubers

wouldn't be able to make their videos

without the internet Michael from Vsauce

has an old and still running segment

called do you online now guys or dongs

this series were simply lists of amazing

things that you can do on the Internet

it's one of the oldest serious that's

around but the great thing about it is

that it still captures the original

wonder of the Internet interesting

topics organically trend and more people

view things that are generally

interesting this is very unlikely to

happen in the old world where you'll

stumble across an interesting topic and

a rigid magazine on newspaper and will

just be for you you couldn't share it

instantly and discuss it and develop a

rapid wider community around it a rate

of spread a magnitude of reach of

information that was only once possible

if you owned a whole media outlet for a

country is now to some extent possible

by anyone with an internet connection

and a potent message you can look at the

French yellow vest protest that had

gained momentum after an online petition

the WikiLeaks revelations that have

gripped the attention of much of the

world so it comes down to this the

Internet is an immensely powerful tool

but we have to use a right so how will

the Internet evolve

well for starters it's going to get

faster 5g is set to yield at least a

tenfold increase in speed

there are some scientists and political

figures who are questioning the safety

of 5g these concerns arise from the high

frequencies associated with a high data

transfer speeds however the frequencies

produced by 5g are an order of magnitude

less than the current international

limit of 300 gigahertz 5g is set to

arrive somewhere in 2019 or 2020

depending on which country you live in

perhaps the most uncertain part of the

Internet's future is article 13 the

European Union has recently approved a

controversial copyright law called

article 13 as I discussed in my earlier

video at the end of the Internet there

are concerns that this new law may have

a radical impact on the way that we

share and produce content if the law

passed by a sizable majority however on

the question of debating amendments five

Swedish MEP members accidentally press

the wrong button

meaning no debates and the vote was

binding while the law has been amended

since 2018 to exclude memes from its

scope

people still have fears that these laws

will kill small independent creators and

cause massive undesired side effects at

the end of the day we are the majority

we are in control and the Internet is

what we make it

isn't that just about wraps up our look

at the Internet I hope you learned

something about how the internet works

it controls her and its possible future

thanks for watching if you've just

stumbled across this channel feel free

to subscribe this has been - go go

you've been watching cold fusion and

I'll see you again soon for the next

video cheers guys have a good one

cold fusion you thinking

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