But the path from
one neighbourhood of London to another may traverse Japan.
The really ingenious thing about the Internet is that each
computer (each receiver or end user) indeed burdens the system
by imposing on it its information needs (as is the case with
other media) - but it also assists in the task of pushing
information packets on to their destinations. It seems that
this contribution to the system outweighs the burdens imposed
upon it.
The network has a growth potential which is always bigger than
the number of its users. It is as though television sets
assisted in passing the signals received by them to other
television sets. Every computer which is a member of the
network is both a message (content) and a medium (active
information channel), both a transmitter and a receiver. If
30% of all computers on the Net were to crash - there will be
no operational impact (there is enormous built in redundancy).
Obviously, some contents will no longer be available
(information channels will be affected).
The interactivity of this medium is a guarantee against the
monopolization of contents.
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