A collection of 19 essays, Peer-To-Peer: Harnessing the Power of Disruptive Technologies looks at different aspects of the potential of...... more
A collection of 19 essays,
Peer-
To-
Peer: Harnessing the Power of Disruptive Technologies looks at different aspects of the potential of
peer-
to-
peer computer technology.
Peer-
to-
peer seems dangerous because it is, essentially, hugely democratic. All subversion starts with a conversation and
peer-
to-
peer, "the next great thing for the Internet" according
to Web guru Lawrence Lessig, facilitates direct communication even more so than the first wave of Internet technologies. Just as those first wave technologies had a number of established constituencies worried about the demonic effects of the Web so
peer-
to-
peer seems
to be the new bugbear. The fears are, again, reminiscent of those that we heard before business found out how
to fully exploit the potential of the Web and are tinged, often, with a frisson of excitement:
peer-
to-
peer offers a new chance for a new wave of entrepreneurs if they can bring themselves
to understand the technology, make it understandable
to others, and give it succour in a business context. Chapters in Andy Oram's invigorating collection by key players, such as Gene Kan of Gnutella, Dan Bricklin cocreator of Visicalc, Tim O'Reilly the publisher and an ever useful history lesson from Nelson Minar and Marc Hedlund, are just some of the highlights from an essential read. --Mark Thwaite
... less
| 
