Evolution of Networking: Brief Time Line

Technology evolution is not a discrete but a continues exponential process. In the era that we live in it seems like Cambridge explosion of technology evolution. Transition from communication between two static points to communication between mobile devices is a quite remarkable. This lead to evolution of applications also from mere communicating to security, monitoring, health and remote sensing applications. In last century we saw a drastic change from communicating to networking between devices like transceivers and sensors that did not have applications merely aforementioned but totally changed the perspective that how technology can advance society and can impact the understanding of natural phenomena’s like earthquake, thunderstorm and even time travel. In past few decades we saw the networking broadened the scope of radio, TV, radar and satellite applications in real life. Evolutionary growth leads us from 1G to 6G and beyond with the techniques like beamforming, diversity, massive MIMO and quantum communication for not only higher speed and adaptive environment but for hybrid scenario’s. Especially if we look at the growth in past two decades it is sudden exponential due to the base that we have created in past century in natural sciences and engineering along with understanding of human mind. By diving in human mind we did not only discovered new branches of science but were able to develop understanding of complex phenomena’s like neural computing, algorithmic complexity and AI. In just one century the discussion changed from understanding of physical phenomena and application in technology to use of technology and impact on physical phenomenon like HARP technology etc. At the end of 20th century “Internet” the information superhighway that not just changed protocols of networking but also created BigData and concepts of cloud or sky computing. Networking that was majorly relying on physical devices now moving towards software defined networking “SDN”. We saw evolution from 1G to 6G and beyond and now exponential growth in terms of applications like sensor networks for agriculture, health or military application for taking decisions in real life scenarios. In the environment that we live in also changed drastically from smaller and static infrastructure to larger infrastructure along mobile vehicular scenario that effects overall environment and networking in an adaptively changing climate. Role of AI, Game theory and advance level probabilistic process became fundamental tool for reliable networking. If we focus specifically application of networking in ocean’s the understanding of ocean waves, currents and flora and fauna becomes ultimate necessity. Mode of communication like acoustic, optical or EM for networking can have a diverse application with impact on marine life. Now it’s not connecting multiple devices but “internet of things” that means all computing devices must by connected via internet. Without any doubt this is not merely an evolution but is Cambridge explosion in terms technological advancement in networking ….


Author: Dr. Muhammad Tahir

 

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