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Story: A new science for a new age
It
Contrary to what most people seem to believe, the Internet took decades to begin to realise its potential to connect the whole world: the magic formula turned out to be the simple IP technology for building and connecting networks plus Berners-Lee's simple approach to allow content to virtually ignore both location and the computing technology underlying either the host/server or client/browser.
The economic activity that the Web has enabled is staggering, and the social benefits enormous. And these benefits have reached both developed and developing nations.
But the level and quality of innovation at the heart of the web itself has been rather weak, and one reason for this is the sheer complexity of understanding, modelling and testing technologies that may reach every corner of the globe.
Here in Cambridge the exceptional results of academic focus coupled with the infrastructure to support fledgling technology businesses could hardly be more visible. Whichever institution most determinedly takes up Berners-Lee's vision may be even more successful.
Jeremy Parsons
MarCam.co.uk
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