Thursday, November 10, 2005
[network] Is it the road or the pub?
Digital infrastructures consist of the hardware and software that connect people. Keeping all this stuff in working order is the challenge of our times. My professional focus is on how to create and maintain good, safe, and affordable digital infrastructures.
One of the principles I see is that any infrastructure, digital or not, if left to its own device, will typically deteriorate very quickly and become useless. Infrastructures need to be used in order to stay useful.
Take roads as a metaphorical example. In the south of France, there is a type of terrain called 'la garrigue' or 'maquis', a kind of scrubland.
In other regions similar terrains exist. A footpath in this terrain can be maintained for a long time, but if it is not used it is overgrown very quickly, sometimes in a matter of weeks. In contrast, if such a road is used and maintained properly, it can last for centuries. My house is on a side street of the Biltstraat, which allegedly is the first paved road in the Netherlands. This road was build by the Romans, so it exists now for approximately 2000 years.
One of the principles I see is that any infrastructure, digital or not, if left to its own device, will typically deteriorate very quickly and become useless. Infrastructures need to be used in order to stay useful.
Take roads as a metaphorical example. In the south of France, there is a type of terrain called 'la garrigue' or 'maquis', a kind of scrubland.
In other regions similar terrains exist. A footpath in this terrain can be maintained for a long time, but if it is not used it is overgrown very quickly, sometimes in a matter of weeks. In contrast, if such a road is used and maintained properly, it can last for centuries. My house is on a side street of the Biltstraat, which allegedly is the first paved road in the Netherlands. This road was build by the Romans, so it exists now for approximately 2000 years.
