Ponder HN: if the Earth suddenly went arwy, how would we build an Internet?

25 points

16 years ago

To be clear as to the extent of Earth's "supposed" damage: think "Worldwide Burning of Alexandria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_of_alexandria#Destruction_of_the_Library)". How could we cope with a sudden breakdown in infrastructure and still hold the Internet together? I'm thinking that it would involve a lot of wifi hopping. I was looking to discuss some other hackerish ways.

Thinking about it more, what about:

* A lot of dedicated space on computers for p2p/reversion control gracefully degrading storage. To preserve knowledge.

* An ability to utilize any computer with a unified OS.

* Power and battery systems: UPS and a preservation of laptops and netbooks? Perhaps some mobile phones (though the iPhone doesn't come to mind, for obvious reasons).

* Mailing beacons? A way to Old Pentium II boxes with some puppy Linux and a wireless antenna?

* A change in culture: growing a hacker ethic in children and getting people to pass on their knowledge, rather than use it for profit (or limit the growth of such use to 3rd-world nations; etc).

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