Have you ever wondered how your favorite cat video reaches your computer? Some questions stump even the most techno-savvy adults.
To answer our deceptively simple query about how the Internet works, we turned to expert Allan Friedman of George Washington University. He summed up the basics for WNPR’s Patrick Skahill. Listen below, and see if it answers your questions. You may want to listen twice:
Friedman recently co-authored an article for The Brookings Institution, “How Does the Internet Actually Work?” which led us to hope that we could break down a mindbogglingly complex topic in 90 seconds. How do you think we did?
Researching what getting online is all about led us to some interesting finds elsewhere on this amazing interconnected web we weave. The Atlantic has a cool article that breaks down the mechanics of the old dial-up modem sound, and Gizmodo has an amazing, educational visualization of those same sounds. Along those lines, be sure to check out The Museum of Endangered Sounds.
