Did you know that the Internet was invented by the Department of Defense (DoD)? It was meant to be a highly reliable communication network that would work even after a nuclear attack by dynamically rerouting messages around damaged areas of the country. It was developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) of the DoD. DARPA continues to do amazing research, which is the topic of this TED talk.
But wait, didn't Al Gore invent the Internet, you say with a wicked grin. As it turns out Al Gore never said he invented the Internet. His actual words were, "During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet." The word "creating" was used in a legislative context. Al Gore did take the initiative to fund improvements in the Internet and provide more public access, as explained HERE.
Without someone like Al Gore, the Internet would have remained in the confines of the military. So even though DARPA invented the Internet, Al Gore's legislative initiatives created the Internet as we know it today.
Who should get credit for inventing something, the scientist, the engineer, or the venture capitalist who funds the research and development? My guess is the scientist, then the engineer, and never the venture capitalist.
ReplyDeleteNorm Fairhurst
Venture capitalist do get appropriate credit for the technology they sponsored, and they get rewarded handsomely when they succeed. Government researchers needs the support of political sponsors. When they succeed the political sponsors should be given proper credit so they be evaluated by the voters. However, the truth can be buried by a political smear campaign.
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