Intergalactic Computing

Intergalactic Computing

J.C.R. Licklider was a distinguished engineer and visionary computer scientist, often referred to as the “Johnny Appleseed” of computing for his contributions by planting the seeds for the Internet and World Wide Web. In 1963, Licklider was appointed head of the Behavioral Sciences and Command and Control programs at the Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA). “Lick” as his colleagues affectionately referred to him, addressed members of the Intergalactic Computer Group later that year with a memo calling for a network of computers that would allow scientists to collaborate irrespective of distance or computer compatibility issues. Lick referred to the system as an intergalactic computing network, describing it conceptually, "….we could have at least four large computers, perhaps six or eight small computers, and a great assortment of disc files and magnetic tape units-not to mention remote consoles and teletype stations-all churning away" (Waldrop, 2000).

Lick’s vision for connected computing served as the foundational concept for the ARPANET, which led to the creation of a series of military networks including MILNET, SIPRNET, and eventually the Internet and later World Wide Web. In Segaller’s 1998 book “Nerds: A Brief History of the Internet”, Roberts describes Lick and his vision:

"Lick had this concept of the intergalactic network which he believed was everybody could use computers anywhere and get at data anywhere in the world. He didn't envision the number of computers we have today by any means, but he had the same concept-all of the stuff linked together throughout the world, that you can use a remote computer, get data from a remote computer, or use lots of computers in your job. The vision was really Lick's originally. None oof us can really claim to have seen that before him nor{can} anybody in the world. Lick saw this vision in the early sixties. He didn't have a clue how to build it. He didn't have any idea how to make this happen. But he knew it was important, so he sat down with me and really convinced me that it was important and convinced me into making it happen" (Roberts in Segaller, 40).

J.C.R. Licklider died in 1990 having worked on core components of UNIX development, network computing, time sharing operations (Project MAC), and professor emeritus at the Massechusets Institute of Technology. His vision for intergalactic computing continues to inspire new platforms and tools for collaboration and information sharing.