Ask Dr. Vinton Cerf About the Internet

If anyone can claim to have "invented the Internet," (or at least to have co-invented it) it's Vint Cerf, who never makes this claim himself. But he's certainly had a hand in shaping most of what we call "the Internet" today, and is now working on taking the Internet or something like it to Mars and other planets. A Google Search for "Vint Cerf" brings up thousands of responses, so you should have no trouble coming up with a unique, interesting question for him. (As is usual with Slashdot interviews, we'll send 10 of the top-moderated questions to Dr. Cerf about 24 hours after this post, and publish his answers shortly after he gets them back to us.)

Comments

Answer

[Daniel Dvorkin]

Cerf has already answered this one. The last two lines are the most telling.

While it is not accurate to say that VP Gore invented Internet, he has played a powerful role in policy terms that has supported its continued growth and application, for which we should be thankful.

We're fortunate to have senior level members of Congress and the Administration who embrace new technology and have the vision to see how it can be put to work for national and global benefit.

It's worth noting that he wrote those words when Clinton was still President and Gore -- you know, the elected President of the United States -- was still VP. Makes me nostalgic for the days when we had an administration that wasn't living in the Dark Ages. [sigh]

Al helped build the Intenet

[0x0d0a]

Al (and Clinton) shoveled massive amounts of federal dollars into producing the Internet. If not for their strong pushing of spreading the Internet all over (starting in educational institutions), we wouldn't be anywhere near where we are today.

Yes, Al misspoke. But he was also crucial to the Internet being what it is today, so he gets some points.