The Emergence Of Grid Information Infrastructures

Larry Smarr, Chapter 23 in AAAS Science and Technology Yearbook 2000, editors Albert H. Teich, Stephen D. Nelson, Ceilia McEnaney, Stephen J. Lita.

Abstract

The information technology revolution is going to affect everything about research and education. What is emerging in many people’s minds is a transformation similar in impact to previous infrastructure transformations, such as the birth of the electrical power grid. In that era, we went through a series of science and engineering experiments (real-world testbeds with competing standards such as Edison and Tesla fighting over DC versus AC), similar to what we have today in the battles over various flavors of operating systems or web browsers. Eventually, over the course of decades, the marketplace settled these disputes and what rapidly developed was a ubiquitous electrical technology infrastructure.

LINK TO ARCHIVE

LINK TO BOOK INFORMATION