Zen and the Art of Network Research

It seems to be increasingly clear that, in regard to the design of global data networks, an era of networking is coming to an end. Suddenly, what was once a playground for researchers now supports both culture and commerce, and has increasingly become a part of our daily lives. The present-day Internet quite clearly serves a basic infrastructure role, alongside other communication and transportation systems. As such, its ongoing evolution will inevitably be the result of a tug-of-war between the vested interests of not only academics, but corporations, governments, and consumers. Gone are the days of sudden, drastic change.