The Ideological and Policy Origins of the Internet, 1957-1969

Title: The Ideological and Policy Origins of the Internet, 1957-1969

Research Question: How did the ideological framework of the science policy consensus and the values of its stakeholders shape the creation and development of the ARPANET?

Methodology: This study uses a historical analysis of the foundational values of ARPA's Information Processing Techniques Office (IPTO) and the ARPANET. It examines the ideology of the post-World War II science policy consensus, the hiring of J.C.R. Licklider to direct IPTO, and the arrival of Larry Roberts at IPTO and the launching of the ARPANET.

Results: The research found that the ideology of the science policy consensus, the values of J.C.R. Licklider, and the arrival of Larry Roberts at IPTO played a significant role in shaping the creation and development of the ARPANET. The stakeholders' belief in government support for broad scientific research, the integration of military and academic computing, and the sharing of resources among researchers led to the development of a network that united researchers and promoted both the public good and national defense.

Implications: This study suggests that the values and ideologies of the stakeholders in IPTO research significantly shaped the creation and development of the ARPANET. Their beliefs about government responsibility, the integration of military and academic computing, and the sharing of resources among researchers led to the development of a network that united researchers and promoted both the public good and national defense. This understanding can help inform future discussions about the role of values in technology design and development.

Link to Article: https://arxiv.org/abs/0109056v2 Authors: arXiv ID: 0109056v2