Computer network

We are truly living in a digital information age where our lives are completely dependent on the information that we produce and consume every day. This sea of information is produced, stored and served by computing devices ranging in size from the tiniest sensors to the largest supercomputers. Computer networking technologies strive to interconnect computers of myriad capabilities with maximum reliability, performance and security.

In this lecture I will trace the evolution of computer networking technologies over the past fifty years, and at a high-level explore some of the classic networking technologies that we unknowingly use in our everyday lives e.g., by opening a browser and typing in "http://www.google.com/". I will introduce the notion of protocols that power computer networks, methodologies of assigning names and addresses to computing devices, mechanisms of message transportation and security challenges faced by computer networks. In summary, in this lecture I will unravel the fascinating and chaotic world of computer networks to everyone.