General Information

Author/Creator

Palfrey, John G. (John Gorham), 1972-

Language

English.

Published

New York : Basic Books, c2012.

Physical Description

vii, 296 p. ; 25 cm.

Contributors

Contributor

Gasser, Urs.

Contents/Summary

Summary

"In Interop, technology experts John Palfrey and Urs Gasser explore the immense importance of interoperability -- the standardization and integration of technology -- and show how this simple principle will hold the key to our success in the coming decades and beyond. The practice of standardization has been facilitating innovation and economic growth for centuries. The standardization of the railroad gauge revolutionized the flow of commodities, the standardization of money revolutionized debt markets and simplified trade, and the standardization of credit networks has allowed for the purchase of goods using money deposited in a bank half a world away. These advancements did not eradicate the different systems they affected; instead, each system has been transformed so that it can interoperate with systems all over the world, while still preserving local diversity. As Palfrey and Gasser show, interoperability is a critical aspect of any successful system-and now it is more important than ever. Today we are confronted with challenges that affect us on a global scale: the financial crisis, the quest for sustainable energy, and the need to reform health care systems and improve global disaster response systems. The successful flow of information across systems is crucial if we are to solve these problems, but we must also learn to manage the vast degree of interconnection inherent in each system involved. Interoperability offers a number of solutions to these global challenges, but Palfrey and Gasser also consider its potential negative effects, especially with respect to privacy, security, and co-dependence of states; indeed, interoperability has already sparked debates about document data formats, digital music, and how to create successful yet safe cloud computing. Interop demonstrates that, in order to get the most out of interoperability while minimizing its risks, we will need to fundamentally revisit our understanding of how it works, and how it can allow for improvements in each of its constituent parts.In Interop, Palfrey and Gasser argue that there needs to be a nuanced, stable theory of interoperability-one that still generates efficiencies, but which also ensures a sustainable mode of interconnection. Pointing the way forward for the new information economy, Interop provides valuable insights into how technological integration and innovation can flourish in the twenty-first century"--Provided by publisher.

Subjects

Subject

Systems integration.

Standards, Engineering.

Technology > Social aspects.

Internetworking (Telecommunication)

Bibliographic Information

Responsibility

John Palfrey and Urs Gasser.

Title Variation

Promise and perils of highly interconnected systems

ISBN

9780465021970

0465021972

9780465029075

0465029078

Holdings

Item Type	Current Location	Collection	Call Number	Volume Info	Shelving Location	Public Note
Book	OSA Archivum Library	Reference collection	620.001/1 PAL		Reference	-

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