1.2 An Homage to ARPAnet: DERPnet

- Concept

A simple, conceptual, derpy, arts and crafts version of ARPAnet to explain the connections between the TIPs and IMPs that make up the ARPAnet.

Internet is the most used technical concept used worldwide. It seemed only natural to go back to its roots and try to understand its beginnings.

ARPAnet is an abbreviation of the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network; a network started by the American military to ensure informational safety in the case of war. It is one of the first packet-switching networks to implement the TCP/IP protocol suite (Wikipedia, ARPANET), meant to increase overall computer power and to decentralize information storage. It was founded in the United States, which is why the DERPnet is layered over a map of the US. All points on the map represent either IMPs (Interface Message Processors) or TIPs (Terminal Interface Processor). IMPs are minicomputers that are used to interface the network. TIPs provide terminal server support.

- Implementation details

Hubs (styrofoam balls) & stokes (the connections) representing TIPs & IMPs of the ARPAnet. Due to the scale of the project, it showed rather difficult to actualize the connections between the right centers. 

- ARPAnet visualization

Used for reference. I chose this particular ARPAnet reference because it is one of the expanded ones. ARPAnet started very small but was expanded quickly when it was realized that it could hold a lot of power (both literally and figuratively).

- DERPnet visualization project

- Motivation

I was thinking about what I use most in my daily life and (sadly) concluded it is 'the internet'. It seemed only logical to go back to its most basic form and that is ARPAnet: the net from which the internet originated. Based in America from the 1960s, ARPAnet was created to ensure informational safety but quickly rose to a technology that we would later call the world wide web.

I decided to create an homage to this 'ancient' technology, and thank it for its modern use in anything but a technical manner. It could not be more hobbyistic and it obviously does not do justice to the real thing at all, but I wanted the focus to be on the scale and playfulness to amp up the interactiveness and immersion of the installation.

- Description

Styrofoam balls (yellow TIPs/pink IMPs) hung on the ceiling, connected by wire and wool (the net).