About the book
A complete history and theory of internet daemons brings these little-known-but very consequential-programs into the spotlight We're used to talking about how tech giants like Google, Facebook, and Amazon rule the internet, but what about daemons? Ubiquitous programs that have colonized the Net's infrastructure-as well as the devices we use to access it-daemons are little known. Fenwick McKelvey weaves together history, theory, and policy to give a full account of where daemons come from and how they influence our lives-including their role in hot-button issues like network neutrality. Going back to Victorian times and the popular thought experiment Maxwell's Demon, McKelvey charts how daemons evolved from concept to reality, eventually blossoming into the pandaemonium of code-based creatures that today orchestrates our internet. Digging into real-life examples like sluggish connection speeds, Comcast's efforts to control peer-to-peer networking, and Pirate Bay's attempts to elude daemonic control (and skirt copyright), McKelvey shows how daemons have been central to the internet, greatly influencing everyday users. Internet Daemons asks important questions about how much control is being handed over to these automated, autonomous programs, and the consequences for transparency and oversight.
Editions of Internet Daemons
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781517901547
Read an Excerpt
A complete history and theory of internet daemons brings these little-known-but very consequential-programs into the spotlight We're used to talking about how tech giants like Google, Facebook, and Amazon rule the internet, but what about daemons? Ubiquitous programs that have colonized the Net's infrastructure-as well as the devices we use to access it-daemons are little known. Fenwick McKelvey weaves together history, theory, and policy to give a full account of where daemons come from and how they influence our lives-including their role in hot-button issues like network neutrality. Going back to Victorian times and the popular thought experiment Maxwell's Demon, McKelvey charts how daemons evolved from concept to reality, eventually blossoming into the pandaemonium of code-based creatures that today orchestrates our internet. Digging into real-life examples like sluggish connection speeds, Comcast's efforts to control peer-to-peer networking, and Pirate Bay's attempts to elude daemonic control (and skirt copyright), McKelvey shows how daemons have been central to the internet, greatly influencing everyday users. Internet Daemons asks important questions about how much control is being handed over to these automated, autonomous programs, and the consequences for transparency and oversight.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Internet Daemons about?
A complete history and theory of internet daemons brings these little-known-but very consequential-programs into the spotlight We're used to talking about how tech giants like Google, Facebook, and Amazon rule the internet, but what about daemons? Ubiquitous programs that have colonized the Net's infrastructure-as well as the devices we use to access it-daemons are little known. Fenwick McKelvey weaves together history, theory, and policy to give a full account of where daemons come from and how they influence our lives-including their role in hot-button issues like network neutrality. Going back to Victorian times and the popular thought experiment Maxwell's Demon, McKelvey charts how daemons evolved from concept to reality, eventually blossoming into the pandaemonium of code-based creatures that today orchestrates our internet. Digging into real-life examples like sluggish connection speeds, Comcast's efforts to control peer-to-peer networking, and Pirate Bay's attempts to elude daemonic control (and skirt copyright), McKelvey shows how daemons have been central to the internet, greatly influencing everyday users. Internet Daemons asks important questions about how much control is being handed over to these automated, autonomous programs, and the consequences for transparency and oversight.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Internet Daemons?
Computing and Information Technology > Digital and Information technology: general topics > Digital and information technologies: social and ethical aspects
Where can I read a sample of Internet Daemons?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781517901547
How long is Internet Daemons and how many pages does it have?
Internet Daemons has 336 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Internet Daemons?
Fenwick McKelvey
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Internet Daemons is available as paperback(ISBN 9781517901547)
Where can I buy Internet Daemons online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Internet Daemons from below
Where can I buy Internet Daemons?