We have had fun with this question here in London this evening.
The answer I got from software engineer friends was as follows:
This is not a "real" question, i.e. it can't be answered on its own
terms, because the data isn't in between node 1 and node 2. It doesn't
"leave" node 1 until after it's "arrived" at node 2 as confirmed by
transfer protocol so in that sense it's not travelling between them at
all
Dena
-----Original Message-----
From: Mapping and visualising Internet infrastructure and Web space
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Sue Thomas
Sent: 28 May 2005 20:25
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MAPPING-CYBERSPACE] Cyberspatial question for the holiday
weekend
I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Can anyone point me to
research
on the following question:
If I throw a ball to you, we know that it passes through the air between
us.
(unless we are in a vacuum, in which case we would both be dead etc etc)
Q: When a data packet 'travels' from one node to the next, does it pass
through anything? What is between the nodes? I know transfer is very
fast
but nevertheless it is still transfer so there must be a point where it
is
in neither place so it must be somewhere else. Shouldn't it? Or have I
misunderstood?
All hypotheses welcome. Preferably those I can understand ;)
Sue
http://travelsinvirtuality.typepad.com
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