Mike:

This explanation makes so much sense to me.

However, there is also the known "dimorphic" wave-particle property. Does
this apply here?

Great discussion: now, we are at least reaching out half-way to the more
advanced civilizations wanting and waiting in the wings to communicate with
us as soon as our imagination is fired up enough to burst the borders of our
envelope of restrictive convictions and intellectual block. When we start
articulating stuff in terms of "...isn't transferred by moving matter...," I
believe that we are on our way!

Thanks.

Regards:

Oguchi  

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Mapping and visualising Internet infrastructure and Web space
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Michael Okincha
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2005 10:12 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MAPPING-CYBERSPACE] Cyberspatial question for the holiday we
ekend

Hi Sue,

Just to add my two bits... 

It's worth point out a different between moving data packets and physical
objects.  Throwing a ball actually moves atoms around.  Sending a
data-packet doesn't change the location of the atoms of your computer, or
any piece of equipment involved.  If you want an analogy, data packets are
more analgous to ripples in water or sound pressure waves in air.
Information isn't transferred by moving matter, but rather by the transfer
of temporary states/energy-levels through a conducting medium. 

In fact, for wireless comm, youy have exactly this - the data packet is a
series of waves in the electromagnetic medium.  

At the hardware level, the conductive medium is the matrix/fabric of memory
cells, wire interconnections, and transducers (electrical, optical,
wireless, and back) within all the telecomm equipment.  That network at the
macro and microscopic levels forms something pretty close 'digital water',
much the same way a river system forms a network.

Regards,
Mike