The Internet: then, now and in the future

In this video, pioneer of the Internet in Australia, Geoff Huston, reflects on the early days of the Internet and AARNet, what’s happening now, the surprising developments, and where he sees the Internet heading in the foreseeable future.

“I think the biggest shock, and it wasn’t really a shock if you were thinking about it, is that the Internet is subject to exactly the same level of surveillance as the old phone system. Somehow, we thought we were immune…”

Huston was AARNet’s very first employee, hired in March 1989. He was responsible for building the Internet network that connected Australian universities in 1990. Since then he has worked in the commercial world and is currently Chief Scientist of APNIC (the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre). He is an inductee of the Internet Hall of Fame and has contributed much to the development of the Internet in Australia.

Watch the video (4minutes)