by Trevor Harris
Presented at the 6th International Conference on Media to be held in Athens, Greece on May 19-22, 2008.
Published in "Variety in Mass Communication Research", Edited by Yorgo Pasadeos, 2009
As the internet has grown from a small network of North American institutions, developed in the late 1960s, to become... more
As the internet has grown from a small network of North American institutions, developed in the late 1960s, to become the dominant global communications infrastructure of the twenty-first century, identifying who should be considered the 'Father of the Internet' has increasingly become an area of debate. A particular area of dispute is the invention of the packet switching technology that underpins the Internet.
As one of fundamental technologies of the internet, the invention of packet-switching in many ways holds the key to identifying who has earned the accolade ‘Father of the Internet’. There have been a number of well researched volumes that focus on the range of key inventions that enabled the internet to grow and develop from the original ARPANET concept, including packet-switching.
The honor of 'Father of the Internet' has consequently been bestowed upon a comparatively wide group of inventors. Donald Davies, a little known Welshman from the mining valleys of South Wales, has as much of a claim to be considered for that title as many others but is often overlooked. Having originated the word 'packet' to describe the method he pioneered to enable computers to network with each other, and having created the first network using this method, he has a unique place in its historical development.
As we approach the fortieth anniversary of the Internet this paper explores the key developments that enabled the Internet, and computer data networks in general, to be developed. In particular, the key role that Donald Davies played in this history will be explored, making the case that he be considered as the ‘Father of the Internet’.
Download (.pptx) 
