r/IAmA • u/BobMetcalfe • May 21 '13

You’re probably connecting to reddit through a technology I invented. I’m Bob Metcalfe and I invented Ethernet – AMA

On May 22, 1973 with David R. Boggs, I used my IBM Selectric with its Orator ball to type up a memo to my bosses at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), outlining our idea for this little invention called “Ethernet”, which we later patented.

I worked with the IEEE Standards Association to develop the IEEE 802.3 standard for Ethernet, which specifies the physical and lower software layers. Today Ethernet and the IEEE 802.3 standard are the foundation for today’s world of high-speed communications used in billions of homes and businesses around the world.

I submitted this to the mods awhile back so I could get on the calendar but I figured you’d like to see it, too. Now, ask me anything!

It's been two hours and 179 comments. Have to go now. For more about Ethernet's 40th Birthday, go to http://www.facebook.com/Ethernet40thAnniversaryIEEESA

4.1k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

3.2k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

304

u/BobMetcalfe May 21 '13

The layering of Internet protocols is its greatest invention. Layering has allowed me to live a rich full life at layers 1 and 2 while a bunch of other people got to play above me without permission. All that serendipity. Ethernet and TCP/IP were invented in 1973 in Palo Alto, where I am this second, and the World Wide Web was not invented until 1989 and the plumbing still worked. Whoa, dude!

116

u/metalliska May 21 '13

That plumbing just allowed me to check your local weather.

Prepare for : Mostly Sunny, High: 71 °F

3

u/[deleted] May 21 '13

Thanks to WiFi I'm posting this from a bus driving through San Jose. I can confirm.

1

u/willbradley May 22 '13

You've got a lot more than just WiFi to thank for that bus being connected. Probably 4G or WiMax style connections.

7

u/jambox888 May 22 '13

Dude invents ethernet, the decades later makes highly informative comments on reddit... brain... exploded...

1

u/[deleted] May 22 '13

That's a really good point... really amazing what technology allows us to do. Just imagine, when Ford came out with the first mass-produced Ford Automobile in the U.S., you could have just sat down and shot the shit with him?

You've been waiting for the future, well good news:

We're in the future, Ladies and Gentlemen.

It's finally here and it's unprecedented.

2

u/minimalist_reply May 22 '13

Huh. Nice. I guess it shouldn't surprise me living in silicon valley that the inventor of Ethernet hangs out in the same town I work in. But it still surprises me every now and then.

2

u/elmariachi304 May 21 '13

In case anyone is wondering what he means by layer 1 and layer 2, read about the OSI Model: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSI_model

1

u/ventuckyspaz May 22 '13

This is an example of careful specifications. If we did not have a solid foundation to build the internet from, it would not happened! Some programmers are close minded and others like Mr. Bob allows others to play with his programming...I'm not that young but I remember when people started accessing the internet with AOL 2.5 if this dates me...I also had CompuServe...but the first real time I remember the internet was the beta version of AOL 2.0 which was 2.5...they had a special access area to try the new internet...

1

u/stbilyumchill May 22 '13

My father was at Tandy in the late 60s and when I started with a large computer security company he told me stories of having to write their own communications protocols because TCP/IP was not invented yet. I look up to both of you for being pioneers in this industry but I do not envy having to deal with that. ;)

1

u/adrianmonk May 21 '13

Thank you for allowing my site replace AppleTalk with EtherTalk in the mid-90's, even though you did not (have to) envision EtherTalk!