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C00002 00002	%networ[e89,jmc]		Networks considered harmful
C00017 00003	\smallskip\centerline{Copyright \copyright\ 1989 by John McCarthy}
C00018 00004	∂18-Aug-89  1112	usenet@shelby.stanford.edu 	Re: Final version of Networks considered harmful.   
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%networ[e89,jmc]		Networks considered harmful
\input memo[let,jmc]
\title{ NETWORKS CONSIDERED HARMFUL---FOR ELECTRONIC MAIL}

	Electronic mail (email), using ARPANET and other networks has
been in use for almost 20 years.  The widespread use of telefax
is more recent.  However, unless email is freed from
dependence on the networks, I predict it will be supplanted by
telefax for most uses in spite of its many advantages over
telefax.  These advantages include the fact that
information is transmitted more cheaply as character streams than
as images.  Multiple addressees are readily accommodated.
Moreover, messages transmitted as character streams can be readily
filed, searched, edited and used by computer programs.

	The reason why telefax will supplant email unless email
is separated from special networks is that telefax works by using
the existing telephone network directly.  To become a telefax
user, it is only necessary to buy a telefax machine for a price
between \$1,000 and \$5,000 (depending on features) and to
publicize one's fax number on stationery, on business cards and
in telephone directories.  Once this is done anyone in the world
can communicate with you.  No complicated network addresses and
no politics to determine who is eligible to be on what network.
Telefax is already much more widely used than email, and a
Japanese industry estimate is that 5 percent of homes will have
telefax by 1995 and 50 percent by 2010.  This is with a \$200
target price.

	Email could work the same way at similar costs, but
because of a mistake by DARPA about 1970, i.e. making a
special-purpose, special-politics network the main vehicle for
electronic mail, it was combined with other network uses that
require higher bandwith and packet switching.

	Another mistake was UUCP.  It uses the telephone network,
but three features inherited from its use within Bell Telephone
Laboratories made its widespread adoption a blunder.

	1. It assumes that both parties are using the UNIX
operating system rather than using a general mail protocol.  This
is only moderately serious, because some other systems have been
able to pretend to be UNIX sufficiently well to implement the
protocols.

	2. It requires that the message forwarding computer have
login privileges on the receiver.  This has resulted in a system
of relaying messages that involves gateways, polling and
complicated addresses.  This results in politics in getting
connected to the gateways and causes addresses often to fail.

	3. Today forwarding is often a service provided free
and therefore of limited expandibility.

	There has been a proliferation of networks and message
services on a variety of time-sharing utilities.  Some of them
are commercial and some of them serve various scientific
disciplines and commercial activities.  The connections between
these networks require politics and often fail.  When both
commercial and noncommercial networks must interact there are
complications with charging.  A whole industry is founded on the
technologically unsound ideas of competitive special purpose
networks and storage of mail on mail computers.  It is as though
there were dozens of special purpose telephone networks and no
general network.

	The solution is to go to a system that resembles fax in that
the ``net addresses'' are just telephone numbers.  The simple form
of the command is just

\noindent MAIL $\langle$user$\rangle$@$\langle$telephone number$\rangle$,

\noindent after which the user engages in the usual dialog with the mail system.

	The sending machine dials the receiving machine just as is
done with fax.  When the receiving machine answers, the sender
announces that it has a message for $\langle$user$\rangle$.  Implementing
this can involve either implementation of protocols in a user machine or a
special machine that pretends to be a user of the receiving machine or
local area network.  The former involves less hardware, but the latter
involves less modification to the operating system of the receiving
machine.

	I have heard various arguments as to why integrating
electronic mail with other network services is the right idea.  I
could argue the point theoretically, but it seems better to
simply point out that telefax, which originated more recently
than electronic mail is already far more widespread outside
the computer science community.  Indeed it
is often used for communicating with someone who is thought to
have an email address when getting the forwarding connections
right seems too complicated.

\noindent{\bf The World of the Future}

	Eventually, there will be optical fiber to every home or
office supplied by the telephone companies.  The same transmission
facilities will serve telephone, picturephone, telefax, electronic
mail, telnet, file transfer, computer utilities, access to the Library of
Congress, the ``National Jukebox'' and maybe even a national
video jukebox.  In the meantime, different services require
different communication rates and can afford different costs
to get them.  However, current telephone rates transmit substantial
messages coast-to-coast for less than the price of a stamp.  Indeed
the success of telefax, not to speak of Federal Express, shows that
people are willing to pay even higher costs.

\noindent {\bf What about the next 20 years of email?}

	There are two kinds of problems, technical and political.
Guess which is easier.

	The main technical requirement is the development of a
set of point-to-point telephone mail protocols.  Any of several
existing network mail protocols could be adapted for the purpose.
Presumably the same kinds of modems and dialers that are used for fax would
be appropriate but would give better transmission speeds.

	Perhaps the organizationally simplest solution would be
to get one or more of the various UNIX consortia to add a direct
mail telephone protocol to UUCP.  Such a protocol would allow
mail to be addressed to a user-id at a telephone number.  The
computer would require a dialer and a modem with whatever
characteristics were taken as standard and it would be well to
use the same standards as have been adopted for telefax.  It
mustn't require pre-arrangement between the sending and receiving
computers, and therefore cannot involve any kind of login.
Non-UNIX systems would then imitate the protocol.

	Fax has another advantage that needs to be matched and
can be overmatched.  Since fax transmits images, fully formatted
documents can be transmitted.  However, this loses the ability to
edit the document.  This can be beaten by email, provided there
arises a widely used standard for representing documents that
preserves editability.

	The political problem is more difficult, because
there are enormous vested interests in the present lack of system.
There are the rival electronic mail companies.  There are the
organizers of the various non-profit networks.  There are the
engineers developing protocols for the various networks.
I've talked to a few of them, and intellectual arguments have
remarkably little effect.  The usual reply is, ``Don't bother
me, kid, I'm busy.''

	It would be good if the ACM were to set up a committee
to adopt a telephone electronic mail standard.  However, I fear
the vested interests would be too strong, and the idea would
die from being loaded with requirements for features that
would be too expensive to realize in the near future.

	Fortunately, there is free enterprise.
Therefore, the most likely way of getting direct
electronic mail is for some company to offer a piece of hardware
as an electronic mail terminal including the facilities for
connecting to the current variety of local area networks (LANs).
The most likely way for this to be accomplished is for the makers
of fax machines to offer ASCII service as well.  This will
obviate the growing practice of some users of fax of printing out
their messages in an OCR font, transmitting them by fax,
whereupon the receiver scans them with an OCR scanner to get them
back into computer form.

	This is probably how the world will have to get rid of
the substantially useless and actually harmful mail network industry.

	More generally, suppose the same need can be met either
by buying a product or subscribing to a service.  If the costs
are at all close, the people who sell the product win out
over those selling the service.  Why this is so I leave to psychologists,
and experts in marketing, but I suppose it has to do with
the fact that selling services requires continual selling to
keep the customers, and this keeps the prices high.

	I hope my pessimism about institutions is unwarranted,
but I remember a quotation from John von Neumann to some effect
like expecting institutions to behave rationally is like
expecting heat to flow from a cold place to a hot place.

	I must confess that I don't understand the relation
between this proposal and the various electronic communication
standards that have been adopted like X25 and X400.  I only note
that the enormous effort put into these standards has not
resulted in direct telephone electronic mail or anything else as
widely usable as telefax.

	I am grateful for comments from many people on a version
distributed by electronic mail to various BBOARDS.
\smallskip\centerline{Copyright \copyright\ 1989 by John McCarthy}
\smallskip\noindent{This draft of NETWOR[e89,JMC] TEXed on \jmcdate\ at \theTime}

\vfill\end

politically shaky, reid@decwrl.dec.com
pc problems

Les quibbles
	thinks DARPA made no mistake:
	there are non-unix uucp 
∂18-Aug-89  1112	usenet@shelby.stanford.edu 	Re: Final version of Networks considered harmful.   
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Date: 18 Aug 89 17:58:55 GMT
From: vera@portia.Stanford.EDU (James Vera)
Organization: Stanford University
Subject: Re: Final version of Networks considered harmful.
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In article <1VNzIk@SAIL.Stanford.EDU> JMC@SAIL.STANFORD.EDU (John McCarthy) writes:
>[...]
>	The solution is to go to a system that resembles fax in that
>the ``net addresses'' are just telephone numbers.  The simple form
>of the command is just
>
>MAIL <use>@$<telephone number>,
>
>after which the user engages in the usual dialog with the mail system.
>[...]


There is such a system available for IBM PCs and compatables.  Its a
shareare program called BackMail (because it runs in the background
while you run other jobs) and came across comp.binaries.ibm.pc.

I haven't used it since I but here is their advertising blurb:

------------------
                      INTRODUCING BACKMAIL
                      *********************

DATELINE: COMDEX LAS VEGAS, NOV. 12, 1988

ALETHIC SOFTWARE INTRODUCES
A NEW KIND OF MICRO-COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS FOR IBM-PC & COMPATIBLES.
NOW AVAILABLE AS SHAREWARE ON THIS SYSTEM.

The Program
***********
BackMail is a communications program. Ho hum? Well, it's a lot
more than just that.

You use BackMail to communicate with other people who have the
program. It allows you to create your own personal electronic
mail network. BackMail is a background (memory resident) program
that sends and receives files, programs, and messages while you
are using your computer to do whatever it is you usually do with
it. In the background, it dials up people on your mail list and
delivers your mail. It also answers your phone and collects mail
from other BackMailers.

BackMail doesn't interfere with the normal use of your phone for
voice messages. Turn down the bell on your telephone and BackMail
while you work; BackMail will ring the speaker on your computer
when you get a voice call. BackMail keeps track of when the
people on your mailing list are available to receive messages. If
the line is busy, or there's no answer, BackMail will try again
the next time that destination is available. All of this, in the
background, automatically. BackMail is fast; you won't notice any
slowdown in your foreground programs. You can forward letters,
reply to messages, do bulk mailings. You can send or receive any
file format. Your personal mailing list can contain over 1000
different phone numbers.

Already have a flock of memory resident programs using up your
RAM? Don't worry. BackMail uses only 35K of RAM (nope, that's not
a misprint)!

BackMail uses ordinary phone lines and standard (300, 1200 or
2400 Baud modems). It will communicate with anyone else who has
the program. Because BackMail always knows it's talking to
another BackMail, it is the simplest, most user friendly
communications and file transfer package you've ever seen. You
don't have to set "stop bits", "parity", "duplex", etc. etc.. How
do the people you want to talk to get a copy of the program?
Well, you can give them one. We encourage you to copy BackMail
and give it away to anyone you like!

BackMail is for business
************************
You can use BackMail to network your office, school or plant.
There's no special hardware, no "hub machines", no cables to lay,
no consultants to consult. For a few dollars per machine you can
be sending memos, records and files over your inter-office lines
the same day you get your copy.

BackMail makes the electronic office a reality, now. Send
electronic mail to people across town or across the continent.
You can tell BackMail to send to long distance destinations at
times that take advantage of long distance rates. You don't need
dedicated data lines, don't have to pay telex charges and don't
have to use the Fax just to send letters or memos. You don't have


to subscribe to cumbersome computer networks or conduct your
business correspondence by express couriers.

Give copies of BackMail to your clients, customers and suppliers.
(Remember you can make and give away as many copies as you like.)
Place orders, make sales, advertise; deliver data, send
reports... and never lick a stamp. Let a network reduce your
paperwork.

BackMail is for everyone
*************************
For years, electronic bulletin boards have been the lifeline of
the personal computer revolution. BackMail is the logical next
step in that revolution. BackMail networking lets every user
manage a personal electronic mail service. Give a copy to the
members of your user group, club or organization. Distribute your
newsletters, share software, conference, play games... do
whatever you want; it's your network.

How Much does it cost?
**********************
We'll be distributing BackMail, free, through all of the normal
routes by which you get shareware and freeware.. We're giving it
away, and we invite you to do the same. Are we crazy? Nope.

You see, BackMail is a form of shareware. If you like the
program, you pay us for it by registering it with us. The
registration fee is $30.00. Is it hard to register? Nope. In fact
BackMail will take care of it for you. Just use BackMail to send
us an electronic letter and make your payment by credit card. If
you give someone a copy of the program, the registration fee is
all they'll ever have to pay.

Does that mean that the program won't work until you register?
No. It will work even if you haven't registered (though it will
remind you now and again of your moral obligations). And there
are real benefits to registering. By registering, you'll become
part of Project BackNet and will be able to receive new products,
demos, and software directly over the phone through BackMail.

Project BackNet
*****************
BackMail is more than a program, it's a whole new concept in
software publishing. When you register your copy of BackMail you
become part of Project BackNet.

We've already told you that BackMail can send and receive
programs. That means that we (and you!) can use BackMail networks
to market, sell and distribute software.

As a member of the BackNet project you can send for and receive
(via BackMail of course!) for our catalog  that describes new
software and services that are available through the project.

If you want to order software, just BackMail us a note. Your
BackMail will send the message to one of our 800 numbers and
we'll deliver the software directly back to your machine. Place
your order; go back to your work; the new software will be
delivered to your disk drive without ever interrupting you.

What sort of software will be available through the project?
Well, in part, that's up to you. If you're a programmer who has
written a nifty little utility, a terrific game or a useful
programmer's tool, let us know about it. If we like it, we'll


tell other BackMailers and, depending on your product, can either
sell it directly for you or BackMail you their orders.

If you're a software retailer or publisher, let us tell the
members of the Project about your product or distribute your
demos over BackMail. Or, just hang a BackMail onto your own 800
number and BackMailers will be able to place their orders with
you 24 hours a day. No operators required!

HOW TO GET IT
***************
BackMail is currently in the public file area of this
system. The package is contained in a file called
        BACKMAIL.ARC
Posted on this system .
When you have downloaded the program:
        1. UNARC its Com files to the directory where you want its
           executable files to live (we suggest creating a
           directory called
                        \BackMail
           but you can use an existing directory if you wish).
        2. UNARC the TXT and DOC files in BACKMAIL.ARC
        3. Read the Read.me file
        4. Run BMCONFIG to configure the program for your system
        5. Run BGROUND.COM to load BackMail
        6. ALT-1 will bring up the BackMail Main Menu.



-------------------- 
James S. Vera      |         Internet	       |Standard Disclaimers
Stanford University| vera@portia.stanford.edu  |Blah Blah Blah Blah
Bellcore           |vera2@rigel.cc.bellcore.com|vvv My Cutesy Quote vvv
"When I was young it seemed that life was so wonderful..." - Supertramp

Where is Theodore N. Vail when we need him?
Call it vailnet.