Mod 1 Telnet

TASK A
First I'd like to say what the hell is Telnet?
I started the task and goggled NCSA telnet and downloaded version 2.6 from Huston Uni. It didn't work! I then tried a search on the MacUpdate site and downloaded a version of MacTelnet 4.09b0213 and then installed it. I suppose the version on Mission Control (Huston Uni) was an archaic version that they used to fly to the moon. Anyway, still no idea what this was about, so I looked up the discussion group and found a post by Ernest Hojilla and then looked up his blog for some helpful instructions. The light insight my head was starting to glow, but only a 40 watt bulb at the moment.

Once MacTelnet was started I then entered the suggested text from the mod 1 and pressed return. Nothing happened! Oops, I had the wrong protocol eg. SSH version 1. Once all the information was entered correctly it actually worked. "Fantastic" as Dr Who said.
Can you guess which Doctor that was?

See below the screen shots.










the email address has been removed to avoid spam.

So the whole point of this is to find books in a library? What is Telnet used for now apart from some long lost use of remotely accessing other computers through the web?

TASK B
towel.blinkenlights.nl through Telnet is a very cool version of Star Wars for stick insects.
I don't know why they made a movie when they had the Telnet version! (This comment was suppose to be sarcastic!) The dot matrix reminded me of high school computer classes, the printer would always wake me up in the middle of class.




Telnet—Remote computer access
The Telnet system was probably an efficient method for remotely accessing and moving ASCII data back in the dark ages of the 1980s but is weak on security.
Advances in computer technology are usually initiated for the same reasons that have influenced development throughout the ages. The need for creative expression , entertainment, monetary gain or religion has been the basis for most development throughout history. When I think "history", I usually end up in a reverie about ancient Roman or the BBC's Time Team not computers, but as in ancient Roman, security of their people was considered a right. The use of computers in our everyday life is so profound that no one should underestimate the impact.

The original use for Telnet was, "When Telnet was initially developed in 1969, most users of networked computers were in the computer departments of academic institutions, or at large private and government research facilities." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telnet date 11 March 2009 at 11:12am.

Whether Telnet was originally used to view animated versions of Star Wars as seen in towel.blinkenlights.nl is only known to a few, but I suspect it was a creation of a bored academic student wishing to avoid tutorials. However, it is an example of how people expressed their creativity—extending the use of their tools beyond their initially conceived purpose has generated exciting new opportunities for the internet. Developers may have had an initial intention for their products but the users will unintentionally spawn new ideas as they explore its use. The technology evolution has become in part a self-perpetuating entity.

Remote access has now become an integral part of the internet which has allowed other industries to flourish—this simple act of blogging could not be accomplished without its use. One exciting emerging technology which exploits remote access is called Cloud Computing and Cloud Services.

"Cloud Services—Consumer and Business products, services and solutions that are delivered and consumed in real-time over the Internet.
Cloud Computing—an emerging IT development, deployment and delivery model, enabling real-time delivery of products, services and solutions over the Internet" http://blogs.idc.com/ie/?p=190, 11 March 2:20pm

Will this change the future of the personal computing and how we interact with technology? Where will it stop,—as humans increase their thrust for knowledge and build ever increasing smart systems, artificial intelligence may find a need for cyber-religion as an emergence of new niche market.

Where do all the calculators go? (silicon heaven?)
Kryton, Red Dwarf. series III episode 6 http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/news/index.cfm