Network technology

There are all kinds of networks, many of which are unseen. These networks have been an integral part of civilization because they organize a particular aspect of society so that the whole can function.

Older networks, such as irrigation, plumbing and sewage systems go back to our earliest cities. In many cases a civilization thrived only because it had a properly functioning irrigation and sewage system which provided food and hygiene.

Today, we think of networks mostly as computer related, such as the internet. But data networks, a system of communication, are just as old as irrigation systems. For a ruler it was extremely important that he was aware of all the parts of his land and, in order to keep information flowing, a system of posts was usually set up.

Often in combination with military posts - a military network - it consisted of towns, villages and forts from the capital city to all the outlying regions. Fresh horses, carriages or chariots were always on hand to allow a messenger unlimited speed in delivering his message.

Before, as now, fast and accurate communication was essential.

City networks

Any modern city will have all of the following networks to make sure the city is healthy and functioning properly:

- a water network, to provide homes and businesses with fresh palatable water;

- a sewage and waste network, where waste water and sewage is collected to be processed (or dumped);

- various transport networks (car, bus, train, tram, subway, etc.), to keep people and goods flowing as smoothly as possible in, through and out of the city;

- communication networks such as telephone, internet and radio;

- energy networks for electricity and gas;

It will also have social control or social assistance and emergency networks such as police, fire and hospitals;

These city networks are repeated on a national scale with the addition of armed forces networks such as marine, land and air forces, many using satellite networks to communicate effectively.

And again, on a global scale these networks are repeated with air, train and shipping networks. Connecting a connected world takes a lot of connections... networks.

Organic networks

The idea of networking isn't new. Nature has beaten us to it by millions of years. Organisms of all kinds, including our own body are fully networked for functionality.

The nervous system, our neural network, the lymphatic system and the network of blood vessels are the organic highways within us to provide with communication, energy and food. Without them, we would not exist.

And not only organisms have essential network, planets do too. Earth has a network of volcanoes, for example, that ensure the pressure of the Earth's core can vent itself when stresses become too great.