The future of p2p networks - Not just filesharing

[Galt]

So I'm supposed to do a project on this by Tuesday.

I figured in addition to my research you folks might have some good ideas as to where this technology might apply outside of just trading music and porn.

Any stories you've come accross, applications you can think of, or just ramble on why you think it will grow, or why you think it will fail.

Shiny quarter to the one who gets me an "A"

[Jack]

Peer to Peer in the future will no doubt at some point slowly replace the current version of the telephone. As the technology progresses, some phone companies are going to (some already do) start picking up on the technology and begin to incorporate some of the audio/video features into video phones/palm & pocket pc enabled cell phones.

I also see it playing a key part in the next wave of television/radio devices. With the advent of the Tivo and like devices, it's just a matter of time before your buddy is able to send you last nights episode of whatever tv/radio show you want, and you will be able to sit in your living room and watch it on your 52" HDTV.

[Galt]

With the advent of the Tivo and like devices, it's just a matter of time before your buddy is able to send you last nights episode of whatever tv/radio show you want, and you will be able to sit in your living room and watch it on your 52" HDTV.

See this plays into my pessimistic view of things. Most of the benefits of P2P that I can think of are ones that lose company's money. Not just lower profits on existing business, but completely erode the business as more people start using it. Music, TV, movies, software, etc. All that shit can currently be downloaded for free right now. The fact that there currently exists a regular market for any of it, is party due to the quality and speed (which is quickly improving), but mostly because the large majority of people don't know the option exists or how to use it.

As I'm supposed to approach this from a business prospective as opposed to users who like to pirate stuff, there aren't a lot of applications I can think of where people would be willing to pay anything since P2P pretty much be definition means that you can also get it for free.

The phone thing is a great idea, but once the technology is there, how hard will it be for someone to just create an identical client and have it available for free to use over the existing Internet infrastructure?

[Jack]

From a business standpoint I would talk about how in the future if the technology can be encrypted to the point where it can't be cracked (like it will ever happen) and still be sent over data lines/satellite, then the Advertising possibilities, GPS functions that show you arial photos with great detail, audio feeds, and video feeds will generate a lot of money. As long as the price is reasonable on such a service, people will be willing to pay for it.

One of the things that P2P technology has already allowed is remote desktop/file sharing. You can now be on the go with your pocket pc pda and go "oh shit, I forgot to grab that excel file" and just connect over the internet or dial straight into your pc and grab it.

[AdolescentMasturbator]

I think in the p2p applications that are solely for piracy will be completely decentralized. Because the RIAA and MPAA will have sued every entity with a central server out of existence. Open-source projects like Gnutella were utter crap 2 years ago. Now they are much better. In another 2 years I think it will be one of the best p2p apps out there.

Another important application of p2p is in a research or business environment. People that are working on a project can transfer files to each other with ease on the internal p2p network. You can work with people far away with p2p.

[Kid Afrika]

Yeah, I'm not gonna do your work for you. Sorry.

[Galt]

Anything that a monkey said would be totally discarded anyway.

[ClusterF@#$]

Someday there will be flying cars.



Edited By ClusterF@#$ on Aug. 12 2002 at 1:40

[Arpikarhu]

it wont erode any business if the companies are smart enough to recognize the trend and adapt. however, most companies spend too much energy trying to hold on to thier old ways and fight the new technology. they always lose and some new company that read the signs will step in.