Feb 18: Convergence [PDF] (V.3, replaced 2/22, 10pm)
Read "The Convergence of Computing and Communications: What are the Implications Today?" Sections 1-3 [HTML] [PDF]
Note: In that paper I used the terms:
Paper <-> Lecture
User-to-user <-> Direct
User-to-information server <-> Publication
Revised section on industry structure is still applicable [PDF, password: "eecsbasims"] (posted 1/31, updated 2/1)
Think of one or two companies in each of the following categories:
1. A software company that has been significantly impacted by convergence of computing and telecommunications
2. A new software company that owes its business to convergence
3. An equipment vendor that has been significantly impacted by convergence
4. A new equipment vendor that owes its business to convergence
5. A telecommunications service provider that has been significantly impacted by convergence
Go to that company's homepage and learn about the company and its business.
Please submit homework electronically as the body of an email message or as an email attachment (Word file). The body is perferred unless you want to include figures or formating that requires Word. Please send with "homework" in the subject field to messer@eecs.berkeley.edu.
We will simply log the fact that you did the homework and not grade it in detail. Solutions will be posted about a week after the deadline, possibly drawing on some of the best answers you have submitted (with attribution). Schedule:
Questions:
For each company you identified above: