Foundation Topics

The world has changed tremendously over the last 10–20 years as a result of the growth and maturation of the Internet and networking technologies in general. Twenty years ago, no global network existed to which the general populace could easily connect. Ten years ago, the public Internet had grown to the point where people in most parts of the world could connect to the Internet, but with most Internet users being the more computer-savvy people. Today, practically everyone seems to have access, through their PCs, handheld devices, phones, or even the refrigerator.

The eventual migration to IPv6 will likely be driven by the need for more addresses. Practically every mobile phone supports Internet traffic, requiring the use of an IP address. Most new cars have the ability to acquire and use an IP address, along with wireless communications, allowing the car dealer to contact the customer when the car’s diagnostics detect a problem with the car. Some manufacturers have embraced the idea that all their appliances need to be IP-enabled.