ThriftNet: a simple networking strategy

General acceptance of any new technology seems to be a function of its cost. For example, computer applications such as word processing, teaching and research are made feasible by low-cost computing resources not available ten years ago. In spite of the decreased cost of modern small computer systems, there is still a deficiency in achieving software exchange between systems. In the past, inexpensive file-oriented mass storage device media have allowed limited software interchange between systems having identical peripherals employing identical formats. This media interchange has gone through discrete periods based on mass storage technology. For example, in the early to middle 1960's, the primary mechanism for software exchange was via paper tape. From the middle to late 1968's, paper tape was replaced by LINCtape and wECtape. With the advent of microcomputers in the middle 1970's cassette tape became a popular method of exchanging software. A current popular mechanism for software exchange is eight or five inch flexible diskettes. In all of these cases, true compatibility is possible only when the medium has been formatted, read or written by the same operating system.