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Originally known as ARPA, Advanced Research Projects Agency, the agency helped create the internet: In 1973, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

Originally known as ARPA, Advanced Research Projects Agency, the agency helped create the internet: In 1973, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) initiated a research program to investigate techniques and technologies for interlinking packet networks of various kinds. The objective was to develop communication protocols which would allow networked computers to communicate transparently across multiple, linked packet networks. This was called the Internetting project and the system of networks which emerged from the research was known as the “Internet.” The system of protocols which was developed over the course of this research effort became known as the TCP/IP Protocol Suite, after the two initial protocols developed: Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP). Source: www.internetsociety.org The motivations for this new initiative could be numerous, including a step back toward the ARPA days, a way to outdo the Chinese in defense applications, and/or a way to make a political claim for the next election. I'd be curious to hear what more informed people think the motivation might be. Regardless, it seems to be a positive step towards electronics innovation.

adventured 8y ago
One would expect the competition between the US and China to get ferocious over the next 20 years. The US hasn't had a serious direct competitor across the board (military + economic + political) in 70 years. My personal opinion as an American, is that the US has gotten lackadaisical about its formerly overwhelming superpower position, its focus, and the need to compete at a high level. That isn't surprising of course, one would almost expect that to always occur, and China has come on extremely fast. Hopefully China's rapid rise forces a reawakening of an older can-do spirit, across all spheres of US life (perhaps most especially in regards to the invaluable contributions a better functioning government can bring, as in the past). If not, then China will de facto rule Asia and half of Europe.
- veryconfident 8y ago
  As an American, I can assure you this is certainly not the case. We always go that extra mile for that special something that makes us shine. Don’t worry. You’re in good hands.
- forapurpose 8y ago
  That assumes the competition is inevitable. Hopefully, China can become a democracy, set free its people, and then the competition will be no more ferocious than the U.S.'s with Europe, Japan, India, Brazil, or any other democracy. The 'competition' is a massive waste of money and possibly of blood that benefits very few people at the expense of billions of others. Compare the competition to the relationships among democracies; what is gained by it?
  - User23 8y ago
    China is 6000 years old and it had never been anything even remotely resembling a democracy. It’s going to remain a bureaucratic autocracy just as it always has been. And that’s fine, it’s worked very well for the Han.
    - bdamm 8y ago
      I can't help but wonder if it's worked out very well for the non-Han.
      - toomanybeersies 8y ago
        It definitely hasn't worked well for the Uyghurs and the Tibetans.
    - my_first_acct 8y ago
      Just a reminder that Taiwan, a country deeply steeped in traditional Chinese culture, is a functioning multi-party democracy. Perhaps Mainland China is too big, or too poor, to become a stable democracy at this time, but Chinese culture should not by itself be a reason for China to remain a "bureaucratic autocracy".
      - YorkshireSeason 8y ago
        And that's why the PRC (= Mainland) is trying everything it can to take over Taiwan, and subvert / destroy this democracy. After all the Chinese Communist Party's convenient narrative that justifies it's 'eternal' rule is just this, that the Chinese people neither want, nor need multi-party democracy. (See also: Iran vs Saudi-Arabia. The former -- despite all the imperfections of its current mode of government -- is a living proof that Muslims don't need the iron fist of a hereditory ruling family.)
- chairmanwow 8y ago
  A great book on the subject of the decline of Western superiority is “Has the West Lost it?” by Mahbubani [1]. He gives a fantastic overview of the stalling of the West following the confirmation of the allegeded superiority of the West’s “rational governance” following the breakup of the USSR. He discusses the concurrent rise of Asia’s economic prowess and that the west must internalize that they have “lost it” before they can beat strategize for the coming decades. My favorite portion of the book states that the most important event that happened in 2001 was not the terrorist attacks on 9/11, but China joining the WTO. [1] https://www.amazon.com/Has-West-Lost-Kishore-Mahbubani-ebook/dp/B076B9CPZB https://www.amazon.com/Has-West-Lost-Kishore-Mahbubani-ebook...
forapurpose 8y ago
> The motivations for this new initiative could be numerous, including a step back toward the ARPA days, a way to outdo the Chinese in defense applications, and/or a way to make a political claim for the next election. DARPA has been carrying out bleeding-edge R&D continuously for decades; as I understand it, that's their mission. How are these programs a step back? What is special about these programs, as opposed to other DARPA programs, that you think the motivations above would apply?

adventured 8y ago

One would expect the competition between the US and China to get ferocious over the next 20 years. The US hasn't had a serious direct competitor across the board (military + economic + political) in 70 years. My personal opinion as an American, is that the US has gotten lackadaisical about its formerly overwhelming superpower position, its focus, and the need to compete at a high level. That isn't surprising of course, one would almost expect that to always occur, and China has come on extremely fast. Hopefully China's rapid rise forces a reawakening of an older can-do spirit, across all spheres of US life (perhaps most especially in regards to the invaluable contributions a better functioning government can bring, as in the past). If not, then China will de facto rule Asia and half of Europe.

veryconfident 8y ago
As an American, I can assure you this is certainly not the case. We always go that extra mile for that special something that makes us shine. Don’t worry. You’re in good hands.
forapurpose 8y ago
That assumes the competition is inevitable. Hopefully, China can become a democracy, set free its people, and then the competition will be no more ferocious than the U.S.'s with Europe, Japan, India, Brazil, or any other democracy. The 'competition' is a massive waste of money and possibly of blood that benefits very few people at the expense of billions of others. Compare the competition to the relationships among democracies; what is gained by it?
- User23 8y ago
  China is 6000 years old and it had never been anything even remotely resembling a democracy. It’s going to remain a bureaucratic autocracy just as it always has been. And that’s fine, it’s worked very well for the Han.
  - bdamm 8y ago
    I can't help but wonder if it's worked out very well for the non-Han.
    - toomanybeersies 8y ago
      It definitely hasn't worked well for the Uyghurs and the Tibetans.
  - my_first_acct 8y ago
    Just a reminder that Taiwan, a country deeply steeped in traditional Chinese culture, is a functioning multi-party democracy. Perhaps Mainland China is too big, or too poor, to become a stable democracy at this time, but Chinese culture should not by itself be a reason for China to remain a "bureaucratic autocracy".
    - YorkshireSeason 8y ago
      And that's why the PRC (= Mainland) is trying everything it can to take over Taiwan, and subvert / destroy this democracy. After all the Chinese Communist Party's convenient narrative that justifies it's 'eternal' rule is just this, that the Chinese people neither want, nor need multi-party democracy. (See also: Iran vs Saudi-Arabia. The former -- despite all the imperfections of its current mode of government -- is a living proof that Muslims don't need the iron fist of a hereditory ruling family.)
chairmanwow 8y ago
A great book on the subject of the decline of Western superiority is “Has the West Lost it?” by Mahbubani [1]. He gives a fantastic overview of the stalling of the West following the confirmation of the allegeded superiority of the West’s “rational governance” following the breakup of the USSR. He discusses the concurrent rise of Asia’s economic prowess and that the west must internalize that they have “lost it” before they can beat strategize for the coming decades. My favorite portion of the book states that the most important event that happened in 2001 was not the terrorist attacks on 9/11, but China joining the WTO. [1] https://www.amazon.com/Has-West-Lost-Kishore-Mahbubani-ebook/dp/B076B9CPZB https://www.amazon.com/Has-West-Lost-Kishore-Mahbubani-ebook...

forapurpose 8y ago

> The motivations for this new initiative could be numerous, including a step back toward the ARPA days, a way to outdo the Chinese in defense applications, and/or a way to make a political claim for the next election. DARPA has been carrying out bleeding-edge R&D continuously for decades; as I understand it, that's their mission. How are these programs a step back? What is special about these programs, as opposed to other DARPA programs, that you think the motivations above would apply?