The Undersea Network – Audiobook Online
The Undersea Network, written by Nicole Starosielski, explores the vast and complex world of undersea cables that form the backbone of global communication networks. The book delves into the history, infrastructure, and significance of these cables, shedding light on their role in shaping our modern interconnected world.
Undersea cables are the physical infrastructure that carries the majority of international telecommunications traffic. These cables consist of fiber – optic strands encased in protective layers and are laid on the ocean floor, connecting continents and enabling global communication. The book highlights the critical yet often overlooked role that undersea cables play in facilitating our daily digital interactions.
Starosielski begins by tracing the historical development of undersea cables, which dates back to the mid – 19th century. She explores how early telegraph cables were laid across oceans, revolutionizing long-distance communication. The author then moves on to discuss the transition from telegraph to telephone cables and later to fiber – optic technology, which significantly increased data transmission capacity.
One of the central themes of The Undersea Network is the geopolitical significance of undersea cables. Starosielski emphasizes how these cables have been instrumental in shaping global power dynamics. She examines how countries strategically position themselves along cable routes to gain control over communication flows and maintain a competitive advantage in the digital age.
The book also delves into the technical aspects of undersea cable systems. It explains how these systems are designed, deployed, and maintained. Starosielski explores the challenges faced during cable laying operations, such as navigating treacherous ocean depths and avoiding natural hazards like earthquakes and tsunamis. She also discusses the ongoing efforts to repair and upgrade aging cable infrastructure.
Furthermore, The Undersea Network addresses environmental concerns associated with undersea cables. The author examines how cable installations can disrupt marine ecosystems and explores potential mitigation measures to minimize ecological impact. This aspect highlights the need for sustainable practices in cable deployment and maintenance.
In addition to the physical infrastructure, Starosielski explores the cultural and social dimensions of undersea cables. She examines how these cables have shaped our perception of distance and time, enabling real – time global communication. The book also delves into the concept of “cable cultures,” referring to the communities and industries that have emerged around cable landing sites.
Overall, The Undersea Network provides a comprehensive exploration of undersea cables, covering their historical, geopolitical, technical, environmental, and cultural aspects. It offers a unique perspective on the hidden world beneath the ocean surface that powers our interconnected digital society.
The Undersea Network – Audiobook Online By: Nicole Starosielski
In our “wireless” world, it is easy to overestimate the importance of undersea cable systems, but the benefits of successful operation of these systems are enormous, as they are responsible for transporting almost all Internet traffic across the ocean.
In The Undersea Network, Nicole Starosielski follows these cables from the depths of the ocean to their landings on the sandy beaches of the South Pacific, bringing them to the surface of media academia and display of character. important properties of wired networks. In doing so, she documents the cultural, historical, geographical and environmental aspects of the cable network. Starosielski argues that the environment that cables occupy are historical and political realms, where the network and the connections it enables are made possible through deliberate negotiation and manipulation of technology. , culture, politics and geography. Included with the book is an interactive digital map project where listeners can follow cable routes and hear stories about cable hubs on the island.
Quite interesting account of the underwater cable systems. Considering the book author’s non – technical background, I was amazed by how accurate she was in describing the technical aspects of cabling. The political and sociological aspects of cabling are both new to me and very interesting to someone who has spent the past 25 years working on the technical side of underwater cabling. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to know about the virtually unknown communication backbone that made the Internet possible.
I love it because I’m a cable tech junkie. However, there is an uncanny adherence to patterns for historical analysis that often leads to absurdly long sentences about types of infrastructure. One suffers from minor textual limitations (which I’m sure some scholars enjoy) with the mostly fun and dynamic story presented. Mostly, it has the effect of a good Wired article before it is drowned [literally] in seemingly endless poor prose in defense of historical stereotypes.
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