When you have completed the quiz return it to both of my email addresses. Define it and explain, in simple terms, why it is important to the Internet. Len Kleinrock's PhD dissertation at MIT uncovered the principles of packet switching. Packet switching is a method of digitizing and transmitting information. Bits of data arrive at different times, but the sender knows how to direct them, the destination is able to confirm delivery, and your computer knows how to put the pieces together.
Packet switching is important to the internet because it explains how data flows in networks.
ARPA was created in response to the Sputnik launch. Sputnik created a worldwide sensation and spurred President Eisenhower to action. Bob Taylor originated the ARPAnet idea to provide interactive access between ARPA-funded computer resources around the country in order to save ARPA from draining all of it's cash resources on buying more and more computers as demand for computing time increased. At this time, it's hard to separate the two, the space program is so dependent on the Internet and advances made because of its development. However, looking at the two separately, I believe that the Space Program is much more critical to the ultimate future of humanity than the Internet.