[ih] Internet sounds

[Bob Purvy]

You know, CHM guys, we *could* actually rig up a "studio", borrow some good
mics, and record some of this stuff. I doubt it would bring in a whole LOT
of money, but maybe a few dollars.

When I was a wee lad, my big brother actually listened to records of drag
racing sounds. You never know what people will like...

On Tue, Apr 26, 2022 at 5:49 PM Jack Haverty via Internet-history <
internet-history at elists.isoc.org> wrote:

> My most memorable "computer sound" of the 70s was the ear-shattering
> squeal of one of dozens of fans in various pieces of computer
> equipment.  That occurred when the bearings were getting worn. Running
> 24x7 a fan would last only a few years at best.  You would "test" a fan
> by just tapping on it with your finger, which of course placed your ears
> in prime striking distance of the squeal.   Time to get the toolbox out
> and replace fans.   I replaced a lot of fans....
>
> "Internet sounds" are a bit more difficult.  Networks were notoriously
> difficult for doing a dog-and-pony show, since there was little visible
> or audible activity involved.  Not even a spinning magtape.  Networks
> are definitely introverts.
>
> But I do remember one salient sound that I associate with The
> Internet.   In particular, I heard it at many of the meetings of various
> working groups and committees involved in the early Internet design and
> deployment.   This was all before social media, audio or video
> teleconferencing, or even the ability to send pictures or audio over the
> Net.   We had to actually convene in a room somewhere to thrash out
> technical details.  Time frame was roughly 1980 +- a few years.
>
> The sound I recall was an indication that the "Rat Hole Protocol" had
> been started (RHP?).
>
> What's RHP?
>
> Well, I don't remember who started it or when, but there was an
> undocumented rule at the meetings where anyone, from the lowliest coder
> to the person-in-charge, could, at any time, during any presentation, by
> any speaker, shout "Rat Hole!!!" loudly enough to be heard by everyone
> in the room.   This would cause an immediate cessation of the current
> discussion, while everyone considered whether or not we had gotten way
> off topic.  Usually a rough consensus formed quickly, and the group
> climbed out of the Rat Hole, and resumed serious debate about whatever
> the topic of the meeting was supposed to be.   Even Vint Cerf could be a
> "Rat Hole!" target, and IIRC he quickly agreed.
>
> It strikes me now that the "Rat Hole!" process was analogous to the
> "Call the Question" part of Robert's Rules.  It was used to halt endless
> unproductive discussions and get back on track to building the Internet.
>
> I wonder now how important the RHP was to the success of the Internet?
> Without it, would we still be arguing instead of writing code...?  Hmmm,
> is RHP still in use?
>
> Anyway, "Rat Hole!!" is my most memorable "Internet Sound".   Sorry, no
> audio tape that I know about.
>
> Jack Haverty
>
>
> On 4/26/22 16:34, Brian E Carpenter via Internet-history wrote:
> > On 27-Apr-22 09:48, Lyndon Nerenberg (VE7TFX/VE6BBM) via
> > Internet-history wrote:
> >>> For instance, I remember the clatter of teletypes, Telebit and Hayes
> >>> modem tones, VT52 buzzes, the RF interference caused screeches from
> >>> the AM radio perched near IMP #1, the PC/IP telnet "chirp", the
> >>> sound of a DECwriter, etc.
> >>
> >> These are all generic computer sounds.  Nothing to do with the Internet
> >> per se. (Well, okay, the IMP :-))
> >>
> >> For me, the first "sound" that I would definitively associate with
> >> the Internet specifically is Carl Malamud's _Internet Talk Radio_
> >> program from 1993.
> >
> > "On June 24, 1993, the band Severe Tire Damage was the first to
> > perform live on the Mbone."
> > (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mbone#History)
> >
> > But there was audio and video using early versions of VIC/VAT before
> > 1993. I was in a transatlantic teleconf at UCL in 1991, and I seem to
> > remember remote audio in the very early days of RIPE (1989?).
> >
> > Archives from those days may be hard to find, however. Mark Handley
> > might have some pointers for the UCL work.
> >
> > Regards
> >    Brian
>
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