Dr. David Clark received his PhD from MIT and is currently a Senior Research Scientist in MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL). He joined the Internet project in the mid-1970s, and implemented the Internet protocols for the Multics system, the Xerox PARC ALTO, and the IBM PC. From 1981-1989 he acted as chief protocol architect for the Internet, and chaired the Internet Activities Board.
Industry Impact
It is important that companies prepare for an emerging rich platform that provides capabilities for redefining their IT requirements. They should see the Internet as a complicated ecosystem that opens the door to innovation and a user-friendly platform for communities.
Dr. Clark is currently involved in MIT Internet Policy Research Initiative (IPRI), Cybersecurity@CSAIL, and heads the interdisciplinary Advanced Network Architecture (ANA) Group that focuses on identifying key research that will lead to a healthy future for the Internet.
His work impacts:
Internet Security
Internet-based threats (Malicious Software, Malicious Scripts, Trojan Viruses, and Adware Programs) can be singular or a series of complex coding instruments. Security is aligned with many issues and in some cases solving one makes another one harder. The first step in securing the Internet is understanding how problems interact with each other in comparison to solving one problem at a time. This holistic approach enables one to break security down into parts to foresee the underlying connotation.
Regulating Policies
The Internet is evolving much faster than the tools for regulating it. This concept is called, “co-evolution dilemma” where digital interactions enable weaker actors to influence or threaten stronger actors. In efforts to address control within the Internet age, Clark and his research partner Nazli Choucri developed the “control point analysis” method. This method seeks to create the preliminary work for a new international relations theory that describes how international and digital realms are intertwining and evolving together.
Architect Enhancement
What does the future of the Internet look like? Examining smarter routers that 1) memorize the packets that have been processed and 2) require the sender to obtain permission before sending large amounts of data could have significant impact.