| Towards a Theory of Networked Computation 1 (2008) | |||||||||||||
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| The increasing prominence of the Internet, the Web, and large data networks in general has profoundly affected social and commercial activity. It has also wrought one of the most profound shifts in Computer Science since the field’s inception. Traditionally, Computer-Science research focused primarily on understanding how best to design, build, analyze, and program computers. Research focus has now shifted to the question of how best to design, build, analyze, and operate networks. How can one ensure that a network created and used by many autonomous organizations and individuals functions properly, respects the rights of users, and exploits its vast shared resources fully and fairly? The Theory of Computation (ToC) community can help address the full spectrum of research questions implicit in this grand challenge by developing a Theory of Networked Computation (ToNC). In our roles as members of the SIGACT Committee on Funding for Theoretical Computer Science [Karp], we have been working with colleagues to chart a research agenda in ToNC and to help secure funding for this research. Two ToNC workshops 2 were held during the Spring of 2006. Our purpose here is to summarize very | |||||||||||||
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