P2P

What is file sharing? The distribution of digital media. File sharing involves the transmission of any kind of electronic information (documents, images, music, videos, books, etc) from one system to another. This system does not necessarily have to be a computer and could be anything from an ipad to a phone.

What is P2P File sharing? Also known as Peer to Peer sharing, P2P is a type of file sharing definable by distributor and the recipient. P2P is classified by one person (peer) downloading the file directly to their computer from another person's computer.

What are some examples of P2P file sharing? P2P has become one of the most prominent means of digital information dissemination in the last few years and there are hundreds of examples of it. P2P began with platform systems like Napster which allowed users to search and download files from each other's systems. Although Napster has since been shut down do the many legal issues surrounding P2P file sharing, many softwares have swept in to replace it. For example, BitTorrent, which is "one of the most successful peer-to-peer programs ever. BitTorrent lets users quickly upload and download enormous amounts of data" (Thompson).


Citations
The BitTorrent Effect by Clive Thompson, Wired, January 2005. http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.01/bittorrent.html