InfoScape

Infoscape (stylized InfoScape) is the overarching sum of global interconnected digital networks. A "network of networks", it has become the dominant form of information transfer, communication and individual expression in the developed world in private, public and business applications. Access to InfoScape in countries is typically a metric by which greater digitalization trends can be measured. InfoScape offers a diverse variety of utilities, from entertainment, file-sharing and communication to archival and education.

InfoScape's origins can be primarily traced back to two parallel developmental endeavors into packet switching: the COUNTRY1-TECH and COUNTRY2-TECH. While COUNTRY1-TECH was intended as a testbed for a future economic planning/distribution system as well as a system for academic information sharing, COUNTRY2-TECH's goal was to serve as a military communications network acting as an emergency contingency in the event of a nuclear exchange, though its role would eventually expand into the mid-570s. The 580s saw global growth in civilian usage of lesser (often regional and academic) information networks and bulletin board systems (BBS), which would collectively consolidate into InfoScape in the 590s.

InfoScape's Standard Protocols are maintained by a variety of multilateral communication contracts and peering agreements, which are overseen by the InfoScape Architecture Group. Some of the most commonly utilized standard protocols are the Unified Communication Protocol/InfoScape Protocol (UCP/IP), International Datagram Protocol (IDP), the Domain Naming System (DNS), Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP), Serial Port Infoscape Router Integration Transfer System (SPIRITS), Infoscape Control Message Protocol (ICMP), InfoScape Postage Protocol (IPOP), Infoscape Message Access Protocol (IMAPRO), InfoScape Mail Transfer Protocol (IMTP), Unified Text Transfer Protocol (UTTP), Unified Text Transfer Protocol Secure (UTTPS), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Directory Access Protocol (Light) (DAPL), and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). Examples of services utilizing these protocols include e-mail, USERNET newsgroups, the World Wide Web, FTP, TELNET and Secure TELNET. Of these, e-mail and the World Wide Web stand as the most widespread in usage. A diverse variety of services are built upon the infrastructure of e-mail and the World Wide Web, such as mailing lists and web logs (blogs). InfoScape's name is generally attributed to a quote by Ingovenian science fiction author Évrard Thayer, who hypothesized in his 498 book The World to Come that a global network utilizing the telegram system would create an "information landscape" bearing the sum of human knowledge.

In many manners, InfoScape has begun to redefine traditional notions of media, such as mail, television, radio and the press. InfoScape has also given rise to instant and personal communication and correspondence in the form of forums, blogs, e-mail and instant messaging. InfoScape culture has had a profound impact on knowledge, worldviews and mutual understanding, and allowed communities of politically, socially and subculturally like-minded individuals to find each other and communicate, giving rise to communication formats such as InfoScape forums. InfoScape has also redefined personal expression, giving rise to InfoScape slang, InfoScape friendships, Net art, Netiquette, Trolls and Trolling, InfoScape humor, hacktivism and hacker culture.

InfoScape has no centralized governance, with no truly standardized policies, though InfoScape Protocol addresses and DNS are managed by the InfoScape Alphanumerics Corporation (IAC). Standards are maintained by the InfoScape Engineering Committee (IEC), an international nonprofit organization of volunteers formerly funded by the Asterian Federation's government. The InfoScape Architecture Group is a part of the IEC.