Lesson plan

Tymnet

Tymnet was an international data communications network developed and operated by Tymshare. It was situated at and maintained by the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, California. The Tymnet network used packet-switching techniques including statistical multiplexing, and connected host computers at companies, educational institutions, and government agencies through the use of synchronous leased lines and programmable terminal interfaces. The business consisted of a large public network that supported dial-up users and a private network that allowed government agencies and large companies (mostly banks and airlines) to build their own dedicated networks. The private networks were often connected via gateways to the public network to reach locations not on the private network. Tymnet was also connected to dozens of international public gateways via Tymnet II protocol and other public networks in the United States and internationally via X.25/X.75 gateways. As the Internet grew and became almost universally accessible in the late 1990s, the need for services such as Tymnet migrated to the Internet style connections, but still had some value in the Third World and for specific legacy roles. However the value of these links continued to decrease, and Tymnet shut down in 2004.

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Article summary

Tymnet was an international data communications network developed and operated by Tymshare. It was situated at and maintained by the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, California. The Tymnet network used packet-switching techniques including statistical multiplexing, and connected host computers at companies, educational institutions, and government agencies through the use of synchronous leased lines and programmable terminal interfaces. The business consisted of a large public network that supported dial-up users and a private network that allowed government agencies and large companies (mostly banks and airlines) to build their own dedicated networks. The private networks were often connected via gateways to the public network to reach locations not on the private network. Tymnet was also connected to dozens of international public gateways via Tymnet II protocol and other public networks in the United States and internationally via X.25/X.75 gateways. As the Internet grew and became almost universally accessible in the late 1990s, the need for services such as Tymnet migrated to the Internet style connections, but still had some value in the Third World and for specific legacy roles. However the value of these links continued to decrease, and Tymnet shut down in 2004.

Key claims

  1. date of formation: 2000 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
  2. date of foundation: 1964 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
  3. release date: 1032 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

  1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
  2. The record states that the date of formation is "2000". What evidence would count against this claim?
  3. The record states that the date of foundation is "1964". What evidence would count against this claim?
  4. The record states that the release date is "1032". What evidence would count against this claim?
  5. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
  6. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

  1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373089786

Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.