Why do users value computer networks?

• Users can access and create shared, distributed and replicated data; (e.g. the WWW, online shopping, B2B, government information services, ...) from a variety of locations, including mobile and wireless services.

• Streamed entertainment services, movies by subscription, 'catch-up' television, music...

• Users can have their own (limited) computer and access shared and possibly distant physical resources (e.g. a local printer, cloud-based applications and services, cloud-based backup, local NAS music server).

• Networks can provide fault tolerance and load balancing - if some hardware fails or network connectivity is intermittent, then logical shadowing and delay-tolerant networking enables data recovery and continued performance (again, cloud-based services are good examples).

• Permit centralized facilties - user-administration and file-management, windowing systems, remote desktops, distributed file services with versioning, and tasks to minimize administration of these services.

• Permit remote collaboration - instant messaging, group collaboration and communication (e.g. MS-Teams, Zoom), software development with continuous integration.