Imagine an internet connection so fast it will let you download a whole movie in just five seconds, or access TV-quality video servers in real time. That is the promise from a team at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, who have developed a system called Fast TCP as reported in New Scientist this week. A key feature of Fast TCP is that it could run on the same internet infrastructure we have today. Steven Low, who led the Caltech team, likens the way the internet works now to driving a car while looking only 10 metres ahead. You slowly increase the car's speed until an obstacle comes into view, but then you have to hit the brakes. "This is OK for driving slowly in a parking lot," says Low. But on the open road you need to be able to look further ahead: "That's what we are doing with Fast TCP." Full article here.