The original idea was to increase computing capacity that could be shared by users in many locations and to find out what it would take for computer networks to survive a nuclear war or other disaster by providing multiple path between users.

• 最初的想法是要增加计算机能力并可由许多地点的用户共享，并且通过提供用户间多条路径来找到哪一种计算机网络能够在核战或其他灾难中幸存。