It is arguable that the prehistoric cave paintings of Lascaux, France represent the oldest form of "file sharing" - at least, in the sense of communicating messages. Through most of recorded history, the most common file share method was by courier, which could be a hazardous profession. In many ancient cultures the bearer of bad news was often killed on the spot. Even the last widespread courier service, the Pony Express (which only existed a few years) was dangerous; although indigenous peoples were not normally a threat, wild animals and unpredictable weather were always a problem.
Courier services nonetheless were the most common way of sending large files and other communications for hundreds of years. This didn't change appreciably until the advent of electronic communications in the 1860s. This was of course, the telegraph - and even though the telephone came along a little over a decade later, the telegraph was commonly used through the 1940s.
The internet has revolutionized the process of file, but even email, file transfer protocol (FTP) and specialized file sharing sites fall short when it comes to sending large files, such as digital blueprints and three dimensional CAD files.
Granted, email and ftp file methods are perfectly fine for small text and graphic files, but those in the building design industry, such as architects and engineers, may encounter problems. For one thing special ftp file share software is required - and in many cases, these applications are complicated and have a steep learning curve. Another troubling aspect is security; many of these file share methods are vulnerable to hackers, and/or unauthorized parties can intercept files en route.
The ideal solution for sending large files then would be one that is simple, secure, and can be used on any platform. As one might imagine, secure transmission of such documents is vital to the success of an architectural or engineering firm. In the best of all possible worlds, such an ftp file share alternative would have several layers of security, yet be as simple as adding an attachment to an email.
Fortunately, there are file sites on the internet that are providing solutions to these problems. A simple internet site will bring up some of the top online providers of file transfer solutions that are both simple and secure.
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