The development of the Linux kernel probably could never have progressed far without the widespread availability of internet access. The majority of kernel developers are all ``well-connected'' to the internet, frequenting discussion groups and keeping in touch through email. Many still have not met each other in person to this day. However, the internet has not only allowed people to transfer technology to and from remote places in the world, such as Finland, but also to collaborate on it.
For example, an elevator company in Japan was interested in using Linux to make an intelligent embedded controller. Unfortunately, the way in which Linux shares processor time between running programs may cause the program controlling the elevator to be stopped for several milliseconds to give time to another program. This would be unacceptable, so the company improved the realtime support of the kernel and contributed their work back to the development effort. Technology transfer evidently moves both ways in this case.