The internet simply can't handle video, according to Larry Roberts. The 69-year-old computer scientist isn't talking about the effectiveness of video over social networks, or email versus widgets, he's talking about a data overload that could kill the internet.

"The internet wasn't designed for people to watch TV," Roberts told The Wall Street Journal. "I know because I designed it."

In 1969 Roberts worked for the Pentagon's Advanced Research Projects Agency overseeing a program called ARPAnet, the forerunner to today's internet. According to Roberts, today's internet infrastructure is years behind where it needs to be to support demands placed on it by exploding video use and internet telephony.

"We can no longer rely on last-generation technology, which has essentially remained unchanged for 40 years, to power internet performance," Roberts said.  

While many agree with Roberts, companies such as Cisco have gone on record as saying internet service providers will be able to handle the increased volume.

In the meantime, Roberts' Anagran startup is working on technology that sorts email, video and audio, allocating the appropriate bandwidth for each transmission.