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The Basis of the Internet
An article named, "As We May Think," was published published by Vannevar Bush, an American engineer. . The article imagined a system called the Memex. It was described as a device that could contain a person’s books, records, and communications. This description presented an idea and laid the foundation of hypertext and linked elements for the internet. -
The Cold War and Launch of Sputnik
Due to the Cold War, the Soviet Union launched the world’s first artificial satellite into orbit called Sputnik. It circled and gave sounds back to the earth. Although it did not have many functions, this satellite became the reason for Americans to take subjects like science and technology more seriously. This also led the government to form organizations such as NASA which developed technologies like weapons, computers and rockets. -
The First Wide-Area Network
Lawrence G. Roberts, working at MIT, and Thomas Maril created the first wide-area network when they successfully connected computers using a telephone line. This revealed the possibility of data communication between systems that were far apart and was the first attempt at large-scale networking -
The Creation of ARPANET
The world’s first packet-switching network, ARPANET, was created by the U.S. Department of Defense and was the first version of the internet. It was created to allow easy communication between different universities and research Centers and its goal was to share information. The ARPANET used “packet switching,” which broke the data down into smaller pieces, making it more efficient to transfer. The first message crashed mid-transmission; however, it was still considered a historical moment. -
The First Email
Ray Tomlinson invented the first email. He was also the one to suggest the “@” symbol in order to separate user and computer names. With this email became the ARPANET’s most used service and a crucial pillar of digital networking by marking communication easier. -
International Growth
ARPANET went global when a connection was made to Norway. This made it the first international link and was an important step towards a creating world- wide communication network. Later, Robert Kahn and Vinton Cerf developed the Transmission Control Protocol/ Internet Protocol which were a set of rules that allowed various networks to communicate with each other. The TCP/IP became the basis of how data was sent on the internet allowing it to grow into what it is today. -
The Creation of the Term 'Internet'
The term “internet” was adopted during the time when Vinton Cerf and Bob Kahn suggested a new protocol. This term was used to refer to the concepts of interconnected networks. -
The Establishment of TCP/IP Protocol
The formation of the TCP/IP was established as a standard way for network communication making it the primary protocol for the internet. -
The Shift to TCP/IP and the Invention of Domain Name System
On January 1, 1983, ARPANET switched to TCP/IP, indicating the birth of modern internet. During this time Paul Mockapetris also created the Domain Name System (DNS), presenting user-friendly domain names such as .com, .org, and .edu. Ultimately, the domain name made finding websites less challenging. -
The World-Wide Web and ARPANET Shutdown
The World Wide Web was created by Tim Berners-Lee, who was a British scientist. He was the one who suggested the idea for a distributed information system. With the writing of the first web page editor and browser, the WWW was officially born. This became the beginning of web browsing and the basis of website and information sharing. Furthermore, ARPANET was shut down and replaced by modern internet because it was no longer needed. -
The Mosaic Browser
The first popular web browser, Mosaic, was developed by Marc Andreessen and Eric Bina. It introduced graphical interface, making the web accessible to everyday users. By using both text and images on the same page, it made web browsing simpler and this became a crucial part of the internet’s growth. -
"Browser Wars" and the World-Wide Web Consortium
The debut of Netscape caused the “browser wars” with Microsoft Internet Explorer, while eBay launched revealing the internet’s commercial potential. Lastly, Tim Berners-Lee founded the World Wide Web Consortium to regulate web protocols. -
The Creation of Social Media
Six Degrees was the first true social media platform, allowing users to create profiles and connect with others online. In the 2000s, influential platforms like Friendster, MySpace, LinkedIn, YouTube, and WordPress were launched followed by platforms such as X, Weibo, Instagram, and Pinterest. All of these social media platforms helped boost factors like connectivity, content sharing, and communication, ultimately, shaping how users viewed and used the internet. -
The Birth Google
Google was formed by Larry Page and Sergey Brin. This was a major change for how people accessed information on the internet. Google quickly became the most efficient way to search for information online. -
The Introduction of Google Chrome
The launch of Google Chrome offered faster browsing speeds and improved performance. It’s efficiency and new features set higher standards for future bowser developments. -
Edward Snowden's Findings
The topic of online privacy first came up when leaks by Edward Snowden, a former NSA contractor, exposed the extent of global digital surveillance. -
The Launch of Artificial Intellegence
Artificial intelligence or AI was incorporated in technologies such as chatbots and smart assistants like Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant. This made it even easier and efficient to access information from the internet. -
The General Data Protection Regulation
Due to the increasing privacy concerns, the European Union enforced the GDPR. This protected personal data and gave people the control over their own data. This impacted the internet by bringing its cons into focus. -
The Covid-19 Pandemic
During the pandemic, the internet became crucial for things like remote work, online learning and other virtual events. This period of time increased the usage of online services like Zoom because people used them for their everyday lives. COVID-19 significantly impacted the internet, increasing everyday internet usage. These changes lasted after the pandemic, changing the social norm. -
Growing Influence of AI
AI continues to play a huge role in shaping the way the internet is used by making personalized recommendations and digital assistants more advanced. It impacts the users' everyday lives by providing a more custom experience on the internet. It is also affecting the internet by helping make communication and the decision-making process more faster.