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Packet Switching
Packet switching is one of the most important antecedents of the internet. Simply put, it is a method for transferring data over a network. It was developed in the late 50's and early 60's by many different programmers, and was a key to the success of the first network, ARPANET. -
ARPANET- The first prototype
With the Cold War in full effect and tensions brewing with The Soviet Union, many military officials were worried about the United States' defense network. It relied largely on telephone lines and wires, and thus, could easily be compromised in an emergency situation. The proposed solution was ARPANET- a communicative network that connected many computers together. The first prototype became operative in 1969, and was the earliest ancestor of today's internet. -
The Invention of Email
In 1971, American computer programmer Ray Tomlinson implemented the first version of email into ARPANET servers. It caught on quite quickly- by 1975, approximately 75% of user activity on the network was attributed to users emailing each other. -
Ethernet cables go mainstream
Up until this point, the connections that existed in different networks were slow. However, in 1973, engineer Robert Metcalfe created a new system called "ethernet." This new method utilized cables to drastically increase the amount of data that could be transferred through a network. -
Microsoft is founded
In 1975, partners Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft as a software company. Shortly after, the pair transitioned into computer manufacturing, and the company and has since become one of the most important names in American and global tech. -
CSNET is created
A new network called CSNET, which was primarily used to connect many universities and learning institutions together, is debuted in 1981. -
First Emoticon
In 1982, American computer scientist Scott Fahlman was credited with creating the first emoji- a smiley face. Fahlman's legacy is massively important to the internet and technology as a whole, as emojis are now an integral part of online communication. -
Telenet
Using the newly invented method of Dial-up internet (an inexpensive network connected via phone lines), the first commercial internet network, Telenet, is created. -
The Official Birthday of The Internet
ARPANET was a powerful model, and an important stepping stone for the internet's eventual wide stream success. However, it had it's limitations. The only computers that could be included in the ARPANET network were ones that belonged to certain academic or research institutions. This all changed when a new communications protocol called internetwork protocol was initiated in 1983, which allowed all kinds of computers to communicate on one network. Thus, the internet was born. -
Domain Naming System (DNS)
Referred to as a "phone book for the internet," DNS is an important tool in naming computers that are connected to a network. It's invention immediately made it easier to keep track of how many users were on the internet. -
URL
URL, or web address, helps provide information regarding how to find a certain page on the internet. If you click on your computer's address bar while on a certain web page, the fully expanded address that displays is a URL. This tool made a multitude of web pages easier to find. -
The World Wide Web is activated
Arguably one of the most important inventions of all time, the World Wide Web was created by British computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee. It allowed universal access to documents on one specific website. -
Archie- The first search engine
Up to this point, to find a certain web page or download a particular software, someone would have to individually comb through different servers and pages one at a time. This made certain networks difficult to use and sluggish. However, a solution to this problem was found when developer Alan Emtage developed Archie, the first prototype of an internet search engine- and in doing so, laid the groundwork for it's monumentally successful successors like Google, Bing, and Safari. -
HTML
HTML is a programming tool that instructs web browsers how to compose text and images on to certain web pages. The invention of HTML improved the quality of many pages on different networks. It was a important act of audience adaptation- users wanted more interactivity and flash in their webpages, and HTML encoding made it possible. -
Yahoo! is created
One of the earliest web service providers, Yahoo! is an integral part of the internet to this day. It was invented by Jerry Yang and David Filo- both students who were studying at Stanford when the company was conceptualized. -
First Recorded E-Commerce Transaction
in 1994, the first item was sold over the internet. It was Sting's "Ten Summoner Tales" album, and it went for $12.48. This was an important development in internet history, as E-Commerce is now an incredibly important industry. -
Amazon Launches
Now a prolific part of the global e-commerce movement, Amazon launched in 1995 as an online store that specifically sold books -
Internet Explorer
One of the most noteworthy and well-known web browsers, internet explorer was first released in 1995 as a part of a new line of windows operating systems. -
Communications Decency Act
The Communications Decency Act, the first widespread attempt at regulating the content on the internet implemented by the US government, was passed in 1996. It focused on preventing underage users from being exposed to indecent material such as pornography and nudity. -
Digital Millennium Copyright Act
As the internet began providing more opportunities for copyright violations- namely, illegally downloaded music, the DMCA was passed in an attempt to hinder such activity. Under the act, any technology or device that assisted in the wrongful access of copyrighted material became illegal -
150 Million Users
At this point, there are 150 million people worldwide who use the internet. -
Y2K Scare
As the year 2000 approached, many computer programmers were worried that computers and the networks they were on would crash at the turn of the millennium. The reason for this is that they had used two digits instead of four to indicate the year while programming certain software- for instance, instead of coding "1989" they simply wrote "89." While this fear spread quickly and concerned many, the result was much calmer than most anticipated. In the end, only a few software failures occurred. -
Social Media (Facebook)
Facebook was officially started in 2004, but it was the only the tip of the iceberg. Since it's birth, many other important social media ventures such as instagram and Snapchat have come out as well. These networks have defined and shaped global culture, and they all have one thing in common: they wouldn't exist without the internet. -
Mobile devices go online
The internet could now be accessed by anyone who had a smartphone or other mobile device. This has proved to be one of the most important technological developments of our time; so many smartphone users frequently use apps that require internet, and smartphone users who might not have access to a computer still can surf the internet through a browser on their phone. -
Net Neutrality (With Video Link)
In 2015, under the Obama administration, the US government passed a sweeping order that established net neutrality. This act ensured that all internet service providers would provide equal access for all users. Here's a quick video explaining exactly what net neutrality is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UgeCL41loY -
Net Neutrality revoked
Just 2 years after Net Neutrality guidelines were established, they were revoked by new FCC chairman Ajit Pai, who arrived in office in 2017. Internet service providers were now free to speed up or slow down content as much as they wished. -
4.119 Billion users
As of 2018, there were 4.119 Billion users on the internet. -
Most streamed event in history
More than 458,000 viewers all simultaneously streamed Beyonce's 2018 performance at Cochella, effectively making it the most streamed event in internet history. This affirms how effective the internet can be at connecting us. People all around the globe, some of whom were thousands of miles away, were all able to watch and experience a singular event.
