How Did We Get Here? – Everything You Need To Know About the Internet

Have you ever wondered where your phone, tablet or computer came from? Have you ever thought of how websites came about and evolved over time? Well, you have found the right place to learn the amazing history of how the information age came to be what it is today!

Way back when (before most of us were born!), the “Internet” was being discovered and invented to be able to share information to one another. The Internet became prevalent during the Second World War, then became advanced during the The Cold war. But, what exactly is the internet?

The History of the Internet

According to a video produced by Khan Academy, the internet is “distribution” of numerous networks. The internet is a wider network that allows individual networks run by organizations, companies, and governments to communicate with one another. The internet can be in the form of cables, computers, routers, data servers, satellites, etc. with the main ability to spread information from one entity to another. However, do not mix the Internet with the World Wide Web.

So the Internet is not the World Wide Web? No! In fact, The World Wide Web (also known as WWW) is a way to view and share information over the internet. While the internet is a network of computer networks linked together, the World Wide Web is just one of the many, if not most popular, ways that information gets passed over the internet. So, just think of the World Wide Web as a “virtual” space of information.

The internet has come a long way since the first encounter with the internet and advanced technology. Below is a timeline of events to show how the Internet and uses had developed over time:

• 1957

  The “Sputnik” was the first satellite created on October 4, 1957, which was launched by the Soviet Union

• 1958- “Space Race” initiates

  After “Sputnik” is launched, NASA and DARPA was created to focus on pace activity and developing top secret defense technology

• 1969

  The first form of internet is introduced to the public; ARPAnet is invented

• 1972

  Email is invented

• 1982

  The term “Internet” surfaces. Giant computers get smaller and are introduced to homes

• 1989

  Microsoft software is created and invented the MacIntosh computer. This invention sprouted hacking which resulted in the military creating a parallel internet.

  Tim Berners-Lee creates the “World Wide Web” and introduces hyperlinks to the computer which also introduces the computer mouse.

• 2000-Present Day

  Media and the Internet expands creating more social sites and additional ways to share information

  Many web browsers like Mosaic, the first web browser, was created but was not very effective and very slow.

As you can see, the internet has come a long way. The internet has went from Morse Code to reading entertaining blog entries on the World Wide Web such as mine ;p. The information Age is a miraculous, yet mysterious creation, and continues to grow every day.

Browser Wars!?

Amidst of the fast evolving world of the Internet and the World Wide Web, the “Browser War” was another aspect of the invention of the internet that is very important to its history.

In an YouTube video called “The True Story of the Internet: Browser Wars”, the story of how the Browser War started is explained. The video discusses the history of the web browsers “Netscape” and “Microsoft”. IN the video below, I discuss my thoughts and ideas and opinions about the information presented within the video.