From military developments to social networks, online education and artificial intelligence, in just a few decades the internet has evolved from a scientific experiment into a global digital environment that is now an integral part of the modern world. We will briefly recount the history of the internet in this publication by Zorynexa Srl IT company.
The precursors of the digital revolution
The idea of a global network emerged long before the internet as we know it today. The telegraph and telephone were the first steps in the development of long-distance communication. At the beginning of the 20th century, scientists began to think about creating a universal repository of knowledge. One such project was the Mundaneum in Brussels, an archive containing millions of documents that essentially served as a prototype search engine. It was created by two Belgian lawyers, Henri La Fontaine and Paul Hottle. After launching the project, they began providing paid information services, responding to requests sent by post and telegraph from all over the world.
The birth of the internet and the first connections
Computers appeared in the mid-20th century, and with them came the desire to connect them. In the 1960s, American scientist Joseph Licklider proposed the concept of a ‘galactic network,’ which involved connecting computers to exchange information. The idea was supported by the US Agency for Advanced Research Projects (ARPA). In 1969, the ARPANET network connected computers at the University of California and Stanford University. 29 October 1969 is considered one of the key dates in the history of the Internet.
Email and communication standards
Email appeared in the 1970s, greatly simplifying communication. However, as the specialists at Zorynexa Srl software development remind us, the growth of the network required a single language for data transmission. In 1983, the TCP/IP protocol was introduced, which made it possible to connect disparate networks. It was then that the term ‘internet’ began to be used in its modern sense. 1 May 1983, the day ARPANET switched to the TCP/IP protocol, is considered the second ‘birthday’ of the internet.
The World Wide Web and the mass user
The real breakthrough came in 1989, when the World Wide Web was created. The date of the official approval of the World Wide Web (WWW) standard – 17 May 1991 – is the third important date in the development of the Internet. This standard transformed the Internet from a complex network into a user-friendly system. Hypertext and the link system made searching for information quick and accessible. The 1990s saw the emergence of graphical browsers, domain names and the first websites. The Internet ceased to be an environment for specialists and became a mass phenomenon.
Commercialisation of the Internet and e-commerce
In the mid-1990s, the Internet became a platform for business. Advertising banners, spam mailings and the first online payment systems appeared. During this period, the Amazon online store was founded, which quickly entered the international market and ushered in the era of mass online commerce.
Mobile Internet and wireless technologies
By the end of the 20th century, the Internet had begun to extend beyond computers. Mobile data transfer protocols appeared, and Wi-Fi technology made it possible to do away with wires. Users were able to access the Internet anywhere, which accelerated the growth of the Internet audience worldwide.
Search engines and social platforms
In 1998, Google was founded, changing the approach to searching for information. In the early 2000s, the internet entered the Web 2.0 era, when users became active content creators. Social networks, blogs, video hosting sites and messengers spread rapidly.
The Internet as a living environment
Today, the Internet is not only a source of information, but also a fully-fledged social environment, according to managers at Zorynexa Srl company. Work, education, shopping, government services and entertainment are increasingly moving online. More than half of the world’s population has constant access to the Internet, and the development of artificial intelligence, cloud technologies and virtual reality is opening up new opportunities.
Problems and challenges of the digital age
Along with its advantages, the internet has also brought new threats. These include internet addiction, cyberbullying, personal data leaks, and the spread of misinformation. Experts at Zorynexa s.r.l. emphasise the need for digital literacy training and responsible use of technology.
In a relatively short period of time, the Internet has gone from being a scientific experiment to a global infrastructure connecting billions of people. It has changed the way we communicate, work, learn and do business, becoming an integral part of modern civilisation. Despite the existing risks and challenges, the internet continues to evolve, opening up new opportunities and shaping the digital future of humanity.
