Internet 101: A Brief History of the World Wide Web

Have you ever wondered about the origins of the Internet? In this article, we’ll look at how it evolved from its first days in 1969 through today, highlighting some of its most important milestones along the way. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll have an excellent foundation on which to build your understanding of what the Internet means in both the global and personal context and how it will continue to evolve into the future. Let’s get started!

The first ever transmission

For all intents and purposes, it began with a single packet. On October 29th, 1969, computer programmer and network-consultant Bob Taylor sent out a message at UCLA for students to get to their next class on time. The first message was transmitted through his Arpanet computer using an SDS Sigma 7 Host Computer that required users to access their accounts through a phone line, which would then be connected via modems (modulator/demodulators) that encoded digital data for transmission over telephone lines and then decoded by another modem at its destination. The process was slow—Taylor’s message took 27 hours to transmit. But it worked. And thus, so did ARPANET.

How does the web work?

In essence, it works by using a bunch of computers to pass on messages. The first step is for a user to type in a website address (known as a URL) and click enter on their keyboard or tap go on their smartphone. This tells their computer to go find that specific web page. This simple request causes their browser (usually Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, etc.) to contact one or more servers through an Internet service provider (ISP). When it connects with those servers they then exchange information between each other – like how you hand someone something across a table in person. This can take anywhere from fractions of second to several seconds depending upon how fast your connection is and if there are any issues along the way.

The dot com boom

The Internet has been around since 1969, when researchers at UCLA used it to send test messages between computers. It wasn’t until 1992 that Tim Berners-Lee invented what we know as the World Wide Web (think of it as a way to navigate or access websites), along with HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol—basically, how you view webpages) and HTML (used for website coding). But it wasn’t until about 1994 that we saw our first website go live. And even then, internet use was limited to computer scientists and academics. It didn't really catch on in mainstream culture until much later. By 1995, there were only 526 websites online. Just five years later, more than 1 million websites had been created.

The dot com bust

The internet is a large part of everyday life for many people, but it wasn't always that way. Most people who have taken an interest in technology remember exactly when they first heard about, or even saw what we now call the 'net. From there, they probably remember at least one boom-and-bust cycle in web history. The most recent bust phase has been named dot com bust by generations who came after. It was also called the bubble, which makes sense if you think about what a bubble looks like. Just keep going up and over until you pop and suddenly it's not so attractive anymore.

Social media

The Internet first appeared in public use around 1990, when a small group at CERN in Switzerland developed and experimented with communications between computers. They used FTP (File Transfer Protocol) to share information over a network. In 1991, Tim Berners-Lee created HTML and wrote the first web browser, creating an open space for other programmers to develop more useful and functional web applications. Over time, internet access became available through cable modems, high speed DSL lines and fiber optic cables that allowed faster transmission of content. Today's companies are able to use information from any source on a global scale thanks to an open online platform that enables users across borders to connect instantly using social media like Facebook. But social media was not always what it is today. Its roots began in 1980 as a project funded by DARPA, or Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Its purpose was to create new communication tools for America’s military troops deployed overseas. This led to creation of MUDs (Multi User Domains), which were virtual spaces where people could interact via text-based chat rooms. This eventually gave rise to MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games), where thousands of players could interact simultaneously within a virtual world.

The social network effect

The term social networking refers to interactions among people who may have similar interests, activities or backgrounds. Online communication between individuals who share common goals, skills and experiences through virtual communities on social networks has become increasingly popular. According to a Pew Research Center survey in 2005, 12 percent of Internet users had used some form of social networking service or visited a social networking website. These services — which allow people to create personal profiles and communicate with others via e-mail, instant messaging and chat rooms — are intended for adults but are also widely used by young people as they navigate their way through school and college settings. As such, most students will probably use a social network at some point during their lives. So how can you make sure that your teen navigates these sites safely? Here's what you need to know.

How does email work?

Think of your inbox as a physical mailbox. After you mail your letter or package, it’s out there; anybody can pick it up and read it. So how does email work? You use a computer to send an email and that message is sent through your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and then to your recipient’s ISP. From there, they log into their own inbox and retrieve your message. Your original message remains stored on servers until they either erase it, or move it to another file (called archive). Finally, just like with a physical letter—if someone wants to write back—they must re-send that response via their own ISP. What if somebody sends you a virus in an email? Most ISPs have filters that prevent viruses from being delivered to your inbox. In fact, sometimes they are so good at filtering spam emails, real messages get caught in their net too! If you ever notice something odd about an email you receive, don't open it! Instead, contact your sender and ask them for clarification about what was supposed to be in the body of that email.

Cryptography and security

Early internet pioneers had many of the same security and privacy concerns we have today. In fact, when ARPANET was first introduced, it only provided communications between computers at four universities in California; a set-up that led to an easy to understand version of what is called a man-in-the-middle attack. This type of attack occurs when someone intentionally intercepts data between two people or organizations in order to alter or monitor it.