The Internet has changed a lot in the past few decades. It started as a way for the military to communicate and has become an essential part of everyone’s life. Take a look at how the Internet has evolved.
In the Beginning
The Internet began as a project within the US Department of Defense that was designed to allow the military to communicate over a connected network. They created a network called ARPANET, which was able to connect military installations, some universities, and third-party contractors. In the 1970s, they connected to NORSAR, which was a system by the US and Norway that monitored seismic activity over satellites. It could connect to computers in other parts of the world, such as London. By the late 1980s, schools around the world were connecting for research and communication, and the military moved to its own branch of ARPANET, which was called MILNET.
Dial-up Internet
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, universities, businesses, and people began to connect using the Internet. They used a modem in their phone line, and the computer would connect with a series of sounds. In 1989, Tim Berners-Lee came up with the World Wide Web, which allowed people to connect and share information once they connected to it. The first web page was built in 1993, and the first browser was created, Netscape Navigator. Microsoft made its browser, Internet Explorer.
Broadband
The next phase was Broadband access. It provided a faster connection, and it became more widespread in the early 2000s. The connection didn’t use the phone line, and it is usually always on unless it is shut off. It often comes into your home with the same connection as your cable. Wi-Fi was also developed, which provided some flexibility. Rather than sitting in front of a large computer and dialing up the Internet, you could have a fast connection anywhere Wi-Fi was available. Mobile broadband, or connecting to the Internet with your cell phone, really allowed the Internet to become accessible to anyone anywhere. It is hard to find people who do not have a cell phone with a connection to the Internet. It has progressed from 3G to 5G, and it offers fast connections and access to the Internet no matter where you are.