The Internet

A Global Network Connecting Millions of Computers

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History

(Photo credits: U.S. National Archives)

The Cold War, lasting over four decades, was the struggle between the global superpowers of the Soviet Union and the United States.

CNN Special on the Cold War

In 1958 the U.S. Department of Defense established the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) to be the central research and development organization for the U.S. Department of Defense.

The name was changed to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)in 1972.

During the 60s ARPA began a experimental project to test the feasibility of a wide area computer network over which scientists and military peronnel could share messages and data.

In 1969 the original network known as the ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network) was created. There were four nodes on the network: University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Stanford Research Institute (SRI), University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB), and University of Utah.

BBN Technologies was contracted to design the network.

In 1971, the first e-mail message was sent. Ray Tomlinson of BBN created the first e-mail program. He also contributed to the design of the network protocol for ARPANET.

The first file transfer mechanisms proposed. The ftp protocol would enable file transfers between Internet sites. The ftp protocol was published in 1973. - W3.org: ftp protocol

Bob Metcalfe "pegs the exact day Ethernet was born: May 22, 1973. That was the day he circulated a memo titled 'Alto Ethernet.' It contained a rough schematic of how Ethernet would work. That is the first time ethernet appears as a word." - Wired Magazine

In 1974, Vinton Cerf and Bob Kahn developed the TCP/IP networking protocol. Vinton Cerf is called the "father of the Internet."

In 1983, "the ARPANET -- and every network attached to the ARPANET -- officially adopts the TCP/IP networking protocol, developed in the 1970s by pioneering network engineers Vinton Cerf and Bob Kahn."

In 1984, William Gibson coined the term "Cyberspace" in his book "Neuromancer"

In 1985, The Whole Earth Review went online and the The Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link was founded. The WELL was a Virtual Community, a pioneer in cyberspace. "It's been described as 'the world's most influential online community' in a Wired Magazine cover story".

In 1989, Tim Berners-Lee, a scientist at CERN, invented the World Wide Web by proposing a global hypertext project.

In 1990, Tim Berners-Lee 'coined the term "World Wide Web", wrote the first World Wide Web server, "httpd," and the first client program (a browser and editor), "WorldWideWeb".'

In 1993, a new browser called Mosaic was released by Marc Andreesen. Mosaic provided a graphical user interface and the ability to link to other documents using hyper-links.

Wired Magazine, an on-line periodical, was published. "It reported on how technology affects culture, the economy, and politics."

In 1994, the International World-Wide Web Consortium (W3C) was founded by Tim Berners-Lee in collaboration with CERN "to lead the World Wide Web to its full potential by developing common protocols that promote its evolution and ensure its interoperability". Tim Berners-Lee has served as Director of the World Wide Web Consortium since it inception.

2004 was the 35th Anniversary of the Internet

2006 - There is close to 395,000,000 Internet hosts according to Internet Systems Consortium a nonprofit public benefit corporation dedicated to supporting the infrastructure of the Internet.

Links

35 Years of the Internet -- Information Links @ The Library of Congress

Cool Site of the Day

A Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace by John Perry Barlow, co-founder and vice chairman of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. And a former lyricist for the Grateful Dead.

A Short History of the Internet by Bruce Sterling, one of the founders of the cyberpunk movement in science fiction.

Electronic Frontier Foundation "is a nonprofit group of passionate people — lawyers, technologists, volunteers, and visionaries — working to protect your digital rights."

Glossary of Internet Terms

The Help Web A Guide To Getting Started on the Internet

Internet 101

Internet Pioneers

Internetnews.com