A Brief History of the Internet,
Key Events in Its Development and
Future
| other links listed below |
The Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA)
of the Department of Defense (DoD) originally invented the Internet as
a means of communications for the military. Unix is the operating
system of the Internet and it was found that the Internet lacked the necessary
security for confidential military communications. The Internet was
a great way to exchange information across a long distance though. This
is why scientists collaborating across the oceans could exchange experimental
data and analysis much more easily than before. Still many scientists did
feel that Unix was rather cumbersome and inefficient for their purposes
even though it was better than postal mail for example.
Tim
Bernes-Lee while working at CERN (The
European Nuclear Research Centre) invented the World
Wide Web (WWW) as a way to enhance the simplicity and usability of
the Internet. Using the language he developed called HyperText Markup
Language (HTML) which is a type od Standard Generalized Markup Language
(SGML), those using this protocol in communication found information exchange
easier. The HTML part of the Internet then became very popular over
time.
The National Center for Super Computing
Applications (NCSA) at the University
of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana developed a web browser called Mosaic
which improved the web browsing experience over the earlier text only browser
called Lynx.
Mosaic transferred images as well. A company called Netscape
Communications Corporation
developed an improved browser called Navigator
with enhanced features based on similar technology and became more popular.The
increased popularity of the World Wide Web part of the Internet also brought
focus to its weaknesses. HTML was not interactive (like a software
program) and it was not secure (like the military had noticed).
Sun Microsystems had developed
a software language called Java
for other purposes but found that it would not sell very well. It
was noticed that its primary strengths coinciding with the weaknesses of
the Web and thus soon caught on among computer programmers. Small
download able software programs from the Web called applets are routinely
used so that less bi-directional exchange between the server and the accessing
computer would be necessary. Additionally, its more secure features
eased concerns over downloading small programs that may be harmful.
Computer viruses are still, however, a concern.
Recently Microsoft Corporation
has presented an alternate browser called Internet
Explorer (IE) based on technology purchased from Spyglass.
It has greatly challenged Netscape's former domination in the web browser
market.
Intel produces about 90% of the microcomputer
chips or CPU (Central Processing Units) for computers sold in the
U.S. Microsoft sells its Windows 95 operating system to about 95%
of all new PCs (personal computers) sold in the U.S. These 2 companies
in general agree on their combined vision for the future of the PC.
Mr. Moore of Intel and Mr. Gates of Microsoft talk about a future in which
the PC is a video telephone, a multimedia Webcaster that replaces cable
television and, later, also the central appliance of the home called the
"Smart House". This Smart House will have all major appliances such
as the refrigerator, microwave, garage door opener, thermostat, security
alarm system and maybe some automated lampshades or curtains programmed
to the time, temperature or other setting s that the master of the house
can preset. Mr. Gates' personal residence (at $15 million) is said
to have nearly if not entirely all these features. (He has not given
any tours of his new House so we don't know how Smart it is.) This
is the every day impact that Moore and Gates see and which holds promise
(and some peril if computer security could be compromised) for our future.
Other Links on the History
and Future of the Internet
For a full length book on Internet history see Where
Wizards Stay Up Late by Katie Hafner and Matthew Lyon, Architects
of the Web : 1,000 Days That Built the Future of Business
by Robert H. Reid or What
Will Be : How the New World of Information Will Change Our Lives by
Michael L. Dertouzos and Bill Gates
Return to table of contents.
E-mail me.
