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Internet
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LONG BEFORE THE INTRODUCTION of computers and the internet, technological advances were discovered which contributed to computer technology today. The invention of cable in 1858 was the first technological breakthrough. It was established to carry instantaneous communications across the ocean for the first time. Although, at that time, cable was unsuccessful, its advent greatly contributed to future technology. The internet is not located in any single place, based on any central computer, or overseen by any network manager. It is a collection of computers, linked by high capacity lines that stretch across countries and under the oceans. The internet originated in 1969 and owes its birth to The United States of America Department of Defence, Advanced Research Projects Agency, more commonly known as ARPA. As an an experimental network, which ARPA called ARPANET, the U.S. department of research was able to communicate with its contractors and researchers at large universities. It became a test bed for emanating network technologies. The government created a protocol, called TCP/IP, which translated the computers' interactions with one another. To ensure concealment from various threatening nations, TCP/IP programmed a decentralised system which allowed rerouting when needed. The 1970s introduced a significant development of network tools which improved the usability of ARPANET. In 1972 a tenet application for a remote login was developed by NCSA (The National Centre for Super Computing Applications). This development allowed easier connections between networked computers and, as well, allowed smaller networks to connect with them. As a central network, with 37 Ñhostâ computers connected to ARPANET, it was time to expand its connections into Europe. In 1973, along with this expansion, the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) was introduced. FTP is a set of rules used for sending and receiving files over the internet. The 1980s were host to significant events bringing the internet closer to what it is recognised as today. First, TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/ Internet Protocol) was developed and used as the only set of rules used on the internet. As mentioned earlier, this protocol allowed computers to transfer information. To keep the military network site separate from other sites, a new network known as MILNET was born. MILNET is the military network. Another breakthrough in the 1980s was the advent of the personal computer with modems at 300 bps. These personal computers also included networking software allowing connection to the internet through TELNET. Telnet is a method of logging into a computer system on the internet from a remote computer. By 1986, a new networking Ñbackboneâ was introduced. The National Science Foundation (NSF) connected the nations six super computing centres to develop this super, backbone structure. With an upgrade, ARPANET was able to run 1.5 million bps of information. By 1989, the number of computers on ARPANET reached 100,000 and this was also the year email and online services were introduced. The 1990s has become a decade in which the progression of internet has skyrocketed. Along with the introduction of the internet, was the termination of ARPANET. The network was now officially referred to as the internet. In 1991, Ñgopherâ was developed. ÑGopherâ is an information sub-network software program connecting all of the universities, government and research facility databases together. 1993 was the year that Tim Bernes-Lee developed the WWW (World Wide Web) at the European Laboratory for Particle Physics in Switzerland. The www uses HTML (hypertext mark-up link) and hyperlinks to present information on the internet. With this development, projects could be published online and business and media began to take an interest in the internet. In 1993 the number of internet users climbed above 10 million. 1993 was also the host year to two other significant events. The NSFNET upgraded their super, backbone structure to 45 million bps. Secondly, the development of web browsers was introduced to the internet for the first time. Including ÑMosaicâ and ÑNetscape Navigator," these web browsers allowed users to view graphics as well as text, making the use of the internet more appealing. By 1995, the NSFNET was replaced by BNS (very high speed Backbone Network System) This system was a new architecture that utilised networks more efficiently. Throughout the past four decades the internet as we know it has
evolved. Progressions in networking and computer technologies have allowed the internet
and the World Wide Web to become successful. From the birth of ARPANET in 1969, and
the introduction of the test bed for networking research, the growth of the internet
has skyrocketed. ARPANET also introduced TCP/IP protocols, which was significant
because it allowed for networked computers to communicate by following a set of standard
rules. Many other important events contributed to the growth of the internet. Included
was the development of networking tools, the introduction of graphical browsers and
of course, the advent of desktop computers. Consistent, successful advancements in
networking has allowed upgrades, greatly increasing the number of connections. At
the rate new technology and internet usage is advancing, it wonÇt be long
before the internet will be available to everyone.
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Foundations, Projections and Issues
