The history of the internet

The internet has become an indispensable part of our lives, but it’s easy to forget that this vast network of computers and servers had humble beginnings. In this blog, we’ll take a journey through the history of the internet, from its earliest days to the present day.

1960

In the 1960s, the U.S. Department of Defense created a network of computers called ARPANET. The goal was to create a communication system that would continue to function in the event of a nuclear attack. This network was the precursor to the internet we know today.

1970

Throughout the 1970s, more and more universities and research institutions began connecting to ARPANET, allowing for the exchange of data and information. In 1983, ARPANET switched to using the TCP/IP protocol, which allowed for the creation of a standardized communication protocol that could be used by different networks. As more networks connected to each other, the internet began to take shape. In 1989, Tim Berners-Lee, a British computer scientist, invented the World Wide Web, which allowed for the creation of websites and hypertext links.

1990

By the early 1990s, the internet was growing rapidly, with the number of users and websites increasing every day. The first commercial internet service provider, America Online (AOL), was launched in 1991, followed by other ISPs such as CompuServe and Prodigy. In 1993, the first web browser, Mosaic, was released, making it much easier for people to navigate the web. This was followed by Netscape Navigator, which became the dominant web browser for several years.

The late 1990s saw the rise of e-commerce, as businesses and entrepreneurs began to realize the potential of the internet for selling products and services. Amazon was founded in 1994 and quickly became one of the biggest online retailers in the world. During this time, search engines like Yahoo! and Google emerged, making it easier for users to find the information they were looking for on the web.

2000

In the early 2000s, the internet continued to evolve, with the rise of social media platforms like Friendster, MySpace, and eventually Facebook, which would go on to become one of the most popular websites in the world. The proliferation of smartphones in the late 2000s and early 2010s led to another major shift in the way we use the internet. Mobile internet usage surpassed desktop usage for the first time in 2016, and mobile apps like Instagram and Snapchat became increasingly popular.

The internet right now

Today, the internet is more pervasive than ever, with billions of users around the world and countless websites, apps, and services available. The internet has transformed nearly every aspect of our lives, from the way we communicate and socialize to the way we work, shop, and access information. A lot of companies use IPv4 addresses for their devices. With IPv4 devices can communicate with each other. It is still possible to buy IPv4, all do some experts recommend switching to IPv6.

As the internet continues to evolve, it’s difficult to predict exactly what the future holds. But one thing is certain: the internet will continue to play an integral role in our lives, shaping the way we interact with the world around us for generations to come.