HISTORY OF THE INTERNET

Summary

This Life Noggin episode explores the history of the Internet, from its Cold War origins to the creation of ARPANET and the first email by Ray Tomlinson. It highlights the development of TCP/IP by Vint Cerf, Tim Berners-Lee's invention of the World Wide Web, and the evolution of web browsers like Mosaic and Netscape Navigator. The video also touches on the impact of dial-up internet access and the profound ways the Internet has transformed communication, information access, and daily life, including the humorous note that the first online purchase was a pizza.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The internet's origins trace back over 50 years ago, with early computers filling entire rooms and used for communication during the Cold War.
• 💡 In 1962, JCR Licklider proposed a network of computers that could communicate, laying the groundwork for interconnected computing.
• 🔗 1969 saw the first message sent over ARPANET, a government computer network, marking a milestone in digital communication.
• 📚 By the end of 1969, only four computers were connected to ARPANET, indicating the early, limited scope of the network.
• 📧 1971 was a pivotal year with the development of the first system for sending electronic mail, or email, by Ray Tomlinson.
• 🌐 The need for a universal communication protocol led to the invention of TCP and IP by Vinton Cerf, enabling global computer interaction.
• 🌐 The 1980s saw the use of TCP/IP for data transfer, but it was the 1990s that marked the true beginning of the internet as we know it.
• 🌐 In 1991, Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web, opening up a vast network of information accessible to anyone with an internet connection.
• 🖥️ 1992 introduced Herwise, the first internet browser with a graphic interface, followed by the influential Mosaic in 1993, which popularized web surfing.
• 📈 Netscape Navigator became the dominant web browser in 1994, capturing 90% of web usage, highlighting the rapid growth of internet adoption.
• 📞 The early 1990s also saw the rise of dial-up internet access provided by companies like AOL and CompuServe, using telephone lines for connectivity.

Q & A

What is the origin of the Internet?

The Internet originated over 50 years ago with computers that filled up entire rooms, used by scientists and researchers for communication during the Cold War.

Why was the Internet useful during the Cold War?

The Internet was useful because if one computer went down, the others wouldn't follow, ensuring continuous communication.

Who proposed the idea of a network of computers that could communicate with each other?

JCR Licklider proposed the idea of a network of computers that could talk to one another in 1962.

What was the first-ever message sent over ARPANET and what was its outcome?

The first-ever message sent over ARPANET was 'login', but it only transmitted the first two letters before the network crashed.

What does ARPANET stand for?

ARPANET stands for Advanced Research Projects Agency Network, which was the government's computer network at the time.

Who developed the first system for sending electronic mail on ARPANET?

Ray Tomlinson developed the first system for sending electronic mail, which would later be known as email.

What is the significance of the '@' symbol in emails?

The '@' symbol was used to distinguish a person's name from the host name in email addresses.

What invention by Vinton Cerf allowed computers across the globe to communicate with each other?

Vinton Cerf invented the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP), which allowed computers to communicate in a virtual space.

What was the first internet browser with a graphic interface?

Herwise, created in 1992, was the first internet browser with a graphic interface.

Which browser became the most popular in 1994, accounting for 90% of web usage?

Netscape Navigator became the most popular web browser in 1994, accounting for 90% of web usage.

How did companies like AOL and CompuServe provide internet access in the early 90s?

Companies like AOL and CompuServe provided dial-up internet access via telephone lines, using a modem to connect.

What was the first item ever purchased on the Internet?

The first item ever purchased on the Internet was a pizza.

What book is recommended for further learning about the Internet's history?

The book 'Tubes: A Journey to the Center of the Internet' is recommended for further learning about the Internet's history.