How the Internet Came to Be | Part 2

Summary

This video chronicles the fascinating evolution of the internet, from its humble beginnings in 1969 with just four computers to its declaration as a human right by the United Nations. It highlights key milestones, including the development of NSFNET and the emergence of the first ISPs in the late '80s, which marked the start of public internet access. The narrative emphasizes Tim Berners-Lee's invention of the World Wide Web, revolutionizing information navigation through hyperlinks. The internet's rapid growth in the '90s, driven by emerging technologies and startup investments, set the stage for today's digital landscape, making it an integral part of modern life.

Takeaways

• 😀 The internet became widely accessible in the 1990s, evolving from a limited network of 20,000 computers in 1987 to a global network.
• 🌐 In 2011, the United Nations declared uncensored internet access a human right that deserves protection.
• 📅 The first commercial internet service providers (ISPs) emerged in 1989, allowing regular users to access the internet for the first time.
• 📧 Email was one of the first services available to users of private networks before the internet became commercialized.
• 📞 Dial-up internet was the primary means of connecting to the internet, characterized by slow speeds and reliance on phone lines.
• 💻 The term 'internet' refers to the physical infrastructure connecting computers, while the 'World Wide Web' is a system for accessing information over the internet.
• 🔗 Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web in 1989, introducing hyperlinks to facilitate easier navigation between documents.
• 📈 The explosion of internet use in the 1990s led to significant investments in tech startups, many of which eventually failed during the dot-com bubble.
• 🛠️ Early web browsers like Netscape Navigator emerged, allowing users to access and navigate the new World Wide Web.
• 💰 The internet's commercial potential was initially restricted by policies against commercial traffic, which changed in the early 1990s.

Q & A

What significant event did the United Nations declare regarding internet access?

The United Nations declared uncensored internet access a human right that deserves protection.

How did the internet evolve from its early days in 1969 to the late 1980s?

The internet grew from four computers in 1969 to over 20,000 computers connected by the end of 1987, primarily used for collaboration and research by specific universities and corporations.

What were some early uses of standalone networks in the 1970s?

Standalone networks allowed users to send emails, check weather reports, play games, and use instant messaging programs, providing access to content like newspaper stories from home computers.

What limitation did private networks face during the 1980s?

Private networks were restricted from connecting to the broader internet and were often limited to specific times for usage, such as nights and weekends.

What led to the transition from ARPANET to NSFNET?

ARPANET administrators aimed to hand off internet maintenance responsibility, and NSFNET, which began in 1986, quickly grew to become the backbone of the internet by 1990.

When did commercial emails first become possible on the internet?

Commercial emails became possible in 1989 when private network email servers were connected to NSFNET.

What was the significance of the first Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in 1989?

The first ISPs began to emerge in 1989, allowing regular people to access the internet, marking a shift toward wider public access.

How did the dial-up connection work in the early 1990s?

Dial-up connections used modems to translate digital signals from computers to analog signals over phone lines, allowing users to connect to the internet.

What was the difference between the internet and the World Wide Web?

The internet refers to the physical network of cables and computers, while the World Wide Web, created in the early 1990s, is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessible via the internet.

Who is credited with inventing the World Wide Web, and what was its key feature?

Tim Berners-Lee is credited with inventing the World Wide Web, which introduced hyperlinks to connect different documents, improving navigation and accessibility.