The Internet
By Linda Ericksen
The idea of a complex computer network that would allow communicatin among users of various
computers developed over time. the network of networks known as the Internet, which included both
technological developments and the merging together of existing network infrastructure and
telecommunication systems. This network provides users with email, chat, file transfer, Web pages and
other files.
History of Internet
In 1957, the Soviet Union lanched the first satellite, Sputnik I, triggering President Dwight Eisenhower to
create the ARPA agency to regain the technological lead in the arms race. Practical implementations of
a large computer network began during the late 1960’s and 1970’s. By the 1980’s, technologies we now
recognise as the basis of the modern Internet began to spread over the globe.
In 1990, ARPANET was replaced by NSFNET which connected universities in North America, and later
research facilities in Europe were added. Use of the Internet exploded after 1990, causing the US
Government to transfer management to independent orginizations.
The World Wide Web
The Netscape browser led in user share until Microsoft Internet Explorer took the lead in 1999. The
World Wide Web was developed in the 1980’s in Europe and then rapidly spread around the world. The
World Wide Web is a set of linked documents on computers connected by the Internet. These
documents make use of hyperliks to link documents together. To use hyperlinks, browser software was
developed.
Browsers
The first widely used web browser was Mosaic, and the programming team went on to develop the first
commercial web browser called Netscape Navigator.