Chapter 1

This chapter gave a brief over view of how the internet and web was created and its subsequent evolution. The internet was initially set-up as a means for nationally security so that computer information could be shared and not centralized. It was believed, should a Soviet attack occur, that having computer resources decentralized and connected minimized the risk of all information being lost as during attack. The foundation of the internet was Arpanet which basically linked universities, government and firms together. An important development during the evolution of the internet was the inception of electronic mail.  E-mail was instantly popular amongst universities as it allowed immediate transmission of data between institutions.

Another important development of the internet is based upon the ability of various operating systems and devices to access information and communicate. The ability to universally log-on to the internet stems from the universal use of Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) which controls flow control over the network and error checking for packets (packets being another development for the transmission of data not as a continuous stream of data, rather data that has been broken up and transmitted as smaller packets) and Internet Protocol (IP) which is the address as to where to send the packets. This combination of protocols abbreviated as TCP/IP was mandated to be used by all devices in 1983, thus allowing universal access to the internet.

Another significant milestone in the development of the internet came about in 1992 where the government allowed commerce to take place over the internet. This was a major driver that advanced the internet from academia into the private sector as now business globally could be accomplished very easily. Commerce on the internet allowed rapid expansion and investment into the communication industry.

I believe that one of the greatest achievements of the internet is its ability to allow people to instantly communicate and share knowledge.