Who Invented the Internet?
November 1, 2019 Category: Pop Culture
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The modern Internet has become such a staple in the lives of people around the globe that the UN has declared it a basic human right. It’s used for communication, research, education, and so much more. So, how did this technological marvel come to be one of the most influential tools in the world? We’ll tell you.
Creating the Internet: Tim Berners Lee
A world without the Internet seems like a lifetime ago, and yet it was only 1989 that the concept for the world wide web became a real scientific proposal. The idea came from a software engineer named Tim Berners Lee, who worked at the CERN laboratory near Geneva. Something Mr. Berners Lee figured out early was that sharing information between the CERN lab and scientists in other parts of the world was tough. By the time information arrived the team was moving onto something else. They needed a way to send and receive messages instantaneously.
During this time, computers could be used to create and store data, but then to access that data one required access to the computer it was created on or a disc onto which that data was saved. It wasn’t like the modern Internet where everything gets uploaded into the cloud and shared as needed.
The Evolution of the Internet
While Tim Berners Lee’s concept was thought to be intriguing by other computer scientists, it wasn’t accepted at first. It took him years of developing the idea to bring it any credibility. In 1990, Berners Lee created the outline for three huge components still relevant in computer networks today. This was:
HTTP
The acronym for HyperText Transfer Protocol, HTTP, is visible at the beginning of just about any web address you type into the address bar. When this information gets entered your browser sends a message find and deliver the website you’re looking for.
HTML
Also called Hyper Text Markup Language, HTML is a unique language used to design documents on the web. It’s comprised of various demands, which cause your site to assemble in a particular way, such as right aligned, in bold font, or in a specific colour.
URL
A URL or URI is the acronym we use for a Uniform Resource Identifier or Uniform Resource Locator. In other words, it’s a name used to recognize a location on the Internet. HTTP addresses are URL’s, but not every URL starts with HTTP.
In 1991 the world was invited to try the world wide web. In 1993 it was decided that the web would remain royalty-free – meaning, while we pay for Internet provision in our homes, physically accessing the Internet is free for everyone anywhere in the world.
Other Scientists Behind the Web
It may have been Tim Berners Lee who invented the idea of the world wide web. However, he had plenty of inspiration and resources made available by other scientists in the field. Leonard Kleinrock, a professor of engineering and computer science had a similar thought about computers sharing information. He developed something called packet switching using advanced mathematics and computer science. By 1969, he’d managed to connect two computers via nodes to share information. Unfortunately, the machines couldn’t handle the task and crashed. Through this Kleinrock invented the advanced research projects agency network.
In 1974, two like-minded scientists named Bob Kahn and Vint Cerf published their own paper on packet switching. It included the concept of transmission control protocol, which is now known as TCP/IP. This protocol is sometimes referred to as the Department of Defence model. TCP is what allows two hosts to interact via a computer network.
The Internet Today
The Internet started as a single network invention and has multiplied into networks of networks. With your IP address as your identifier, you can access the Internet from a variety of devices from anywhere in the world. All thanks to people like Berners Lee, Kleinrock, Kahn and Cerf. Their dedication to sharing information provided a gateway to communication and information we couldn’t have fathomed only decades ago.
Now, working with an Internet provider like Execulink, right here in Ontario, Canada, you have access to the net and unlimited opportunities for connection. Interested in learning more about the modern Internet and the variety of services you could benefit from? Contact our Sales team today or visit our Internet page to see the package options right for you!
