The History of the Internet and World Wide Web.
Since its introduction to the mainstream in the early 1990's, the Internet has grown at an astronomical pace. A few years ago, it was a relatively small network used mainly by computer engineers, the government, and the educational community. Since then, it has blossomed into a global communications infrastructure which anyone from a housewife in the U.S. to a 7-year old in Africa uses on a regular basis. In parallel with it, media and culture surrounding the Internet has experienced rmous expansion to the state of ubiquity.
With this permeation into our society and the corresponding media coverage, one would expect to find that people have at least basic knowledge of its history and the workings behind it. However, as with other modern utilities, most individuals are content to merely use it without an understanding of its background. This is acceptable for the common person, but those who are involved with computers to a considerable extent should consider it important to be familiar with the Internet's structure and origins.
Beginnings: Packet Switching and ARPANET.
After the end of World War II, tensions over territorial rights, the disintegration of wartime allies, war reparations, and the introduction of the atomic bomb were all threatening the peace that had juhen they became atomically armed, a struggle between America and the USSR to improve on these weapons of mass destruction began, which became known later as the Cold War.
On October 4, 1957, the world was shocked by the launching of the world's first satellite, Sputnik 1, by the USSR. America had expected to be first in space, and quickly found its image as a technology superpower and perceived lead in the arms race tarnished. The introduction of intercontinental ballistic missiles,e New York Times: "The same Soviet rocket that sent a satellite into orbit Friday can deliver an ICBM warhead on New York and Washington.