Blog Post #4 (EOTO)

 

The creation of the internet and the world wide web is debatably one of the most important and impactful inventions from the past century. Nowadays, we all use the internet constantly; on our phones, computers, and even smart watches. However, we don’t usually realize how much we now rely on the internet and its instant access to information. The internet began back in the 1960s as a way for government researchers to share information. The Cold War accelerated the development of the internet. This led to the formation of ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network). ARPANET was a network limited to academic and research organizations that had contracts with the defense department. This ended up transitioning into becoming the internet we know today. The birth of the TCP/IP (Transfer Control Protocol/Internetwork Protocol) is what is known as the beginning of the internet. This was on January 1, 1983. The TCP/IP allowed different computers on different networks to communicate with each other. 

This is an image of the UNIVAC I, one of the first commercially sold computers for business use. The creation of the internet had a large impact on the world and how we live our daily lives. The first survey of internet users in 1996 showed that about 40 million people used the internet. In 2013, that number grew to 2 billion. The internet changed how we would plan trips, get our news, do our jobs, and even how we learn. A 2013 survey also concluded that about 7 billion people use wireless devices. That’s nearly the entire world’s population. 

This is a chart demonstrating the number of internet users (in millions) from 2004 to 2018. According to an article written by Manuel Castells, the expansion of the internet from the mid 90s onward was a result of three factors: the code of the world wide web being open source, keeping the internet open to both commercial and cooperative uses, and major changes in social structure and society. Our society has changed to be formed around the internet. An academic resource has established that the internet does not isolate people, nor does it decrease sociability. Another study also showed that the internet increases people’s “feelings of security, personal freedom, and influence.” This shows that internet use overall has a positive effect on happiness. However, this is only when used in moderation. Using the internet too much, and letting it control your life; can lead to many negative effects. The internet can also be used to harm others. This includes: online grooming, cyberbullying, cyber racism, online scams, and internet addiction. 

Sources:

A Brief History of the Internet, https://www.usg.edu/galileo/skills/unit07/internet07_02.phtml. 

Development History of the World Wide Web - Researchgate.net. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Karwan-Jacksi/publication/336073851_Development_History_Of_The_World_Wide_Web/links/5d8d1f8f92851c33e94064cb/Development-History-Of-The-World-Wide-Web.pdf. 

Diomidous, Marianna, et al. “Social and Psychological Effects of the Internet Use.” Acta Informatica Medica : AIM : Journal of the Society for Medical Informatics of Bosnia & Herzegovina : Casopis Drustva Za Medicinsku Informatiku BiH, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Feb. 2016, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4789623/. 

Feldman, Sarah, and Felix Richter. “Infographic: Half of the World Will Be on the Worldwide Web.” Statista Infographics, 19 Dec. 2018, https://www.statista.com/chart/16467/internet-usage-worldwide/.