History of internet

What is the internet?

To the younger generations who have grown up under its influence, the answer may appear simple, but defining it is not. The Internet, often known as the World Wide Web (www), is a global system of interconnected computer networks that connect to billions of devices all over the world using the Internet Protocol Suite (TCP/IP). This has had such a huge influence that it has been dubbed the world’s eighth continent. This contains a wide range of material, ranging from top-secret military and research files to the week’s most popular and viral video. Everyone has access to this huge repository, and each computer contributes to the ever-growing treasure trove of knowledge.

The internet has had a significant impact on most traditional communication mediums, such as newspapers, telephones, and television. They are paving the way for new services like internet phones and internet television. The communication of information has been exponentially increased, and as a result, the exchange of knowledge has resulted in a rise in the standard of living for many individuals around the world.

Types of computer networks

A network is made up of two or more computers that are connected in order to exchange files, share resources, and communicate electronically. Cables, radio waves, telephone lines, infrared beams, and satellites all connect these interlinked computers. The two basic types of computer networks are listed below:

• Local Area Network (LAN): A LAN is a network of two or more connected laptops, computers, or phones that share information in a narrow geographic area. A network of computers at home or at business, for example.
• Wide Area Network (WAN): A WAN is made up of two or more LANs that are linked together. These networks are more distant than a LAN’s systems. Telephone lines or radio waves can be used to communicate.

According to estimates, there are 3.4 billion internet users worldwide, with Asia accounting for 48.1 percent and North America accounting for 10%. In today’s world, the internet’s 3.4 billion users give it enormous power and significance. With a larger interchange of information, individuals are becoming more empowered, and as they learn more, their lives improve as well. The internet has become a fully representative body of the world’s population due to its open availability to everyone in the world. Humans are experiencing spurts of inspiration thanks to the internet’s convenience and inventiveness

Terminology

The term internet, which means interconnected or interwoven, was first used in 1849. [7] In 1974, the term “internet” was coined as a shorthand for “internetwork.” [8] The term “internet” today most usually refers to a global system of interconnected computer networks, although it can also refer to a collection of smaller networks.

When using a web browser to view web sites, the terms “going on the Internet” and “going on the World Wide Web” are frequently interchanged. However, the World Wide Web, sometimes known as the Web, is one of several Internet services, consisting of a collection of documents (web pages) and other web resources linked by hyperlinks and URLs.

History of internet

In the 1960s, research into what was then known as packet switching gave birth to the Internet. The hardware solution to the problem, i.e., the circuitry, was deemed to be a better and faster method of transferring data than packet switching. The United States Military’s development of ARPANET relied heavily on packet switching technology. The ARPANET, also known as the internet, was the first known network of networked computers. This technique was used to relay sensitive information between military units. This data sharing system was then made available to educational institutions in the United States, allowing them to connect to the government’s supercomputer at 56 kbit/s, 1.5 Mbit/s, and 45 Mbit/s, respectively. In the late 1980s, internet service providers began to emerge, and by 1995, the internet had become completely commercialised in the United States.

Consistent developments in semiconductor technology and optical networking have created new economic prospects for business involvement in the network’s core expansion and delivery of public services. MCI Mail and Compuserve developed Internet connections in mid-1989, supplying email and public access goods to the half-million Internet customers. [36] PSInet, which debuted an independent Internet backbone for commercial usage on January 1, 1990, was one of the networks that later added to the core of the commercial Internet.

Infrastructure

The Internet’s communications infrastructure is made up of hardware components and a software layering system that controls various aspects of the architecture. The Internet, like any other computer network, is made up of routers, media (such as cables and radio links), repeaters, modems, and other devices. However, many network nodes are not necessarily internet equipment per se; internet packets are carried by other full-fledged networking protocols, with the Internet acting as a homogeneous networking standard, running across heterogeneous hardware, and packets being guided to their destinations by IP routers.

Uses of internet

• Online bookings and orders
• Cashless transactions
• Education
• Online banking & trading
• Research
• Electronic mail
• Job search
• Social networking

Applications and services

Social networking, electronic mail, mobile applications, multiplayer online games, Internet telephony, file sharing, and streaming media services are just a few of the applications and services available on the Internet, which is dominated by the World Wide Web.

The majority of computers that supply these services are now housed in data centres, and content is frequently accessible via high-speed content delivery networks.

World Wide Web

The World Wide Web is a global collection of papers, images, video, applications, and other resources linked together logically by hyperlinks and identified by Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs), which serve as a global system of named references. Services, web servers, databases, and the documents and resources that they can supply are all represented by URIs. The Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is the World Wide Web’s primary access protocol. HTTP is one of numerous languages or protocols that can be used for communication on the Internet, and it is also utilised by web services for information transfer, sharing, and exchanging business data and logistics. 

Conclusion

The Internet is a powerful tool for reaching out to a large audience. It engages clients in a long-term connection by attracting, retaining, and managing them. It is the most recent technical breakthrough for direct consumer communication. Marketing managers may keep track of their customers’ profiles and purchasing habits in real time. For organisations, using the internet as an integral and interactive medium of their marketing mix has become critical. Companies must understand the full potential of what the internet has to offer due to changes in customer buying behaviour.