The Internet is the biggest resource of information widely available to whomever wishes to access it. The "Information Superhighway" as it is sometimes called, is exactly that. A very large system of "roads" that can provide you with loads of information. However, the Internet may not have existed had it not been for paranoia and the research which followed. In this essay, I will cover the Internet's development, its importance in our daily lives, and its undoubtedly bright future.
First, it is important to know about the Internet's development. In 1957, the Russians launched the satellite Sputnik into space. This was a great advance in communications for Russia. The launch of Sputnik was enough to make America worry. They decided to launch ARPA, the Advanced Research Projects Agency. They began to research methods of communication that would not fall, even in the event of an attack (this was during a time when the US was still worried about possible attacks from foreign countries). The idea of the Internet could be linked to Paul Baran, the "grandfather of the Internet." His ideas helped develop the ARPANet and lead to its continued use today, as the Internet. Speaking of ARPANet, it was created in 1969 and was the first way ever of linking computers to one another. By 1972, the first demonstration of ARPANet had been shown at a computer conference. The Internet was almost coming into existance, but first protocols needed to be established. In other words, everyone had to agree to use the same system for everything, so that it would work for everyone. Finally, in 1983, the Internet was developed, and PC's were coming into existance. Then, only a year later, domain names started being used. In 1991, one of the most popular areas of the Internet was developed: The World Wide Web.
The Internet is an integral part of most people's lives today. While it is true that not EVERYONE has access to the Internet, it's also true that more and more people gain access to the Internet every single day! The demographics for Internet use range from little kids of ages 5-10, to elderly people of 70+! Yes, the Internet is very important in daily use. Many things are possible with the Internet that normally would not be, and many things become more convenient with it around. For example, someone can look at a company's online site to find information on that company, rather than having to call them on the phone and bother them personally. The possibilities are endless. "Surfing" the 'Net is easier than ever with the wide range of Search Engines that may be used to find things much easier. E-mail use is increasingly important, as it makes it much easier (and cheaper!) to contact friends and family that may live far distances from where you live. It's exciting how the Internet has grown so much, and will continue to grow as the years go on.
Finally, the Internet has an undoubtedly bright future. Whether you know it or not, the Internet is already HUGE, and will get bigger and bigger. The Internet may have its dark side, but overall everyone's Internet experience should be great. The Internet may even have its bad times, but the future is still very bright.
There you have it. Now you know the good, the bad, and the just plain WRONG! of the Internet. There is likely more to be told about the Internet, but I have covered enough about it to at very least keep you from being in the dark about the origins of the Internet. If you need more in-depth information on the subject, then go here. Thanks for reading my essay, and have a nice day!
~Steve Okegawa Questions, Comments? E-mail to: kenji_blue86@hotmail.com
