Internet Revolution
The Internet Revolution
0
Why a Revolution?
Not very long ago, the only people talking about the Internet were the small number of individuals who were engaged in engineering it, building it, and nurturing its growth. That was during the 1970s. But even during the 1980s, as the Internet expanded its reach and diversified its information resources and services, the Internet’s existence went largely unnoticed by the general public and it managed to retain its quiet, remote, and unassuming presence. The only national press coverage the
Internet received during the first two decades of its existence was when there was a sudden and sizable failure in one of its component systems or a debilitating network attack, like the
Internet worm of 1988. And the only individuals who took an interest in the Internet were computer enthusiasts, and their numbers were still very small. Moreover, in order to have any access to the Internet, you had to work at a major research facility, like AT&T Bell Laboratories, or attend one of the lucky few
Internet-connected academic institutions, like MIT or Stanford, or be employed by one of the United States government agencies that controlled it. In other words, for the first twenty or so years of its existence, the Internet remained predominantly hidden from public view and functioned as the private and entirely commerce-free playground of researchers and scientists, students and computer center workers, and some members of the military.
The Internet Revolution
1
The Internet Revolution
Nowadays, it’s difficult to avoid some reference to the Internet, no matter how hard we may try. It comes up in conversations with friends and family and in meetings at work as people complain about the latest email virus or some interminable network slowdown or as they rave about a site they have just discovered for managing their stock portfolio or playing poker. We hear about the
Internet on radio and
0
Why a Revolution?
Not very long ago, the only people talking about the Internet were the small number of individuals who were engaged in engineering it, building it, and nurturing its growth. That was during the 1970s. But even during the 1980s, as the Internet expanded its reach and diversified its information resources and services, the Internet’s existence went largely unnoticed by the general public and it managed to retain its quiet, remote, and unassuming presence. The only national press coverage the
Internet received during the first two decades of its existence was when there was a sudden and sizable failure in one of its component systems or a debilitating network attack, like the
Internet worm of 1988. And the only individuals who took an interest in the Internet were computer enthusiasts, and their numbers were still very small. Moreover, in order to have any access to the Internet, you had to work at a major research facility, like AT&T Bell Laboratories, or attend one of the lucky few
Internet-connected academic institutions, like MIT or Stanford, or be employed by one of the United States government agencies that controlled it. In other words, for the first twenty or so years of its existence, the Internet remained predominantly hidden from public view and functioned as the private and entirely commerce-free playground of researchers and scientists, students and computer center workers, and some members of the military.
The Internet Revolution
1
The Internet Revolution
Nowadays, it’s difficult to avoid some reference to the Internet, no matter how hard we may try. It comes up in conversations with friends and family and in meetings at work as people complain about the latest email virus or some interminable network slowdown or as they rave about a site they have just discovered for managing their stock portfolio or playing poker. We hear about the
Internet on radio and