Times have changed, drastically, especially when it comes to the Internet. From banking to dating and from research to shopping, the Internet provides us with such conveniences we rarely need to leave our homes. History should not be defined as B.C. and A.D.; it should be defined as B.I. (before the Internet) and A.I. (after the Internet).
I am at an age that has allowed me to experience life with, and without, the Internet. My kids, however, have grown up with the Internet their whole lives. Internet was not an offered course when I attended high school; it is a requirement for 4thgraders at my youngest son’s school. The impact of the Internet on our everyday lives has been miraculous. We no longer have to wait in line at the bank, for the arrival of the newspaper or the 5:00 news on TV, or the phone line to clear to communicate with friends or family. Shopping does not necessarily mean driving to the mall and going to school does not necessarily mean attending classes on campus. We will examine some of the ways the Internet has changed our lives.
Let usstart with banking. Before the Internet, banking meant having to wait for your statement to balance your checkbook; going into the bank to transfer funds; and paying your bills by writing checks. Nowadays you can access your bank account(s) online, and most are in real-time, which makebalancing your checkbook very simple. Banks also offer an online bill-pay service, which means you do nothave to write a check. The money transfers from your account directly to the company to which you owe money. Transferring money between accounts can be done online as well. Applying for a loan is another service offered by most banks’ websites, making it possible to receive an answer within minutes.
Next, we will discuss the B.I. and A.I.forms of communication.A Look at Life Before the Internet, and After the Internet
Times have changed, drastically, especially