This Week The Internet Turns 40
It was 40 years ago this week that two computers transmitted their first message (from UCLA to Stanford). Only the letters “l” and “o” made it through before the two computers crashed. They were trying to send the word “login”.
Popular Science marks the occasion with 5 pivotal moments in the Internet’s history:
- 1969: Arpanet Connects
- 1992: The Commercialization of The Network
- 1993: The Rise of The Web
- 1999: Napster
- 2007: The iPhone
Although, I might argue that the Blackberry brought the internet to mobile devices. I do not disagree that iPhone perfected the experience and made it much less cumbersome. Also, it seems that Google should have a place on this list. Although it was not the first search engine, Google really revolutionized how the internet is used, from both a search and an advertising perspective.
Either way, happy birthday, Internet. You’ve had a good run so far.
