8. 10 Facts About the Internet

Here are some interesting facts about my favorite thing:

1) How old is the internet?

The internet became popularized in 1983, but was based largely on the ARPANET, which was first launched in late 1969. The first email was sent in 1972. Therefore, the 'net is over 30 years old.

2) Who invented the internet?

The technology that underlies the internet involves packet-switching. This technology was invented in the 1960's by Paul Baran in the US and Donald Watts Davies in the UK, both working independently. However, the entire infrastructure is the product of cooperation between countless scientists and engineers� no single person or group can take responsibility for the internet.

3) I've heard that the interent was built to survive a nuclear war. Is this true?

Bugwash. The ARPANET was funded by the US Department of Defense; specifically, the Advanced Research Projects Agency� hence the name. The goal was to enable incompatible mainframe computers to communicate and share resources.

4) What is the World Wide Web and how old is it?

Many people confuse the World Wide Web with the internet itself. The WWW is but one aspect of the internet, albeit the most recognizable feature. Web pages are the 'front-end' of the 'net. The WWW technology was invented in 1989 by Tim Berners-Lee, an English software engineer. Other internet services include email, telnet, ftp, etc.

5) How many people are on the 'net?

At best an educated guess, this link purports that there were somewhere around 605.60 million internet users as of September 2002.

6) How does the growth of the internet compare to other forms of communication?

It took radio 37 years to reach 50 million listeners, and TV about 15 years to reach 50 million viewers. The World Wide Web took just over 3 years to acquire 50 million users.

7) Who owns the interent?

The infrastructure (transmission lines, computers, servers, switches, etc.) of the internet are owned by private companies and individuals, but all of the software that runs the show belongs in the public domain. You own the 'net, and so do I.

8) Where did the term 'cyberspace' come from?

The term comes from the novel Neuromancer, published in 1984. The writer (and more recently, blogger) William Gibson described it as a 'consensual illusion'.

9) The internet is flooded with pornography, isn't it?

The world is flooded with pornography� a massive industry. As the internet is the first completely uncensored publication medium in history, you should expect a lot of pornography. Despite what the press will have you believe, however, the internet is flooded by a heck of a lot more than just porn!

10) The internet is kind of like a billion channel television, right?

Television is 'push' technology. The content is programmed by a small number of providers and then pushed at viewers whose freedom of choice is limited to what the providers are offering. The internet, conversely, is a 'pull' medium. As a user, you decide what you want and then pull it to your screen. The affordability of web publishing ensures that almost anyone can become a content provider, which has translated to an amazingly diverse range of content. While television remains a passive medium, the internet is all about interactivity.