History of the Internet facts for kids
The Internet is a huge global network that connects computers and devices all over the world. It started with scientists and engineers who wanted to link computers together. The special rules that allow these connections, called the Internet Protocol Suite, were developed through teamwork, especially between researchers in the United States, United Kingdom, and France.
In the late 1950s, computer experts began thinking about how multiple people could use one computer at the same time. They also imagined connecting computers across long distances. J. C. R. Licklider from the US Department of Defense's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) dreamed of a universal network. Around the same time, Paul Baran suggested a network that sent data in small blocks. In the UK, Donald Davies came up with the idea of packet switching in 1965, which is how data is broken into small pieces to travel across networks.
In 1969, ARPA started the ARPANET project, led by Robert Taylor and Lawrence Roberts. ARPANET used the packet switching idea. A team at Bolt, Beranek, and Newman built the network's main parts. Students at UCLA, like Steve Crocker, helped create the rules for computers to talk to each other. ARPANET quickly grew across the US and connected to countries like the UK and Norway.
During the 1970s, many early networks explored how to send data. Researchers like Louis Pouzin in France and Peter Kirstein in the UK worked on connecting different networks. Bob Metcalfe developed Ethernet, a way for computers in a local area to connect. Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn published their ideas in 1974 on how to create a "network of networks." This led to the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP)], which are the core rules of the Internet today.
Later in the 1970s, public data networks appeared, using a standard called X.25. In the US, the National Science Foundation (NSF) funded supercomputing centers and connected them with the NSFNET project in 1986. This allowed universities and researchers to access powerful computers. As more countries connected to NSFNET and adopted TCP/IP, the Internet truly began to take shape. Commercial Internet service providers (ISPs) started offering Internet access in 1989. By 1995, the NSFNET backbone was removed, opening the Internet fully for commercial use.
In 1989–90, Tim Berners-Lee at CERN in Switzerland invented the World Wide Web. This system linked hypertext documents, making information easily accessible from any computer on the network. The Web became public in 1991. The Internet's ability to carry huge amounts of data grew rapidly in the mid-1990s, thanks to fiber optic cables. This change revolutionized how we communicate, shop, and learn. Things like electronic mail, instant messaging, voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls, video chat, discussion forums, blogs, social networking services, and online shopping became possible. By 2007, the Internet carried over 97% of all telecommunicated information. It continues to grow, connecting more people and offering more services every day.
Contents
Early Ideas for Connecting Computers
How We Sent Messages Before the Internet
Before the Internet, people found different ways to send messages over distances. The electrical telegraph in the late 1800s was like the first digital messaging system. Later, radiotelegraphy used radio waves. Telex machines in the 1930s allowed people to type messages that printed out on another machine far away. These systems usually connected only two specific points.
Scientists like Claude Shannon in 1948 developed Information theory, which helped us understand how to send messages clearly and without errors, even with noise (interference).
Computers Start Talking
In the 1940s, early computers were huge and operated manually. By the 1950s, mainframe computers became common. Modems, like the Bell 101, allowed these computers to send digital information over regular phone lines, though slowly. This meant computers could exchange data from different locations. However, they still needed a direct, fixed connection between two points.
Sharing Computer Time
In the late 1950s, Christopher Strachey and John McCarthy came up with the idea of time-sharing. This allowed many users to share one powerful computer at the same time. Instead of waiting for one task to finish before starting another, the computer quickly switched between users, making it seem like everyone had their own machine. This idea was important for future networks.
The Dream of a Universal Network
J. C. R. Licklider was a visionary who worked at Bolt Beranek and Newman (BBN). In 1960, he wrote about a "network of such centers, connected to one another by wide-band communication lines." He imagined a future where computers could share information and work together.
In 1962, Licklider joined ARPA and started an informal group to research computers. He wrote memos describing a huge, distributed network, which he called the "Intergalactic Computer Network." Even though he left ARPA before the ARPANET was built, his vision inspired others, like Robert Taylor, to create it.
Breaking Data into Packets
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Old telephone systems used "circuit switching," which meant a dedicated line was set up for each call. This was inefficient for computer data. In the early 1960s, Paul Baran at the RAND Corporation studied how to build networks that could survive even if parts were damaged. He suggested breaking messages into "message blocks" and sending them through a "distributed" network.
Around the same time, in 1965, Donald Davies in the UK independently developed a similar idea for computer networks. He called it packet switching. This technique breaks computer data into small, standardized chunks called "packets." Each packet has routing information and travels independently through the network. This was much more efficient and flexible than older methods.
Building the First Networks
The NPL Network in the UK
After talking with J. C. R. Licklider, Donald Davies became very interested in computer networks. In 1965, he proposed a national data network in the UK based on packet switching. While this national plan wasn't built, he designed a local network for the NPL to test his ideas. This NPL network, which started operating in 1969, was one of the first to use packet switching and high-speed connections.
ARPANET: The Internet's Grandparent
Robert Taylor at ARPA wanted to connect different computers that researchers were using. He saw that people had to use separate terminals for each computer system, which was a waste of time. He thought, "There ought to be one terminal that goes anywhere you want to go." This idea led to the ARPANET.
In 1967, Taylor brought in Larry Roberts to lead the project. Roberts incorporated Donald Davies' packet switching ideas into the ARPANET design. The contract to build the network went to Bolt Beranek & Newman.
The first ARPANET link was made on October 29, 1969, between University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the Stanford Research Institute (SRI). They tried to send the word "LOGIN." They typed "L" and asked if SRI saw it. "Yes!" came the reply. They typed "O" and asked again. "Yes!" Then they typed "G," and the system crashed! Even with this small hiccup, a revolution had begun.
By December 1969, ARPANET had four connected computers. Steve Crocker at UCLA started the "Network Working Group" and created the Request for Comments (RFC) process, which is still used today for sharing ideas and standards for the Internet.
Other Early Networks
In France, Louis Pouzin led the CYCLADES project in 1972. This network was important because it made the computers themselves responsible for making sure data arrived correctly, rather than the network. This idea influenced the design of TCP/IP.
Many public data networks also emerged, using a standard called X.25. These networks were available for businesses and helped spread computer communication. For example, CompuServe offered commercial electronic mail and real-time chat in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Another important early network was Usenet, which started in 1979. It used a system called UUCP to transfer news and messages between computers, creating early discussion groups called "newsgroups."
Connecting the Networks: The Birth of the Internet
TCP/IP: The Internet's Language
With so many different networks, a common language was needed to connect them all. Bob Kahn at DARPA and Vint Cerf at Stanford University worked together on this problem. By 1973, they developed a way for different networks to talk to each other, hiding the differences between them.
Cerf and Kahn published their ideas in 1974. This led to the creation of the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and the Internet Protocol (IP). Together, these are known as TCP/IP, the fundamental rules that make the Internet work. The term "internet" itself came from "internetworking," meaning connecting networks.
Testing of TCP/IP began in 1975. On November 22, 1977, a major demonstration successfully linked three different networks: ARPANET, a Packet Radio Network, and the Atlantic Packet Satellite Network (SATNET).
In 1983, the US military made TCP/IP the standard for all its computer networks. This was a huge step in making TCP/IP widely adopted and truly started the global Internet.
From ARPANET to NSFNET
ARPANET was originally for research, not for running a public service. In 1975, it was handed over to the Defense Communications Agency. In 1983, the military part of ARPANET became a separate network called MILNET.
The US government, including the National Science Foundation (NSF) and NASA, became deeply involved in Internet research. In 1986, the NSF created NSFNET, a high-speed network to connect supercomputing centers at universities. This network also helped connect university campuses across the US.
NSFNET quickly became very busy and was upgraded multiple times. Its existence allowed the original ARPANET to be shut down in 1990. By 1995, NSFNET's backbone was transferred to commercial Internet service providers, fully opening the Internet to everyone.
Connecting the World with Fiber Optics
The rapid growth of the Internet was made possible by optical communication systems. These systems use fiber optic cables and lasers to send data at incredibly high speeds. The idea for lasers came from Albert Einstein in 1917, and the first working laser was made in 1960 by Theodore Maiman.
Companies like Optelecom and GTE developed early optical communication systems in the 1970s. By the 1990s, technologies like wave division multiplexing (WDM) allowed fiber optic cables to carry even more data, leading to a massive increase in Internet capacity.
TCP/IP Goes Global
In the 1980s, TCP/IP began to spread internationally. In 1982, researchers in Norway and the UK started using TCP/IP over SATNET. CERN in Switzerland also began using TCP/IP for its internal computer systems.
In 1988, the first international connections to NSFNET were made from France and the Netherlands. This helped expand the Internet across Europe. Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand also established their own IP-based networks and connected to the growing global Internet.
However, a "digital divide" began to appear, where some developing countries had less access to the Internet than developed ones. Organizations like AFRINIC for Africa and APNIC for Asia Pacific were created to help manage Internet resources and expand connectivity in these regions.
The Rise of the World Wide Web (Web 1.0)
Internet for Everyone
At first, the Internet was mainly for government and research. But as it grew, companies like PSINet and UUNET started offering Internet access to the public. In 1989, The World became the first commercial dial-up Internet service provider in the US.
In 1992, the US Congress allowed NSFNET to connect with commercial networks. This helped the Internet become available to more people and businesses. By 1995, the Internet was fully open for commercial use, leading to rapid growth.
The World Wide Web Changes Everything
The invention of the World Wide Web by Tim Berners-Lee at CERN brought the Internet to a much wider audience. The Web, which became public in 1991, allowed people to easily access information through linked documents (hypertext).
In the early days of the Web (sometimes called "Web 1.0"), websites were mostly static, meaning they didn't change much. People used the Internet for mailing lists, emails, online shopping (like Amazon and eBay), online forums, and personal blogs. It was a time of rapid growth, but the Internet was still developing into the interactive platform we know today.
IPv6: The Next Generation of Addresses
The Internet uses unique addresses, called IP addresses, for every device. The original system, IPv4, had a limited number of addresses. To make sure there are enough addresses for all the new devices connecting to the Internet, a new system called IPv6 was created. IPv6 uses much longer addresses, providing a massive number of unique identifiers for future growth. The switch to IPv6 is a long process that continues today.
Keeping the Internet Organized and Safe
Who Manages the Internet?
The Internet doesn't have one central boss. Instead, it's a global network of many independent networks that agree to work together. Technical standards are developed by groups like the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).
To keep things running smoothly, organizations like the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) manage important technical numbers and identifiers. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) helps coordinate the Internet's main naming systems, like domain names (e.g., .com, .org) and IP addresses. These groups work to ensure the Internet remains open and accessible worldwide.
The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)
The IETF is a group of volunteers from all over the world who help develop and improve Internet technologies. They create the technical specifications and standards that guide how the Internet works. Their work is documented in "RFCs," which are like instruction manuals for Internet protocols. The IETF is a key part of ensuring the Internet continues to evolve and function well.
The Internet Society (ISOC)
The Internet Society (ISOC) is a non-profit organization founded in 1992. Its goal is to ensure the Internet develops and is used for the benefit of everyone. ISOC supports the groups that set Internet standards, like the IETF, and promotes the idea of an open and transparent Internet.
Challenges and Important Discussions Online
As the Internet grew, it became a powerful tool for communication and sharing ideas. This also led to discussions about how to keep it safe and fair. For example, people use the Internet for sharing information, organizing public events, and discussing important topics.
Sometimes, there are concerns about how information is shared or how people behave online. This has led to ongoing efforts to ensure the Internet remains a positive and secure place for everyone.
Keeping Internet Access Fair (Net Neutrality)
Net neutrality is the idea that Internet service providers (ISPs) should treat all data on the Internet equally. This means they shouldn't block or slow down certain websites or online services. The goal is to ensure that everyone has fair and open access to all content on the Internet.
In the United States, there have been debates and changes to rules about net neutrality. For example, in 2015, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) made rules to ensure net neutrality, but these rules were later changed in 2017. Discussions about how to keep Internet access fair continue around the world.
How We Use the Internet Today
Email and Online Discussions
Email was one of the first "killer applications" of the Internet. It started in 1965 as a way for computer users to send messages to each other. In 1971, Ray Tomlinson created the standard email address format using the "@" sign. Email was crucial for researchers to communicate and build the early Internet.
Online discussion groups, like those on Usenet and through email mailing lists, also became very popular. People could discuss a wide range of topics, from technical issues to hobbies.
Sharing Files and Content
Sharing files has always been a big part of computer networks. The File Transfer Protocol (FTP) was standardized in 1985 and is still used today to transfer files. With the rise of the Web, tools like Web directories and Web search engines helped people find files.
In 1999, Napster introduced peer-to-peer file sharing, allowing users to share music files directly with each other. This led to many other file-sharing services. While file sharing can be used for legal purposes, it also brought challenges related to sharing content illegally, which is often called "online piracy." This has led to ongoing debates about intellectual property and copyright.
Online Storage and Collaboration
File hosting services allow people to store their files on remote servers, like an extension of their computer's hard drive. Services like Google Drive (launched in 2012) and Dropbox (released in 2007) let users store, edit, and share files easily. These services are very useful for school, work, and personal use, allowing for collaboration and access to files from anywhere. Mega offers encrypted storage with a focus on privacy.
The Mobile Internet
Mobile data traffic has grown incredibly fast. By 2020, it was 150 times higher than in 2010! Most of this traffic comes from smartphones, with video being a major part. The first text message was sent on December 3, 1992.
The first mobile phone with Internet access was the Nokia 9000 Communicator in 1996. However, mobile Internet really took off with services like i-mode in Japan in 1999. Today, most people around the world access the Internet from their mobile phones, making it a truly global and always-on network.
Images for kids
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Fixed broadband Internet subscriptions in 2012 as a percentage of a country's population. Source: International Telecommunication Union.
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Mobile broadband Internet subscriptions in 2012 as a percentage of a country's population. Source: International Telecommunication Union.
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A stamped envelope from Russian Post (1993) celebrating the first Russian underwater digital optic cable.
See also
In Spanish: Historia de Internet para niños
- History of email
- History of hypertext
- History of telecommunication
- Index of Internet-related articles
- Internet activism
- List of Internet pioneers
- MH & xmh: Email for Users & Programmers
- Nerds 2.0.1 A Brief History of the Internet
- On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog
- Outline of the Internet
- Timeline of the history of the Internet
- Per country: History of the Internet in Sweden, History of the Internet in Russia
