Justine S.

Aurelio CP1
History of the Internet
In the late 1950's the Advanced Research Projects Agency ARPA! "as #ounded in the $nited
States "ith the %ri&ary #ocus o# develo%ing in#or&ation technologies that could survive a nuclear
attac'. (et"or'ing the (erds !In 19)* ARPA university and %rivate sector contractors &et "ith
re%resentatives o# the +e%art&ent o# +e#ense to discuss %ossi,le %rotocols #or sharing
in#or&ation via co&%uters. In 19)9- t"o years ,e#ore the calculator "as introduced to consu&ers
.istory o# the Internet and /// ! and the year a#ter (ational Pu,lic Radio "as esta,lished- the
%recursor o# the Internet- ARPA(01- "as ,orn. It connected #our sites at the $niversity o#
Cali#ornia at 2os Angeles- the $niversity o# Cali#ornia at Santa 3ar,ara- Stan#ord Research
Institute- and the $niversity o# $tah. 1hroughout the 19*0's researchers concentrated on
develo%ing %rotocols #or controlling net"or's- &oving &essages across a syste& o# net"or's-
and allo"ing #or re&ote access to the net"or's. 1here "ere co&%uters connected at a,out t"o
do4en sites "hen the 5rst e&ail "as sent in 19*6- ,ut the nu&,er o# sites and &essages soon
&ushroo&ed. 3y 19*5 there "ere )7 sites. In 1980- 600 host co&%uters "ere connecting 60-000
%eo%le at university- &ilitary- and govern&ent locations. 1"elve years later the nu&,er o# hosts
had gro"n to &ore than a &illion internationally P3S 1i&eline !- and in January o# 1999 there
"ere &ore than 97 &illion. .o,,es' Internet 1i&eline v9.1 !
I# the 19*0's "ere a ti&e o# research- the 1980's "ere a ti&e o# develo%&ent. 1he 1CP:IP
%rotocol "as introduced in 1987- and at the $niversity o# /isconsin the na&e server "as
develo%ed. 1he ne;t year do&ain na&e server +(S! "as esta,lished. In 198)- the (ational
Science <oundation develo%ed a syste& to connect the gro"ing nu&,er o# hosts. Regional
net"or's "ere connected to a ,ac',one net"or'- "hich ,eca&e 'no"n as the (S<(01. As the
=Internet= continued to gro" and %ros%er- ARPA(01 ca&e to an end in 1989 P3S 1i&eline ! just
,e#ore .1>2 %rotocol "as introduced in 1990. .1>2 allo"ed gra%hics to ,e sent along "ith te;t
to create hy%erte;t %ages custo&i4ed to the sender's %re#erence. (et"or'ing the (erds !
0verything "as no" in %lace #or e;%losive gro"th.
Commercial Development
In 19)7 during the early days o# co&%uters and si; years ,e#ore ARPA(01- students at >I1
develo%ed the 5rst co&%uter ga&e called S%ace /ar. It "ould ,e t"enty years ,e#ore the 1CP:IP
%rotocol sti&ulated the gro"th o# various net"or's and nearly thirty years 1991! ,e#ore the
$nited States govern&ent o%ened the Internet to %rivate enter%rise P3S 1i&eline!- ,ut this
ga&e #oreshado"ed the co&&erciali4ation o# the Internet. In the 19*0's and 80's %eo%le "ho
"ere online %ut out in#or&ation a,out #urniture and cars they "anted to sell. +e,ates raged
a,out "hether this "as an a%%ro%riate use o# the ne" research tool- the Internet- ,ut "hen the
Co&&ercial Internet 0;change CI?! "as #or&ed in 1991 the genie "ould not go ,ac' in the
,ottle.
Co&&ercial contractors have ,een involved in the develo%&ent o# ARPA(01 #ro& its ince%tion.
As 1ang and 1e@on ,egan as curiosities o# the s%ace %rogra& and later ,eca&e co&&on
consu&er %roducts- so too have e&ail- "e, research- and ho&e sho%%ing on the /e,. It has only
,een ten years since the 5rst relay ,et"een a co&&ercial entity >CI >ail! and the Internet "as
&ade. Since that ti&e technologies have e&erged that have #ueled the gro"th o# %rivate
enter%rise on the /e,. In 1996 Paul 2inder and >ar' >cCahill at the $niversity o# >innesota
released Ao%her- a tool that allo"ed researchers to retrieve s%eci5c data #ro& &yriad locations.
1he ne;t year >osaic- a "e, ,ro"ser- "as develo%ed at the $niversity o# Illinois ,y (etsca%e
1
#ounder >arc Andreesen- the /orld /ide /e, ,eca&e a %u,lic do&ain- and the Pentiu&
%rocessor "as introduced ,y Intel to s%eed u% the "hole %rocess. <ro& ARAP(01 to /orld /ide
/e, ! As the technology advanced- the Internet ,eca&e easier to use and the /orld /ide /e,
sites ,eca&e &ore intricate and inviting. In 1999 sho%%ing &alls arrived on the (et. Bou could
order %i44a #ro& Pi44a .ut online or ,an' at <irst Cirtual 3an'- the 5rst cy,er,an'. D# course- the
advance&ents ca&e "ith a do"nside. Cladi&ir 2evin o# Russia ,eca&e the 5rst %u,licly 'no"n
Internet ,an' ro,,er "hen he used the Internet to illegally trans#er #unds to his account.
.o,,es' Internet 1i&eline v9.1 !
1995 sa" the introduction o# several e&erging technologies such as JACA and JACAscri%t- Cirtual
0nviron&ents- and RealAudio "hich #urther enhanced the 'ind o# %roduct in#or&ation "hich
could ,e &ade availa,le to consu&ers. Co&&ercial users no" outnu&,ered research and
acade&ic users ,y a t"o to one &argin- and 3ill Aates decided to rede5ne >icroso#t as an
Internet co&%any. .istory o# the Internet ! 1oday one can sho% online #or ,oo's- #ood and "ine-
travel- and real estate. Dther ,usiness activities include ,uying stoc's and ,onds- ,an'ing- and
retire&ent %lanning. Dnline sho%%ing accounted #or over E9 ,illion in 199* and is e;%ected to ,e
E70 ,illion ,y the year 6000. In light o# this gro"th- the $.S. Co&&erce +e%art&ent "ill ,egin
studying the i&%act o# online sho%%ing on total retail activity. Co&&erce +e%art&ent to
>easure Dnline Sales ! Consu&er s%ending via the Internet dra"s &uch interest- ,ut ,usiness to
,usiness activity is also ,oo&ing. 1he consulting grou% Pi%er JaFray esti&ates that ,y the year
6001 Internet ,ased ,usiness to ,usiness transactions "ill total $S E601.) ,illion. <orrester
Research esti&ates that ,y 6006 online ,usiness to ,usiness transactions "ill total $S E76*
,illion- Internet Statistics !- "hile other %rojections indicate that ,y 6007- consu&ers "ill s%end
E108 ,illion- "hile ,usinesses "ill s%end E1.7 trillion.
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Internet
Advantages of the Internet
Faster Communication
1he Internet has ,een &an'ind's greatest &eans o# co&&unication yet. (e"er innovations are
only &a'ing it #aster and &ore relia,le. 1oday- "e can initiate realGti&e co&&unication "ith
so&eone "ho is in another %art o# the "orld. <or &ore %ersonal and interactive co&&unication-
it is %ossi,le to avail the #acilities o# video con#erencing- chat and &essenger services. /ith the
hel% o# these services- the geogra%hically #rag&ented countries have co&e together to #or& a
co&&unity that is a,le to share its thoughts on glo,al issues- that aFect each and every one o#
us. 1he Internet has given us a co&&on %lat#or& and &ediu& through "hich "e are a,le to
e;%lore other cultures and ideologies.
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Abundant Information Resources
1he Internet is a treasure trove o# in#or&ationH "hich oFers 'no"ledge on any given to%ic under
the sun. Search engines &a'e in#or&ation accessi,le on various su,ject &atters such as-
govern&ent la" and services- trade #airs and con#erences- &ar'et in#or&ation- ne" innovations
and technical su%%ort- and even dis%ense advice on love and relationshi%s &atters.
It has ,eco&e co&&on %ractice to see' assistance #ro& the "e, in order to research and gather
resources #or ho&e"or'- oIce %resentations- and su%%le&ent ones o"n research. 1he "e, also
u%dates ne"s a,out the latest ,rea'throughs in the 5eld o# &edicine- technology- and other
do&ains o# science. (u&erous "e,sites such as A&erica's +octor- have &ade it %ossi,le to see'
online advice #ro& s%ecialist doctors "ithout having to actually 5; an a%%oint&ent.
Inexhaustible Education
1he Internet has ,eco&e an essential %ro%agator o# 'no"ledge- ,oth through #ree as "ell as %aid
services. 1he credi,ility o# this #or& o# education and "hether it is sa#e- secure- and trust"orthy-
is usually %roven through the Juality and authenticity o# content %resented ,y each "e,site. 1he
/orld /ide /e, has ,eco&e a re&ar'a,le avenue #or the acade&ically un%rivileged- to a&ass
greater 'no"ledge and 'no"Gho" on su,jects. 1he entire sco%e o# ho&eschooling has e;%anded
,ecause o# increased accessi,ility to videos o# teachers giving lectures- sho"ing diagra&s and
e;%laining conce%ts- &uch li'e a real classroo&. (on%ro5t organi4ations too have o%ened
"e,sites that see' volunteers and donations in order to hel% the ones in need. 1here are also
sites li'e /i'i%edia- Coursera- 3a,,el- Archive- and 1eachertu,e- a&ong others- that have
dedicated the&selves to the art o# i&%arting 'no"ledge to %eo%le o# all age grou%s.
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Entertainment for Everyone
0ntertain&ent is one o# the #ore&ost reasons "hy %eo%le %re#er sur5ng the /e,. In #act- the
Internet has gained &uch success ,y &ar'eting #or several &ulti#aceted entertain&ent
industries. <inding the latest u%dates a,out cele,rities and e;%loring li#estyle "e,sites have
,eco&e dayGtoGday activities o# &any Internet consu&ers. Dn the other hand- even cele,rities
are using the Internet eFectively #or %ro&oting their cause and #or 'ee%ing their #ans ha%%y.
1here are innu&era,le ga&es that can ,e do"nload- either #or a %rice or #or #ree. Indeed- online
ga&ing has tasted dra&atic and %heno&enal success ,ecause o# its everGincreasing de&and
throughout the "orld.
Social et!or"ing and Staying Connected
Dne cannot i&agine a social li#e "ithout <ace,oo' or 1"itter. 1hese %ortals have ,eco&e our
&eans to stay connected "ith #riends and #a&ily- and stay in touch "ith the latest ha%%enings in
the "orld. Social net"or'ing has also evolved as a great &ediu& to connect "ith li'eG&inded
individuals and ,eco&e a %art o# interesting grou%s and co&&unities.A%art #ro& 5nding longGlost
#riends- the Internet also &a'es it easier to search and a%%ly #or jo,s and ,usiness o%%ortunities
on #oru&s and co&&unities. 1here are %u,lic chat roo&s "here users can &eet ne" %eo%le. <or
those "ho are single- the Internet also %rovides the o%tion to select a suita,le dating %artner
through secure online %ro5les- that can ,e 5ltered as %er %ersonal %re#erences.
#nline Services and E$commerce
1han's to nu&erous &onetary services- "e can %er#or& all our 5nancial transactions online. /e
can ,oo' tic'ets #or a &ovie- trans#er #unds- %ay utility ,ills and ta;es "ithout having to leave
our ho&es or oIces. 1ravel "e,sites #or instance- oFer Juic' ,oo'ing sche&es and %lan
itineraries as %er the %re#erences o# their clients. 0Gco&&erce is used #or all ty%e o# ,usiness
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dealing that involves the trans#er o# &oney through the Internet. Dnline transaction o# &oney
has ,eco&e the nor& "ith al&ost all 'inds o# ,usiness. 0Gco&&erce- "ith its vast reach over a
variety o# %roducts and services- &a'es it %ossi,le to have the client's orders delivered at their
doorste%s. /e,sites such as e3ay allo" custo&ers to ,id- ,uy- sell- and even auction %roducts
online.
Disadvantages of the Internet
%heft of &ersonal Information
1he use o# Internet #or ,an'ing- social net"or'ing- or other services- o#ten &a'es our %ersonal
in#or&ation vulnera,le to the#t. 1here are no #ailG%roo# "ays to securing na&es- account
nu&,ers- addresses- %hotos- and credit card nu&,ers #ro& ,eing stolen or &isused ,y thieving
"e,sites and individuals. $nscru%ulous hac'ers can access our sensitive in#or&ation through
unsecured connections ,y %lanting %hishing so#t"are. (eedless to say- the da&age caused ,y
having our identities &isused and our accounts ,ro'en into- is o#ten irre%ara,le and &ost o# all-
e&,arrassing.
Spamming
S%a&&ing re#ers to sending un"anted eG&ails- "hich serve no %ur%ose and needlessly o,struct
the co&%uter syste&. Such illegal activities can ,e very #rustrating as it &a'es it slo"er to
access our e&ail accounts and &a'es the entire service unrelia,le #or consu&ers. S%a&&ers
usually use ,ots that ,o&,ard the receiver "ith an endless line o# advertise&ents. 1his can
%rove to ,e increasingly %er%le;ing- as it 'ee%s getting &i;ed "ith our &ore i&%ortant e&ails.
<ortunately- e&ail service %roviders o#ten have security syste&s in %lace to guard against
s%a&&ing. <ortunately- it is %ossi,le to re%ort an e&ail as s%a&- so that all e&ails #ro& the
sa&e e&ail id or IP address- are ,loc'ed.
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'al!are %hreats
Dne o# the &ost annoying %ro,le&s "ith the Internet is the ease "ith "hich any &al"are can
in#ect our co&%uters. Internet users are o#ten %lagued ,y virus attac's that har& their
co&%uters and i&%ortant 5les. Cirus %rogra&s are incons%icuous and &ay get activated si&%ly
,y clic'ing a see&ingly har&less lin'. Co&%uters connected to the Internet are e;tre&ely %rone
to IP targeted virus attac's that &ay end u% crashing the syste& co&%letely. Internet virus can
,e o# three ty%es. 1he 5rst ty%e o# virus aFects 5les and goes directly #or a %articular 5le or 5le
ty%e. 1he second ty%e har&s syste& and e;ecuta,le ,oot 5les. 1hese can ,e %articularly nasty-
as they can eFectively sto% the co&%uter #ro& starting again. 2astly- there's the &acro virus-
"hich is the &ost co&&on as "ell as the &ost har&less o# the& all. 1he &acro virus si&%ly 'ee%
changing things li'e sy&,ols on "ord 5les. 1he ty%e o# virus that can re%licate and s%read itsel#
is 'no"n as "or&s. /hen a virus is disguised as so&ething else- it's 'no"n as a trojan.
Age$inappropriate Content
Pornogra%hy and ageGina%%ro%riate content is %erha%s the ,iggest disadvantage o# the Internet.
1he "orst ,eing underage %orn- "hich is largely ra&%ant in the dee%er %arts o# the "e,. It is the
lac' o# control over the distri,ution and unrestricted access o# %ornogra%hic &aterial- that is
detri&ental to children. All that %arents can do- is loc' har&#ul sites and &onitor the sites vie"ed
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,y their children. Pornogra%hy is not just #ro"ned u%on ,y &ost societies- it's also ,anned ,y
so&e. 1he Internet &a'es u%loading shoc'ing content so easy- that "e end u% co&ing across
ina%%ro%riate "ords and i&ages- des%ite not "anting to.
Social Isolation( #besity( and Depression
1he ,iggest %ro,le& "ith having the Internet is- its a,ility to create ri#ts ,et"een the real and
virtual "orld. 1he virtual "orld can o#ten see& so alluring that once hoo'ed- going ,ac' to real
li#e see&s daunting. 1here is an addiction #or everything that %ertains to the "e, and that
includes e;cessive sur5ng- online ga&,ling- social net"or'ing- and ga&ing addiction. 1here are
no" %sychiatric clinics and doctors that s%eci5cally cater to resolving the %ro,le&s created ,y
the Internet. 1hese addictions create ,oth %hysical as "ell as &ental issues that can lead to
health co&%lications i# le#t unattended. It is ironic that- "hile it is easy to 5nd %lenty o# online
su%%ort #or agora%ho,ia- the Internet itsel# can ,e a ,ig cause or trigger #or it. 1he lin' ,et"een
o,esity and the Internet is rather easy to understand. 1he &ore one sits in #ront o# the co&%uter-
the lesser one e;ercises. At the end o# the longish list o# %hysical and e&otional &aladies- is
de%ression. Since all %ro,le&s are so dee%ly lin'ed "ith one another and "ith the Internet- it
isn't unco&&on #or %eo%le to ,e aKicted "ith &ulti%le issues. Recent studies and research have
gone dee% enough to actually diFerentiate ,et"een co&%ulsive Internet use and e;cessive
Internet use. <urther&ore- than's to s&art%hones- holding a si&%le #aceGtoG#ace conversation
see&s out o# the ordinary as co&%ared to chatting online.
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