Topic 8 Part 2: Internet and WWW
Internet Timeline and Evolution
Early Development of the Internet
- The origins of the internet trace back to collaborations among universities in the United States, including UCLA, UCSB, Stanford Research Institute, and the University of Utah.
- In 1971, ARPANET was established with approximately 21 computers connected, marking a significant milestone in communication technology.
- By 1973, the first connection outside the U.S. was made by University College London using ARPANET.
Protocol Advancements
- The introduction of TCP/IP protocols in 1978 facilitated data sharing across networks and laid foundational standards for internet communication.
- By 1982, TCP/IP became fully adopted as the standard protocol for internet communications; definitions for "internet" and "intranet" were also established.
Growth and Security Challenges
- The number of computers on the internet surpassed 1000 by 1984; however, security issues began to emerge with hacking incidents noted around this time.
- In response to increasing cyber threats, an emergency response team was formed in 1988 to monitor internet security.
Expansion into Malaysia
- By 1992, Malaysia joined the global internet community with its network managed by MIMOS (Malaysian Institute of Microelectronic Systems).
Browser Wars and Programming Languages
- The late '90s saw significant developments in web browsers like Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer dominating user access to the web.
- Java programming language gained popularity after its launch by Sun Microsystems in May 1997 due to its ability to create dynamic websites.
E-commerce Emergence
- By 1999, millions of websites existed online; e-commerce began gaining traction as a new business model leveraging internet capabilities.
Web Evolution Phases
- Web development continued through various phases:
- Web 1.0 focused on static content,
- Web 2.0 introduced interactivity,
- Web 3.0 aimed at semantic web technologies,
- Web 4.0 emphasized mobile connectivity and real-time interactions.
Future Developments
- As of now (2023), discussions are ongoing about advancements towards Web 5.0 and beyond, indicating continuous evolution in how users interact with digital environments.