The World Wide Web
The Internet is a utilitarian resource used by millions of computer users around the world. The virtual space it provides allows people to communicate in ways that were never before possible, to shop online, research information, retrieve news, and so much more. The internet has been abuzz with activity since its creation by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in 1969, and since then its capabilities have grown exponentially.
At the heart of this powerful tool is the “the world wide web.” In its simplest form, the web is made up of billions of webpages, all connected by a vast network of computers, web browser applications and communication protocols. This web gives users access to a wide range of information, products, services and applications.
The development of the web began in 1990 when Tim Berners-Lee wrote the first proposal for a worldwide web of interconnected documents. Working at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Berners-Lee wrote up a simple client-server model, allowing people to link documents with relative ease. His work formed the foundation for the most widely used medium of communication in the world today.
The first major development of the web was its introduction to the public. It was in late 1993 that the world got its first look at this revolutionary technology. On surprise Christmas Day, Marc Andreessen and Eric Bina announced their version of the web browser, “Mosaic”, to the public through an internet newsgroup.
This marked the official debut of the internet. In the following years, support for Mosaic gradually began to wane, as its successor, “Netscape” began to gain popularity. Microsoft had unsuccessfully tried to patent the web browser in 1995, sparking a major lawsuit. The resulting antitrust suit saw the United States Department of Justice file a complaint against Microsoft, and while Microsoft was ultimately found guilty of monopolizing the browser market, it had already irrevocably changed the landscape of the web.
Since then, major advancements have been made in the field of web technologies, ranging from complex search engine technology, interactive multimedia applications and a massive increase in available content on the web. An array of web services have been developed, expanding the personal and professional uses of the internet. Internet companies have taken advantage of their position as leaders in the web technology industry, providing online entertainment, e-commerce sites, travel services and much more.
The future of the web looks particularly bright. With so much new technology and applications appearing every day, it is clear that the web will remain one of the most powerful channels for communication for many years to come. Already, the web has begun to redefine the relationship between people and businesses, governments and civil society, and will continue to be a driving force of economic, political and social change in the future.
