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Launch of ARPANET
a small network of computers intended to share scientific research between a handful of universities and military organizations -
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The first online game
Maze War existed before the internet, but early net pioneers adapted a version for use on ARPANET in 1974, making it a contender for the title of first online game -
The first spam email
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Invention of the GIF
Steve Wichita of Compuserve invents the GIF. He will insist its pronunciation should use a hard J sound, like the peanut butter. Animated gifs won't arrive until 1989, and they won't repeat until 1995. -
Dawn of the World Wide Web
Computer scientist Sir Tim Berners-Lee explains a blueprint for the internet in his paper, "Information Management: A Proposal.", he creates three technologies that form the foundation of the internet we use today.
https://youtu.be/h8K49dD52WA?si=0Mh2034DgCdf-hPX -
The first search engine
Alan Emtage creates Archie, the world's first internet search engine. Archie makes it much easier to find specific files on the constantly-expanding internet. The same year, the world's first website goes live. -
The Web goes worldwide
CERN makes its web source code public domain, or free for anyone to use. Now anyone who wants to learn can host a server or create a website. -
World Wide Web standards
Their mission: to make sure the web will be accessible to everyone. -
Social media goes mainstream
SixDegrees.com introduces user profiles, friend groups, and other features that will soon become standard -
The first smartphone
Smartphones took the functionality of PDAs to the next level with cellular internet connectivity. -
The first pop-up
An innocent sounding feature of the freshly released JavaScript web language allows online advertisers to create pop-up ads in 1997. -
Wi-Fi as we know it
A group of important tech companies forms the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance. -
The broadband revolution
In 2005, broadband use surpasses dial-up internet usage for the first time. -
iPhone introduced
Apple revolutionizes the way phone users access the internet when they release the first iPhone. -
Internet in space
NASA successful tests internet in space via DTN software. -
Social media becomes a tool of dissent
The Arab Spring shows the world that social media sites like Facebook and Twitter can be used to organize grassroots movements quickly. -
Machine learning takes off
recently the internet become fast enough, computers smart enough, and data large enough to make machine learning practical.
https://www.edweek.org/technology/opinion-what-students-are-really-thinking-about-online-learning/2020/05 -
Smartphones everywhere
For the first time, the majority of American adults (56%) own a smartphone, up from 35% just two years earlier. Among adults ages 25-34, smartphone ownership is closer to 81%.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/236550/percentage-of-us-population-that-own-a-iphone-smartphone/ -
Smart speakers & virtual assistants
virtual assistants become more popular as smart speakers like the Amazon Echo and Google Home come on the market.
