History of the Internet Timeline

By Miotlaa77

  • Launch of ARPANET

    a small network of computers intended to share scientific research between a handful of universities and military organizations

  • The First Email

    A random string of letters

  • 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 GIF

    The first gif as we know it was created by Steve Wichita, and yes it's pronounced GIF not JIF

  • The Birth 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.

  • 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 First Smartphone

    Smartphones took the functionality of PDAs to the next level with cellular internet connectivity.

  • Wi-Fi

    A group of important tech companies forms the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance.

  • First iPhones

    Apple revolutionizes the way phone users access the internet when they release the first iPhone.

  • Foundation of Internet in Space

  • Rise of Social Media

    Apps like Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and more started to pop up and become popular

  • Growth in Smartphones

    Over 50% of American Adults have smartphones by this point