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USSR Launches Sputnik
USSR launches Sputnik into space and, with it, global communications. -
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The timeline of the Internet
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Bell Labs Invents Modem
Bell Labs researchers invent the modem (modulator - demodulator), which converts digital signals to electrical (analog) signals and back, enabling communication between computers. -
Ray Tomlinson Invents Email
Ray Tomlinson of BBN invents the email program to send messages across a distributed network. The "@" sign is chosen from the punctuation keys on Tomlinson's Model 33 Teletype to separate local from global emails, making "user@host" the email standard. -
Robert Kahn Demonstrates ARPAnet to Public
Robert Kahn demonstrates the ARPAnet to the public for the first time by connecting 20 different computers at the International Computer Communication Conference, and in doing so, imparts the importance of packet-switching technology. -
The Start of the Modern Internet
ARPAnet Transitions to TCP/IP
The ARPAnet changes its core networking protocols from Network Control Programs to the more flexible and powerful TCP/IP protocol suite, marking the start of the modern Internet. -
Paul Mockapetris Invents Domain Name System
Paul Mockapetris expands the Internet beyond its academic origins by inventing the Domain Name System (DNS). John Klensin helps facilitate early procedural and definitional work for DNS administration and top-level domain definitions. -
First U.S. Research & Education Network Developed
Dr. Stephen Wolff leads the development of NSFNET, the first U.S. open computer network supporting research and higher education. -
First Internet Exchange Point Established
Dr. Glenn Ricart sets up the first Internet Exchange point, connecting the original federal TCP/IP networks and first U.S. commercial and non-commercial Internet networks. -
First Search Engine
Brewster Kahle invents the Internet’s first publishing system, WAIS (Wide Area Information Server) and founds WAIS, Inc. A precursor to today’s search engines, WAIS is one of the first programs to index large amounts of data and make it searchable across large networks. -
Phil Zimmermann Creates PGP Email Encryption
Philip Zimmermann creates Pretty Good Privacy (PGP), an email encryption software package that's published for free. Originally designed as a human rights tool, PGP becomes one of the most widely used email encryption softwares in the world. -
World Wide Web is Opened to the Public
The World Wide Web is made available to the public for the first time on the Internet. -
MP3 is Developed
Brandenburg and his team settle on a file extension for the audio format, shortening MPEG1, Layer 3 to MP3. -
Google Is Created
Google.com is registered as a domain on September 15. The name—a play on the word "googol," a mathematical term for the number represented by the numeral 1 followed by 100 zeros—reflects Larry and Sergey's mission to organize a seemingly infinite amount of information on the web. -
Blogs First Appear
The advent of web publishing tools available to non-technical users spurs the rise of blogs. -
Craig Newmark Founds Craigslist
Craig Newmark founds Craigslist, which is to become one of the most widely used websites on the Internet. He changes the way people used classifieds, transforming it into a largely Internet-based industry. -
Jimmy Wales Launches Wikipedia
Jimmy Wales launches Wikipedia. There are half a million Internet users. -
Bibliography
This is where we got our information.
