To start off, we must go back to the very humble beginnings of the internet
In 1965, following the creating of the computer, transmitting data across sources became a thing. However, the data back then was much smaller. For instance, five megabytes of data was so massive you needed a cart to transport it.
For reference, one terabyte SD cards the size of our finger prints are what we are capable of using todays. In today's world, five megabytes of space would be about one GIF.
Because of the military purposes technology could serve, major pushes for advances began to rise....
During the later 50s DARPA, or Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency started to fund technological programs to help with military purposes. This was the first time the government would use a networking to connect with agencies all over the world.
The ARPANET was the first connection that computers had with each other...
The ARPANET, or Advanced Research Projects Agency Network was able to connect the networking through phone lines. Anyone's computer connected to the ARPANET would be able to transmit data anywhere across the United States.
With the widespread use of the ARPANET, colleges and laboratories began to connect to the ARPANET. This way data would be transferred across the nation. However, by no means was this a fast of effective method. It took nearly eight minutes to send only five megabits of information. On the bright side, it was still faster than mail....somehow.
This short video gives a great reference to the ARPANET, and how the ARPANETs expansion led to the internet as we see it today.
While the ARPANET was taking place, instead European programmers had a separate approach
Instead of connecting the computers to phonelines French programmers were connecting the computers directly to each other. The French called this idea the "L'Internet".
Meanwhile, British programmers found a way to transmit data in more efficient ways. This was through "packet switching". Packet switching was the process of breaking data into smaller bits, and then transfer the data through the least busiest networks. After the data arrived it would rearrange themselves back on the other end.
Packet Switching
Now, lets skip ahead to the late 60s.
In 1969, the first ever internet messaging in the United States took place. One computer in UCLA and the other at the Stanford Research Institute.
The first message to ever be transmitted was "L-O". Which was the beginning for login. After the G, or third letter was typed the whole system had crashed.
Klenick, the man involved explained his thoughts on the whole thing. Despite it being an accident, he liked to think of it as something profound-- almost as if the internet was saying "Lo and behold".
By the 1970s, the ARPANET network had nearly doubled its connections to computers.
However, with the more computers using the network the harder it got to communicate and integrate these systems. Many people wanted a worldwide communication between all networks. The issue being that the rest of the world was processing information differently.
The link below serves educational information about the changes in the computers and internet during the 1970s. In the 70s, a popularization for technology grew. Many people became fascinated with the many uses. Companies also began to realize the endless possibilities that computers may hold. This is only a few interesting things the link goes over.
https://www.thepeoplehistory.com/70scomputers.html#:~:text=People%20during%20the%20late%2070s,data%20and%20many%20more%20options.
Let's skip ahead to 1983, the official "birthday" of the internet
In 1983, a new form of communication was introduced. This communication was far better than ARPANET because it didn't rely on phonelines but rather their own system of communicating. This system was called Transfer Control Protocol/Internetwork Protocol, or TCP/IP.
So, how is TCP/IP possible?
TCP/IP runs through a program that breaks data down into small pieces which is transmitted over the internet to then be re-assembled by the receiving computer. Similar to the initial "packet switching" concept that introduced by British programmers.
Still confused? Watch this quick video for another rundown explaining how TCP/IP works!
The 90s web culture was what formed the internet as we know it today.
The internet was filled with poorly done webpages, bright color schemes, and tons of random thread posts; however, at the time this is what made the internet the internet!
Feel free to discover your own favorite 90s website in the link!
https://webflow.com/blog/90s-website-design
Now, let's fast-forward to my favorite part meme culture.
A large part of the internet today and the culture surrounding it revolves around memes. So, it wouldn't be a real "History of the Internet" presentation without mentioning a meme or two.
The early 2000s and 2010s was the start of bold text picture memes. While shorty after, most of "meme" culture flocked to a new kind of meme...Vine.
What is Vine?
Vine was a video sharing app that allowed for the users to make their own videos to share with their following. After the loss of Vine, many people flocked to Tiktok, to continue with their short videos and comedic relief.
Below I attached a link of Vines most recognized videos.