Lesson

History of
1.1 Internet
Learning Objective:

After studying and answering the exercises and activities of this module, you
should be able to:
1. Understand the Origins and Development of ARPANET.
2. Identify Key Milestones and Technological Advancements in the Evolution
of the Internet.
3. Analyze the Impact of the Internet on Society and Future Trends.

Discussion

J.C.R. Licklider, often considered one of the "fathers of the internet," made
several critical contributions that shaped the development and future of the
internet.

Licklider imagined a globally connected network of computers, which he referred

to as the "Intergalactic Computer Network." This vision was one of the earliest
concepts of what would eventually become the internet. He saw the potential for
computers to communicate with each other, share information, and provide
widespread access to resources.

Paul Baran and Donald Davies: Independently, Baran (at RAND Corporation)
and Davies (at the National Physical Laboratory in the UK) developed the concept
of packet switching, a method of breaking data into packets for transmission
across a network, which could then be reassembled at the destination. This
concept became foundational for ARPANET.

Origins and Early Developments

ARPANET: The Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET)
was developed by the U.S. Department of Defense. It was the first network to
implement the TCP/IP protocol suite, which is the foundation of the modern
internet.
 First Connection: On October 29, 1969, the first message was sent over
ARPANET from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to the Stanford
Research Institute (SRI). The message was intended to be "LOGIN," but only the
first two letters ("LO") were transmitted before the system crashed. Despite this
hiccup, it marked the beginning of network communication.

Initial Nodes: By the end of 1969, four nodes were connected: UCLA, SRI,
the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), and the University of Utah.
This initial network demonstrated the feasibility of long-distance computer
communication.

TCP/IP Protocols: In the 1970s, Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn developed the
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP), which were
adopted by ARPANET in 1983. These protocols enabled reliable data
transmission across interconnected networks and remain the core protocols of
the internet today.

Ray Tomlinson was a pioneering computer scientist best known for inventing
email as we know it today. His contributions significantly shaped electronic
communication, making it an integral part of modern life.

The "@" Symbol: Tomlinson chose the "@" symbol to separate the user's name
from the host computer's name in email addresses. This simple yet ingenious
choice created the email addressing format still in use today (user@host).

Vinton Cerf, often called the "Father of the Internet," is a pioneering computer
scientist who co-designed the TCP/IP protocols, which form the foundation of
the modern internet. His work has been instrumental in transforming how
information is shared and accessed worldwide.

Internet Protocol (IP)

Addressing and Routing: IP is responsible for addressing and routing packets of

data from the source to the destination across multiple networks. Each device
connected to the internet is assigned a unique IP address.
Key Functions:

Packet Delivery: IP divides data into smaller units called packets. Each packet
contains both the sender's and receiver's IP addresses.
Routing: IP determines the best path for each packet to travel from the source to
the destination. This process involves navigating through various intermediate
devices like routers.

Connectionless Protocol: IP operates as a connectionless protocol, meaning that

each packet is treated independently and can take different routes to reach the
destination. This can lead to packets arriving out of order or being lost, requiring
additional mechanisms to ensure complete data transfer.

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)

Reliable Data Transfer: TCP ensures that data is transmitted reliably and in the
correct order from one device to another over an IP network.
Key Functions:

Connection Establishment: TCP establishes a connection between the sender

and receiver before data transfer begins. This is done using a process called the
three-way handshake (SYN, SYN-ACK, ACK).

Data Segmentation and Reassembly: TCP breaks data into smaller segments and
reassembles them at the destination. Each segment includes a sequence number
to ensure correct ordering.

Error Detection and Correction: TCP checks for errors in transmitted data and
requests retransmission if errors are detected. It ensures that all data is
accurately received and acknowledges receipt of each segment.

Flow Control: TCP manages the rate of data transmission to prevent network
congestion and ensure that the receiver can process the incoming data.

Tim Berners-Lee is a British computer scientist best known for inventing the
World Wide Web. His work has profoundly transformed the way information is
accessed and shared globally, making the web an essential part of modern life.

Tim Berners-Lee’s creation of the World Wide Web revolutionized digital

communication, making information sharing and access more intuitive and
widespread. His development of core technologies—HTML, HTTP, and URI—
along with his commitment to open standards and innovation, has had a
profound impact on the global digital landscape. The World Wide Web continues
to evolve, shaping how we interact with information, conduct business, and
connect with others.
Web Browser

Today, Google and Safari are two popular browsers, but in 1992 it was Erwise
that was used. Erwise was the first browser to have a graphical interface.
Previous versions existed, Nexus and Line Mode browser, but without the
graphical interface. In 1993 Mosaic came, and this became the browser that
made it popular to surf the internet. Mosaic then influenced many subsequent
browsers such as Netscape. Netscape gained great popularity and was the
browser that accounted for 95% of surfing in 1995.

Internet via dial-up

In the early 1990s, companies such as AOL and Compuserve began to supply
the Internet via dial-up, the Internet that came via a telephone line. We are many
who remember arguing with family members as they picked up the phone while
the internet was on. In the beginning, you couldn’t call and use the internet at
the same time.

The First Internet Purchase

Today, we buy all sorts of things online, from clothes to electronics. But the first
real internet purchase happened in 1994. Before that, a British woman named
Jane Snowball used the internet in 1984 to order goods, but she paid with cash
and had the items delivered by hand, so it wasn't truly an online transaction.

The first genuine online transaction using credit cards occurred in August 1994.
Although it’s often said that Pizza Hut was first by selling pizzas online, the true
pioneer was Dan Kohn. On August 11, 1994, Dan sold a CD of Sting through his
website, NetMarket.

Since then, internet technology has advanced rapidly. With smartphones, we

now have the internet and almost all its knowledge right in our pockets. And
with the arrival of Wi-Fi 6 and 5G, we're experiencing much faster internet
speeds wherever we go.