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Brief History of the Internet

Introduction to Web Development

  • Overview:

    • Provides a comprehensive understanding of web development fundamentals.

    • Explores the role of a web developer using real-world examples and hands-on practice.

    • Designed for beginners with little to no programming background.

    • Aims to build a foundational understanding of web development and programming.

    • May ease learning other programming languages.

  • Course structure:

    • Topics are covered in the order of traditional project development methods.

    • Begins with initial conceptualization and design, progresses through front- and back-end development.

    • Covers essential concepts: accessibility, security, and responsive design.

  • Tools:

    • Introduces standard tools used in the industry.

    • Encourages learners to build a personalized "toolbox".

    • Suggests using platforms like Google Docs, OneNote, or browser bookmarks to gather resources.

  • Glossary:

    • Provides a comprehensive glossary of terms.

    • Aids in understanding common acronyms and terminology used in the field.

A Brief History of the Internet

  • Evolution of Web Technologies:

    • The rapid growth of the Internet and subsequent technological advancements have shaped website evolution.

    • Websites have evolved from simple pages to complex applications.

    • New methodologies and best practices emerged to manage increasing complexity.

  • Early Development:

    • The concept of network-connected computers emerged during the Cold War.

    • Government and university researchers sought better communication and research sharing methods.

    • The military used microwave transmission technology, which proved unreliable and vulnerable.

  • Microwave Transmission Technology:

    • Definition: Technology that uses electromagnetic waves in the microwave family to transmit information wirelessly over long distances with a direct line of sight.

    • An attack on microwave transmission towers highlighted its susceptibility to failure.

  • Collaboration:

    • Researchers from government and universities collaborated to develop more resilient communication methods.

Arpanet

  • Creation:

    • The United States Department of Defense (DoD) researched reliable information transmission methods due to Cold War tensions and the launch of Sputnik.

    • Sought a decentralized solution for better resilience against attacks.

    • Arpanet connected the DoD and participating universities.

  • TCP/IP Protocol:

    • The Transfer Control Protocol/Internetwork Protocol (TCP/IP) was created to standardize networked systems communication.

    • Systems using TCP/IP could easily communicate with other networks using the same protocol.

The Internet, Web 1.0, Email, and Beyond

  • Invention of the World Wide Web:

    • Sir Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web in 1989 at CERN.

    • The World Wide Web (WWW) is a collection of information and resources accessible over the Internet.

  • Web 1.0:

    • Primarily used to post information within markup pages called a website.

    • Markup pages contain text-based content and code.

    • Code instructs web browsers on how to organize and display text content.

    • Delivered using HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol).

  • Analogy:

    • TCP/IP: Conveyor belts that run continuously in all directions, transmitting various types of data.

    • HTTP: Filling out a web page order form (HTTP Request) and placing it on the conveyor belt, with the server picking up the form and sending back the requested web page in a response bin (HTTP Response).

  • Email:

    • Emerged as users wanted timely message transmission and notification.

    • Aligned with the DoD’s initial goals.

  • Mid-1990s:

    • The web expanded beyond academics and tech enthusiasts.

    • Became a space for commerce.

    • Web developers aimed to create unique web pages to stand out.

  • Technological Advancements:

    • Additional protocols developed for specific tasks like file transfers and media streaming.

    • Improvements in information transfer speeds progressed similarly to computer processing power, as predicted by Moore’s Law.

    • Example: Streaming high-quality movies on phones and computers while in a car.

  • Moore's Law:

    • Common Definition: The capability of technology doubles roughly every 2 years.

    • Originally Predicted: The number of transistors on a microchip doubles every 2 years.

    • Application Today: Used as a benchmark for future growth, applicable in memory capacity, speed, storage space, and other factors.

Web 2.0 and Web 3.0

  • Web 2.0:

    • Next step in the evolution of the Internet and WWW.

    • Websites began using code and data sources to customize pages for individual users.

    • Example: Online shopping sites using persistent data to generate targeted ads.

    • Users create accounts to personalize their experience.

    • Users can create and share their own content and stay connected.

    • Example: Social networking sites where users post photos and videos that appear on their friends' accounts.

    • Made possible by social network portals (e.g., Myspace, Facebook) and web server scripting technology coupled with web-connected databases.

  • Tim Berners-Lee’s Motivation:

    • Was to make it easier to find and organize resources by inventing a system.

  • Web 3.0:

    • The current iteration of the Internet and WWW.

    • Uses smarter algorithms to enhance searching, organizing, and categorizing information.

    • Computer programs understand human language.

    • Access applications and software through web browsers using special code that connects to online web services.

Key Terms

  • Arpanet: A network created by the United States Department of Defense used to connect participating universities together.

  • Asynchronously: Actions or operations that are not coordinated in time.

  • HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP): A communication protocol designed for the World Wide Web for transferring data files and assets between computer systems.

  • Internet: The Internet is a global computer network that relies upon the TCP/IP protocol suite to communicate information and data between each other.

  • Microwave Transmission Technology: Technology that uses electromagnetic waves that fall within the microwave family to transmit information wirelessly over long distances with direct line of sight.

  • Moore’s Law: Described by Gordon Moore, an observation and prediction that the number of transistors on a microchip doubles every 2 years.

  • Sputnik: The world’s first satellite developed by the Soviet Union in 1957.

  • Transfer Control Protocol/Internetwork Protocol (TCP/IP): A collection of protocols designed to standardize the way networked computer systems communicate.

  • Web Browser: Software application used to access and interact with the World Wide Web.

  • Web Server: A combination of software and hardware that performs the basic operations needed to host resources and sites on the web.

  • Web Service: Software that supports machine-to-machine interactions over a network.

  • World Wide Web (WWW): A collection of information and resources that are accessible over the Internet. Also called Web, WWW, and W3.