Internet
The Internet is defined on Wikipedia as “a standardized, global system of interconnected computer networks that connects millions of people.” Technically, the internet is the composite of a large number of networks connected today using standard rules for data, security and error detection in data transfer. However, neither of these definitions capture the power and the near ubiquity of the internet and the fundamental impact it has on our lives today. The internet today has around 1.5 billion users, which is 1 in 4 of all humans on this planet. This growth is staggering given that it existed only in universities and military establishments 30 years ago. The internet was born out of the US military aim to have a fault tolerant, redundant and reliable command and communication infrastructure. The internet did not get a consumer facing presence till the invention of the web browser Mosaic in 1989.
The ubiquity of the internet was a direct result of using very open and scalable protocols, which led to many networks being able to communicate with each other, even if they did not know about each other, but confirmed to the same protocol.
Its reach today is matched only by the varied nature of ways in which it is used.
The internet is the fundamental invention of our generation – it is here to stay and ranks way up in all human innovation, right next to the light bulb and the steam engine. Every aspect of human life today is impacted by the internet. It has enabled hundreds of new businesses and has led to the creation of new business models.
This website is going to be an attempt to capture some of the dynamism of the internet.
