As it’s the last post of the month, I have decided to indulge myself and take a brief trip down internet memory lane
The internet has been around for a comparatively short space of time but has still managed to totally transform the world of business, leisure and communication.
What started as a government project way back in the early seventies wasn’t actually used by the public until the early nineties, but it’s hardly surprising that not everyone took to it straight away as back then most people had never heard of a website, didn’t know the meaning of the word cyberspace and hadn’t a clue what a ‘dot com’ was.
Some forward-looking businesses did see the potential and registered their domains early whilst others were not convinced this new technology would be of any benefit to them; quite ironic, given that now most business throughout the world is conducted wholly or partially through the internet.
Websites started out as simple static affairs populated by blocks of text and images but as the internet grew in size and popularity and new technology became available, ecommerce sites arrived and the world of business changed forever.
Communication also underwent a radical transformation as the speed and convenience of email was embraced by the public and businesses alike, and like websites, wasn’t limited by borders or distance.
The internet has also been responsible for creating whole new industries essential to keep it running and evolving. SEO specialists, web hosting services, domain registrars, software and programme developers, and not least, web designers themselves.
Despite thinking that maybe the internet has gone as far as it can go, it’s currently going through yet another stage that literally puts it in our pockets – mobile devices. Phones, iPads, tablets or whatever we choose to carry, the internet is now with us all the time.
There’s no denying that the internet has firmly become part of everyday life whether for shopping, finding information or communication, and knowing what we know now, I wonder what we’d do if suddenly it wasn’t there. Makes you think, doesn’t it?
Until next time.
