re: the history of the Internet in a nutshell

http://sixrevisions.com/resources/the-history-of-the-internet-in-a-nutshell/

This article covers key events as well people and organizations involved in the history of the network that is today known as the Internet.

The Internet, as we know, is the global network of interconnected computer networks. It actually began as a project by the United States Department of Defense to enable researchers across the country to collaborate at various sites. Those "various sites" were universities and research laboratories across the United States.

Data over the Internet is transmitted into bundles called packets. ARPANET was the first network to use packet switching technology. On October 29, 1969, Stanford and the UCLA connected for the first time, thus becoming the first hosts on the network that is today known as the Internet.  

E-mail and the @ mark actually started in 1971. It was the work and implementation of programmer Ray Tomlinson. In 1973, the first overseas connection was made by ARPANET between the University College of London. The "breakthrough year" was 1974 due to a proposal to link networks similar to ARPANET into ""inter-network", which would have no central control and would work around a transmission control protocol (which eventually became TCP/IP)." (http://sixrevisions.com/resources/the-history-of-the-internet-in-a-nutshell/)

Later, the World Wide Web (where commerce and considerable transmission of information takes place  today) was developed by Tim Berners-Lee at CERN in 1991.

The Internet has indeed revolutionized the way we communicate, find information, as well as conduct business. Social networks like Facebook and Mixi allow users to have and communicate with as many friends as possible free of cost! The Internet is definitely a benefit for society as it helps in quick access to knowledge, as well as facilitating the learning of languages. Communication technologies like Skype and Yahoo Messenger turn out to be cost-effective for businesses as people can communicate with those in their contact list free of cost! One individual can also communicate with more than 3 people at the same time! Due to the aforementioned reasons, the Internet is definitely a benefit for society.