The Impact of Computers and the Internet
Dan Eisenhardt
Background
Computers and their connection to each other have greatly changed the way humans communicate, spend free time, conduct business, learn, and purchase items. The original computer was developed out of curiosity rather than necessity. Computers were originally built to perform specific but basic tasks. “The most important of these, called the differential analyzer, was built at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) by Vannevar Bush in 1931. Its purpose was to solve differential equations arising from several areas of mathematics.”[1] People then began to build computers that were more general, all purpose machines. This first of these machines, called the Z3, was built in 1941. As more and more computers began to be developed, people began to wonder if it would be possible to connect computers in different parts of the world. This curiosity eventually resulted in the creation of the Internet.
Turning Point
The Internet was first created in 1968 by the United States government. In 1970 there were five nodes, or connections, on the internet, which mostly existed at colleges. With the invention of the personal computer in the early 1980s, more and more people began to connect to the Internet. The World Wide Web was created in 1989, creating the basis of the Internet that we have today.[2] As of June 30, 2012, 34.3 percent of the world population uses the Internet on a regular basis. [3]
Effect
The amount of people that use the Internet is increasing every day. In August of 1999 there were 3 million searches on one of the most popular internet search engines, Google, every day. Currently there are more than 3 billion searches per day on Google.[4] People use their computers to perform tasks such as word processing, doing research, paying bills, and entertainment. The world is becoming more and more connected to the Internet. Many choose to use the Internet as a means of communication. It is possible to talk to people that are on the other side of the world at no cost. Computers are in control of many things including infrastructure and parts of the stock market. Computers are used as tools in the work environment. Computers and the Internet have greatly changed the way humans live.[5]
[1]Richard Rosenberg. The Social Impact of Computers. 1992: 56
[2] William Slater. “Internet History and Growth”. 2002
[3] “Internet Usage Statistics, The Internet Big Picture, World Internet Users and Population Stats”
[4] Jay Yarow. “CHART OF THE DAY: Google Search is still growing”. 2013
[5] John Battelle. The Search: How Google and Its Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business and Transformed Our Culture. 2005
Bibliography
Battelle, John. The Search: How Google and Its Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business and Transformed Our Culture. Penguin Group. New
York. 2005: 65-180
“Internet Usage Statistics, The Internet Big Picture, World Internet Users and Population Stats” Miniwatts Marketing Group. 2013.
Rosenberg, Richard. The Social Impact of Computers. Academic Press, INC. New York. 1992: 1-100
Slater, William. “Internet History and Growth” Chicago Chapter of the Internet Society. 2002: 1-10
Yarow, Jay. “CHART OF THE DAY: Google Search is Still Growing” Business Insider, Inc. 2013.
Dan Eisenhardt
Background
Computers and their connection to each other have greatly changed the way humans communicate, spend free time, conduct business, learn, and purchase items. The original computer was developed out of curiosity rather than necessity. Computers were originally built to perform specific but basic tasks. “The most important of these, called the differential analyzer, was built at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) by Vannevar Bush in 1931. Its purpose was to solve differential equations arising from several areas of mathematics.”[1] People then began to build computers that were more general, all purpose machines. This first of these machines, called the Z3, was built in 1941. As more and more computers began to be developed, people began to wonder if it would be possible to connect computers in different parts of the world. This curiosity eventually resulted in the creation of the Internet.
Turning Point
The Internet was first created in 1968 by the United States government. In 1970 there were five nodes, or connections, on the internet, which mostly existed at colleges. With the invention of the personal computer in the early 1980s, more and more people began to connect to the Internet. The World Wide Web was created in 1989, creating the basis of the Internet that we have today.[2] As of June 30, 2012, 34.3 percent of the world population uses the Internet on a regular basis. [3]
Effect
The amount of people that use the Internet is increasing every day. In August of 1999 there were 3 million searches on one of the most popular internet search engines, Google, every day. Currently there are more than 3 billion searches per day on Google.[4] People use their computers to perform tasks such as word processing, doing research, paying bills, and entertainment. The world is becoming more and more connected to the Internet. Many choose to use the Internet as a means of communication. It is possible to talk to people that are on the other side of the world at no cost. Computers are in control of many things including infrastructure and parts of the stock market. Computers are used as tools in the work environment. Computers and the Internet have greatly changed the way humans live.[5]
[1]Richard Rosenberg. The Social Impact of Computers. 1992: 56
[2] William Slater. “Internet History and Growth”. 2002
[3] “Internet Usage Statistics, The Internet Big Picture, World Internet Users and Population Stats”
[4] Jay Yarow. “CHART OF THE DAY: Google Search is still growing”. 2013
[5] John Battelle. The Search: How Google and Its Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business and Transformed Our Culture. 2005
Bibliography
Battelle, John. The Search: How Google and Its Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business and Transformed Our Culture. Penguin Group. New
York. 2005: 65-180
“Internet Usage Statistics, The Internet Big Picture, World Internet Users and Population Stats” Miniwatts Marketing Group. 2013.
Rosenberg, Richard. The Social Impact of Computers. Academic Press, INC. New York. 1992: 1-100
Slater, William. “Internet History and Growth” Chicago Chapter of the Internet Society. 2002: 1-10
Yarow, Jay. “CHART OF THE DAY: Google Search is Still Growing” Business Insider, Inc. 2013.