ABSTRACT

Abstract

The Internet is a global network of interconnected computers enabling communication and data exchange between billions of devices. It uses standardized protocols to access resources like the World Wide Web, email, and social media. Vannevar Bush's efforts in integrating the military, universities, and private enterprises post-WWII laid the groundwork for the Internet. His advocacy for government-funded research through the National Science Foundation fostered collaboration and innovation. Joseph Carl Robnett Licklider ("Lick") significantly contributed to the Internet's creation, promoting human-computer interaction and decentralized networks. His 1960 vision of "Man-Computer Symbiosis" emphasized cooperative interaction between humans and machines. Bob Taylor and Lawrence Roberts at ARPA advanced the development of the Internet, supported by packet-switching concepts from Paul Baran and Donald Davies, with Leonard Kleinrock's mathematical analysis. In 1968, Larry Roberts began building ARPANET, leading to its activation on October 29, 1969. The "Request for Comments" (RFCs) by Stephen Crocker facilitated collaborative protocol development. During the 1970s, Ethernet and other networks emerged. Robert Kahn and Vint Cerf's 1973 work on interconnecting networks with protocols like IP and TCP laid the foundation for the Internet's ongoing evolution and success.