Vocabulary Preview
Match each word or phrase with the correct definition.
1. accelerate
a. a set of operation instructions for a computer program
2. access
b. easily carried by hand
3. cable
c. to go faster
4. code
d. a person skilled at programming, usually having
a
mischievous purpose
5. hacker
e. a cord made of strands of metal wire
6. portable
f. to use by permission
Pre-Reading Questions
Think about the following questions.
1. During which decade were computers first used in homes?
2. During which decade did lots of people start using the Internet?
3. Was the original use of the Internet for business or some other
purpose?
The History of
the Internet
C o m p u t e r s & Te c h n o l o g y 1
U N
I
T
2
18
The History of the Internet
A
lmost everyone knows about the Internet. More than a billion people
around the world are now
online. The Internet
is a powerful tool for
information and communication.
The basic concept of the Internet was first thought of in the early 1960s. It
began as a military research network, designed to be
decentralized or spread out
over many locations. If one location was attacked, the
military could communicate
from another location. The first small network went online in 1969. It connected
four universities in the United States.
This network was very successful from the beginning. Scientists could now
share information about their research. In 1972, email was invented and quickly
became the most popular
application.
By the end of that year, the network
connected many universities and government research centers. The general
public became
aware of the network in the late 70s. A new version allowed
anyone to get online. People from all over the world joined online groups to talk
about thousands of different subjects.
The term Internet was used for the first time in 1982.
New technology had
created a common language for the network computers. The Internet was now
recognized as an international
network. This was also at
the time when privacy and
security
started becoming
important issues. Hackers
and viruses began to
emerge.
In 1990, the original
military network went
offline,
and a year later the
2
online --- connected to the network
5
decentralize --- to put in many different locations
11
application --- a special purpose for which something is used
13
aware of --- conscious of;
informed about
5
10
15
20
25
