The three ages of the internet

Like mentioned before the development of personal computers and the internet was faster than anyone expected the last 30 years. These development of the internet can be divided in three different stages. Before the first age of the internet like we know it arose, a computer network allowed people in a specific group the work together by using CSCW (Computer Supported Cooperative Work) programs. Out of this CSCW the first internet evolved. It enabled to communicate even beyond the closed applications and was the main focus until 1998. Around this year not only the governments noticed the impact the internet would have. This is why they started to document the behavior of every user. Google started its search engine and improved its results by integrating the former searches and IP addresses in its famous algorithm. Many people know, but are not aware of the fact, that in the actual third age of the internet data is not only collected but even analyzed to manipulate everyone’s desires, like I have mentioned in my blog a few weeks ago (Wellman, Berry: Studying Internet Studies Through the Ages 2013). All in all, this segmentation of the internet gives a good and short overview about how we got to the internet like we all know it today.

Sources:

Wellman, Berry: Studying Internet Studies Through the Ages, viewed  20/08/2013, <http://homes.chass.utoronto.ca/~wellman/publications/internet-10-5-0/4-ages.htm>