The Internet: The Greatest Invention?

The Internet is used by millions of people around the world. It is a very useful tool to find, share and manage information. Never before has such a versatile and valuable resource been available to so many people at such a low cost. Could it be possible the Internet is the greatest invention?

The Internet came about in the 1960s, before the term “Internet” was even invented. During that time it was known as ARPANET. The Internet was the result of visionary thinking and great potential value in allowing computers to share information on research and development in scientific and military fields. The Internet wasn’t always user-friendly, in the early stages it was used by computer experts, scientists and librarians. The users had to learn to use the very complex system. In 1991 the first user-friendly interface was developed at the University of Minnesota and in 1993 the browser Mosaic gave Internet usage a big boost. The creator of Mosaic went on to produce the more well-known browser, Netscape. Later on Microsoft released its own browser, Internet Explorer. This present day more browsers have become available, such as Mozilla Firefox and Opera.

The Internet has changed a lot since the 90s. More and more people are using it and now it can be used for a variety of tasks. These include finding and sharing information, keeping in contact with friends and family, playing multiplayer games and discussion. The Internet has no doubt changed people’s lives. People can now find their perfect partner online, people can buy and sell their belongings, people can do their shopping without leaving the house, and companies advertise their products and services on web pages to reach a wider market. You can find old friends on social networking sites; you can create your own web page or blog and publish your opinions and daily life for worldwide users to see. The list can go on and on.

The Internet is a place where anybody can have an opinion. It is a haven for freedom of speech. You can discover new and exciting cultures, ideas and information. Internet connections have become faster and lower in price. Literally anybody can get Internet access. All you need is a computer and a telephone line. If you can’t get your own Internet access, there are now Internet cafes and most libraries have computers for public use.

Is it possible the Internet could be the greatest invention created? Of course there have been other inventions that have revolutionised the way people live. One example is electricity, without that many household appliances would be useless, including computers. However, the Internet has not only changed the way we live, it has possibly changed the way we think. Being able to be in contact with people from all over the world has allowed us to discover new ideas and views. Television has affected us this way, too, but on the Internet there are less restrictions and more people are able to express themselves due to freedom of speech. Whether the Internet is the greatest invention is up to each person. Everybody will have their own opinion but nobody can deny that the Internet is a great invention that we should feel lucky to have.