The Story of the First Computer Networks
The Story of the First Computer Networks The modern Internet that connects billions of people around the world began as a small idea—linking computers so they could share information. Before the Internet existed, computers were isolated machines used mainly for calculations, scientific research, or business operations. The story of the first computer networks is the story of how these isolated systems began to communicate, laying the groundwork for a digital revolution that changed everything. 1. The World Before Networking In the 1950s and early 1960s, computers were massive machines that filled entire rooms. They were expensive, slow, and operated by a limited number of people, mostly in government laboratories, universities, or large corporations. Data was stored on punch cards or magnetic tapes, and transferring it meant physically moving these storage devices from one place to another. This lack of connectivity made...