Human Evolution and The Internet — I: The Story of ARPANET
Humans are social creatures.
We have this innate need to be around other people. And this is evident in the way that we behave and the things that we do. We are drawn to social interaction. We love to talk and share stories with others.
We also enjoy being around people who share our interests and values. This is why we join groups and clubs, and why we gravitate towards certain friends. Social interaction is also important for our development. We learn about ourselves and the world around us by interacting with others. We develop relationships, learn how to communicate, and form friendships.
The sense to feel connected and supported has a deep-rooted existence in our evolution and is paramount.
It’s no wonder that we love the internet so much because of this very reason.
But how did it all start? The idea of the internet. The concepts behind it. The dark secret that lurks in the past.
The Development of an Intergalactic network
The origins of the internet can be traced back to 1969 during the cold war. The US Department of Defense were worried about an attack on its communication networks, mainly phone lines, which were exposed and vulnerable.
Hence the US Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) initiated a research program. The goal was simply to create a network that could connect different military sites around the country and allow them to share resources and information.
In collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) the US Department of Defense started to develop a closed computer network that would be completely decentralized and safe from attacks. And they called it the “ARPANET”.
The vision was a “globally interconnected set of computers through which everyone could quickly access data and programs from any site.” — J.C.R Licklider
In 1973, ARPANET became operational and began linking different computer networks together. In addition to military sites, it soon began connecting universities and other research institutions.
At this point in time, the existence of Arpanet was practically unknown to the public eye. And the growing network was a matter of concern for the Department of Defence. With each growing user in the network, the ability to maintain security became harder.
The security issue resurfaced.
Ayush Shaw
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