Things I Want My Daughter To Know: The Internet

It’s awesome.

According to Wikipedia, the term Internet was first coined in late December of 1974. It was used to describe a network of networks. However, the Internet as we know and use it today really started to take shape in the early 90’s after Sir Timothy John “Tim” Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web. The terms World Wide Web and Internet quickly became synonymous as the general public started taking an interest in what was once a technical and academic network of networks.

You will never know a world without the Internet, so let me tell you a little bit about how it was prior to this incredible creation.

• Everything was on paper.

That about sums it up.

Information was mostly printed on paper, and delivered by trucks. It was all very slow.

With the Internet, most everything is delivered through the air in bytes. Little things that you can’t see. It’s all very fast.

As such, life is much faster. Information is easily available. Everyone with access to the Internet has a surfeit of information, goods and services to consume. It can be overwhelming.

The Internet is changing the world, and the way countries are governed. President Obama is the first U.S. President to appoint a Chief Technology Officer for the country.

Not all world leaders are as welcoming of the Internet. Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarek had Egypt’s connection to the Internet shut off when his people peacefully revolted and demanded his resignation.

The Internet, though, is like water. It can find it’s way in to the hardest to reach places. The people of Egypt were able to stay connected, communicate with family & media, and after almost a month of protesting, overthrow their oppressive government. The Internet helped.

I love the Internet. It’s how I make my living. I make tools for people to access and share information, goods, and services.

Momma loves to read, and look at pictures on the Internet. Mostly pictures of you. She also uses it to stay in touch with her close friends.

You use the Internet, too. You love to watch videos. Double Dream Hands is one of your favorites. Everyone else laughs at it, but you dance to it.

By the time you are actually old enough to read this, the Internet will be very different. Your Elmo dolls will probably be connected, who knows. However it looks, I hope that you take a keen interest in using it, and learning how to use it to help people.