Computers and the internet | Find out the history of computers

In 1989, English scientist Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web.

This project gave the previously cryptic and highly technical Internet a more user-friendly face. By the 1990's, the Internet had arrived in homes, schools, and businesses. Commercial interests were brought into the fold, and the Age of Information had begun.

As the Internet grew in size and popularity, computers became more common than ever. Now it's common to see households where everyone has their own computer, or even multiple computers for those who need portable solutions in addition to their desktop machines. Computers fill laboratories at schools and colleges.

Every hospital has them on hand for filing and research. Most libraries house public access computers as well, even though critics complain that the Internet has made libraries obsolete. Computers have also brought us unprecedented opportunities for wealth.

Companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Dell, have become giants in the computer industry. Internet-based companies like Google and E-bay are among the world's youngest and most lucrative enterprises. There are also plenty of marketing programs and training seminars that teach people how to make their fortunes through computers.Children seem to take to computers naturally, which has amused and fascinated any number of parents.

There's something amazing about a two year old who can insert a CD ROM, grab the mouse, and start playing games as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Elementary school classrooms are full of computers, and common curriculum emphasizes the importance of computer skills as early as preschool.

Will computers someday replace the dog as man's best friend? That remains to be seen. Even the best software can be temperamental at times, and crucial hardware components remain comparatively fragile. Then again, the same could be said for dogs. Of course, one could always hop on their computer and download a virtual pet to care for.

How have computers developed

No invention has become a more indispensable part of our lives than the computer. We use them for everything: word processing, electronic correspondence, social networking, games, banking, and even dating.

Computers bring us the news and allow us to communicate with people from different cultures and continents. Many people use computers to earn a living through freelance work or auctions. And every major business can be found online, offering their goods and services to anyone with a computer and a bank account.

Some people trace computers back to the abacus, while others point out that programmable machines did not exist until the 1940's. An ‘Analytical Engine' was conceptualized by Charles Babbage in 1837, but he lacked the means to bring his design to fruition.

After many false starts and redesigns, computers took the world by storm in the 1980's. By that time, computers were small and affordable. Still, few could have guessed exactly how much we would come to depend on these computers.