Learning Objectives

After successfully completing this section, you should be able to

1. briefly relate the history of computer networking.
2. describe some key events and developments in the history of computer networking.
3. describe the contributions of some of the important people in the history of computer networking.

Learning Tasks

Required:

1. Watch the slideshow prepared for this section.
2. Study Section 1.7, History of Computer Networking and the Internet, in the textbook.
3. Study all the case histories in the textbook.
4. Search the Internet for articles about computer networking history and post their links to the course forum with your comments.

Suggested:

1. Read “Computer network” on Wikipedia.
2. Browse the IETF website and select some relevant documents to read. Post the links to the course forum with your comments.

Terms and Topics

Leading Questions

1. What events or inventions do you think were the most significant in the development of computer networking technology? Why?
2. How was the Internet developed?
3. What events or inventions do you think were the most significant in the development of the Internet? Why?
4. How was the World Wide Web invented and developed over the years?
5. What events or inventions do you think were the most significant in the development of the World Wide Web? Why?
6. How was the Ethernet invented?
7. Briefly describe the creation and importance of 3COM and CISCO systems.
8. How was Internet Explorer, a latecomer in the market, able to compete with Netscape and gain a growing market share?
9. What people have made significant contributions to the development of computer networks, the Internet, and the Web?
10. Which of the developments in the history of networking did you find most interesting or significant? Why?
11. What Web browsers are popular today? What are the differences among these browsers? How are they related?