The Internet’s 25th Anniversary

Can you believe the creation of the World Wide Web happened 25 years ago?

Yes, March 12, 2014 marked the 25th anniversary of the creation of the World Wide Web by Sir Tim Berners-Lee. In a report by the Pew Research Center, “Lee wrote a paper on March 12, 1989 proposing an ‘information management’ system that became the conceptual and architectural structure for the Web. He eventually released the code for his system—for free—to the world on Christmas Day in 1990. It became a milestone in easing the way for ordinary people to access documents and interact over a network of computers called the internet—a system that linked computers and that had been around for years. “

And, the rest is history!

87% of American adults use the internet for a seemingly limitless amount of information. It has changed how we interact with people, communicate with our family and friends, instantly share exciting life events, network with business associates, get educated and learn, develop relationships, instantaneously see global news, watch a movie… the internet has been the tsunami sea change to our way of life in just 25 short years!

Mobile Usage Explodes! We also know cell phone usage has grown significantly, 90% of American adults own a cell phone today and 66% of them access the internet on their phone! 33% say their cell phone is the primary way they access the internet. Can you imagine your life any more without your cell phone? More and more, people expect immediate answers and instant gratification! The answer for most everything is “just Google it”, how many times do you say that in a day?

The Impact of Internet Technology

Many technologies have become so essential to our existence, but none more than the World Wide Web. 46% of all adults say the internet would be very hard or impossible to give up, both for business as well as social relationships. Internet technology has made it possible to telecommute, work from virtual offices and communicate with businesses and individuals across the globe. The playing field has been leveled, enabling companies of all sizes, small and large to be discovered and capabilities portrayed. The primary benefit of technology is the efficiency which allows those companies to provide products and services at a faster, more effective rate which can result in higher profits.

So what does the future hold?

Here is what Pew Research Center’s Internet Project says about Digital Life in 2025, “These experts foresee an ambient information environment where accessing the Internet will be effortless and most people will tap into it so easily it will flow through their lives ‘like electricity’. They predict mobile, wearable, and embedded computing will be tied together in the Internet of Things, allowing people and their surroundings to tap into artificial intelligence-enhanced cloud-based information storage and sharing.”

If you need help navigating how the 25 year old World Wide Web can maximize your business goals and increase profitability, give LocalDirective a call. We look forward to hearing from you!

Source: Pew Research Center


Author: Lisa Maier
