The Brief History of the Internet[1]

At the very beginning, the Internet was the result of visionary thinking by some people in the early 1960s. These people saw a great potential value in allowing computers to share information on research and development in scientific and military fields. In 1962, J.C.R. Licklider of MIT, first proposed a global network of computers, and moved over to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in late 1962 to head the work to develop it. Leonard Kleinrock of MIT developed the theory of packet switching, which was to form the basis of Internet connections. Lawrence Roberts of MIT connected a Massachusetts computer with a California computer in 1965 over dial-up telephone lines. It showed the feasibility of wide area networking, but also showed that the telephone line's circuit switching was inadequate. Kleinrock's packet switching theory was confirmed. Roberts moved over to Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in 1966 and developed his plan for ARPANET. These people here are the real founders of the Internet.

Then, the Internet was known as ARPANET, and was brought online in 1969. The early Internet could be only used by computer experts, engineers, scientists, and librarians. There were no home or office personal computers in those days, and anyone who used it, whether a computer professional or an engineer or scientist or librarian, because the users had to learn how to use a very complex system.

The Internet matured in the 70's as a result of the TCP/IP first proposed. Then it was adopted to replace the earlier Network Control Protocol and adopted world widely by 1983.

After the commands for e-mail, FTP, and telnet were standardized, it became a lot easier for normal people to learn to use the nets. Although it was not easy by today's standards by any means, it did open up use of the Internet to many more people in universities in particular. Some other departments besides the libraries, computer, physics, and engineering departments found ways to make good use of the nets, to communicate with colleagues around the world and to share files and resources.

In 1991, a friendly interface to the Internet was developed at the University of Minnesota. The purpose for them was they wanted to develop a simple menu system to access files and information on campus through their local network.

In 1989, another significant event happened, it took place in making the nets easier to use. Some people proposed a new protocol for information distribution. Then this protocol became the World Wide Web in 1991.

In 1993, Netscape Corp. produced a most successful graphical type of browser and server until Microsoft developed its Microsoft Internet Explorer.

The connection for Internet also developed very fast. From the 56K modems to ISDN, then move to cable modems and digital subscriber lines, and now move to the wi-fi and GPS.

Since Microsoft’s entry into the browser, server, and Internet Service Provider market, the Internet was begun to be used for a commercially purpose. Businesses entering the Internet arena try to find economic models that work for them the best.

E-business as a key of business infrastructure[2]

From text book, Electronic Commerce is defined as business activities conducted using electronic data transmission through computers and over the networks. Simply, e-Commerce is buying and selling over the Internet and World Wide Web. E-Business has interactions of all types, from simple buying and selling, to complex business practices such as banking, manufacturing, and supply chain management.

E-commerce is conducted solely on computers, which are by default very good at generating data and recording statistics. This makes market research, measuring statistics and identifying valuable patterns very easy. There are couple advantages of Electronic Commerce that lead it to become a key of business infrastructure. First, E-commerce can increase sales and decrease costs. Business can reduce the costs of handling sales inquiries, providing price quotes, and determining product availability by using the procedure of e-ecommerce. Also e-commerce creates the sales opportunities for the sellers, and purchasing opportunities for the buyers. Businesses could use it to identify new suppliers and partners. Internet could help companies to negotiate price and delivery terms very efficiently. E-commerce could increase the speed and accuracy with the businesses when they exchange information. Main while, reduces the cost on both sides of transactions. Second, E-commerce creates a great convenience for buyers. It provides buyers with a wider range of choices. They could consider many different products and services from a wider variety of sellers. It allows sellers to achieve their purpose 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Buyers do not need to wait couple days to receive information about product specification sheet. They could access to the detailed information on the Internet immediately. Third, the benefits of E-commerce could bring the general welfare of society, such as the examples for text book, electronic payments of tax refunds, public retirement, and welfare support.

The development of e-business would have two main objectives. The first is concerned with the resulting business efficiency, and the second is associated with the business integration it provides among related parties. Also E-business development is concerned with time.

Since E-commerce became a key part of doing business. It depends on the following aspects, people, technology, communication and environment. People, whether individuals or associated with organizations, are both the source and the target of e-business. Technology, it is mainly based on the web technology, which enables e-business services to operate on Intranets, Extranets, and the Internet. Communication, it helps E-commerce to learn and innovate. Environment, it is related with the elements of technology, organization and people.

All the aspects talked above lead the E-commerce to become a key of business infrastructure.

Internet Affecting Business in the Future

Internet will keep influence E-commerce in the future. More and more different industries will join to this big group. There are two examples. First, in the restaurant industry, many restaurants may open their businesses through Internet. Customers could simply access to the Internet and find their favorite restaurant, then select the meals they want. After that, the food, can be delivered to customers or arrange a time to enjoy it in the restaurant. The restaurant owners could reduce the employee numbers in order to increase profits. On the other hand, the restaurant could hold the orders at the first time, and then arrange the suitable time to prepare each order. Second, the movie industry, movie producers could build a website that allows audiences to purchase new released movie online, then audiences could watch movies on the computer’s screens or through digital TV. Theatres could sell the tickets on the Internet. Purchasers only need to print out the ticket, and then use it at the theater.

The two examples above only show a small area that Internet could influence business in the future. There are still too many areas waiting to be developed. Internet will bring the world wide business to the upper level, and create a fast, efficient and safe environment for all people.