A brief history of the World Wide Web

CERN
8 Mar 201903:34
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script narrates the birth of the World Wide Web, tracing its origins back to the 1980s at CERN, where Tim Berners-Lee, a young Oxford graduate, envisioned a system for sharing information across incompatible computer systems. Named 'Enquire,' his initial program laid the groundwork for linking people, hardware, and software. In 1989, at CERN, Berners-Lee combined hypertext with the Internet, drafting the first proposal for the web. By the end of 1990, he had developed the first web server and browser, which saw exponential growth in usage. The decision by CERN to make the web an open standard was pivotal, ensuring its widespread adoption. Today, with nearly 2 billion websites, the World Wide Web is an integral part of our lives, a concept almost unimaginable without.

Takeaways
  • 📚 The web was initially difficult to conceptualize, much like the fax machines and travel agencies of the 1980s.
  • 🏢 Tim Berners-Lee, an Oxford graduate, first came to CERN to computerize its control system, which was an exciting hub of information systems at the time.
  • 🤝 The challenge was to enable communication by sharing information across incompatible systems, leading to the creation of the Enquire program by Berners-Lee.
  • 📈 CERN was a leading center for data networks by 1984, which provided a ripe environment for the development of the web.
  • 💡 In 1989, Berners-Lee saw the potential of combining hypertext with the Internet, leading to the proposal for the World Wide Web.
  • 📝 The first proposal for the web was written in March 1989, with a second, formalized proposal in November 1990, alongside Robert Cailliau.
  • 🖥 By the end of 1990, the first web server and browser were operational on Berners-Lee's NeXT computer at CERN.
  • 🚀 The web's growth was exponential, starting with 100 hits per day and reaching 10,000 hits a day within two years.
  • 🌏 The first web server outside of Europe was established at SLAC in California in 1991, marking the web's expansion globally.
  • 📜 In 1993, CERN decided that the web should be an open standard, a decision crucial for its widespread adoption.
  • 🌐 Without the open standard decision from CERN, the web as we know it today, with nearly 2 billion websites, might not have existed.
Q & A

  • What was the state of communication technology like in 1980?

    -In 1980, communication technology was limited, with people using fax machines to share documents and travel agencies to book flights and hotels.

  • Who is Tim Berners-Lee and what was his role at CERN?

    -Tim Berners-Lee is a British computer scientist who first came to CERN as an independent IT professional to computerize CERN's proton synchrotron control system. He later returned as a fellow and wrote software that would eventually lead to the creation of the World Wide Web.

  • What was the initial motivation behind Tim Berners-Lee's work on the World Wide Web?

    -The initial motivation was to enable communication by sharing information. Tim Berners-Lee aimed to understand a mass of information and how to link people, hardware, and software.

  • What was the name of the program Tim Berners-Lee wrote that led to the World Wide Web?

    -Tim Berners-Lee wrote a program named 'Enquire', which was named after a Victorian reference book he remembered from his childhood for giving easy access to a mass of useful information.

  • What was the significance of the year 1989 in the development of the World Wide Web?

    -In 1989, Tim Berners-Lee saw an opportunity to join hypertext with the Internet, which was a significant step towards the creation of the World Wide Web.

  • What was the first proposal for the World Wide Web and when was it written?

    -The first proposal for the World Wide Web was written by Tim Berners-Lee in March 1989.

  • Who was the Belgian systems engineer that worked with Tim Berners-Lee on the World Wide Web?

    -Robert Cailliau was the Belgian systems engineer who worked with Tim Berners-Lee on the World Wide Web.

  • What was the status of network connectivity at CERN in 1989?

    -In 1989, CERN was a leading center for data networks and the Internet, with network connectivity just arriving, although it had been present for a while using similar ideas to those underlying the Enquire system.

  • When did Tim Berners-Lee have the first web server and browser up and running?

    -By the end of 1990, Tim Berners-Lee had the first web server and browser up and running on his NeXT computer at CERN.

  • How did the traffic on the first web server at CERN grow over time?

    -The traffic on the first web server at CERN started with 100 hits per day, grew to a thousand a year later, and then to 10,000 hits a day two years later.

  • What was the decision made by CERN management in 1993 regarding the World Wide Web?

    -In 1993, CERN management decided that the web should act as an open standard for all to use, which was an essential decision for the web's development and accessibility.

  • What is the current estimate of the number of websites on the World Wide Web?

    -As of the information provided in the script, there are nearly 2 billion websites on the World Wide Web.

Outlines
00:00
🌐 The Birth of the World Wide Web

The first paragraph introduces the concept of the World Wide Web (WWW) and its origins. It describes the challenges of sharing information in the 1980s, with the use of fax machines and travel agencies. Tim Berners-Lee, an Oxford graduate, joined CERN as an IT professional to computerize the control system for the proton synchrotron. Recognizing the need for information sharing across incompatible systems, Berners-Lee developed a program called 'Enquire', inspired by a reference book from his childhood. Upon his return to CERN in 1984, he saw the potential to combine hypertext with the Internet. By 1989, CERN was a leading center for data networks, and Berners-Lee wrote the first proposal for the WWW. With the collaboration of Belgian systems engineer Robert Cailliau, the proposal was formalized in November 1990. By the end of that year, the first web server and browser were operational on Berners-Lee's NeXT computer at CERN. The paragraph also highlights the exponential growth in the number of hits on the server and the establishment of the first web server outside Europe at SLAC in 1991. The crucial decision by CERN management in 1993 to make the web an open standard was pivotal for its widespread adoption and the development of nearly 2 billion websites today.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Web
The term 'Web' in the context of the video refers to the World Wide Web, a global information space that is accessed through the Internet. It is a crucial part of the modern digital infrastructure, allowing for the sharing of information, communication, and collaboration on an unprecedented scale. The video discusses the evolution of the Web from its inception to its current state, emphasizing its significance in shaping the way we access and share information today.
💡Tim Berners-Lee
Sir Tim Berners-Lee is the inventor of the World Wide Web and a key figure in the video. He is depicted as a visionary who recognized the need for a system that could link different computers and networks, allowing for the sharing of information. His creation of the Web is a central theme of the video, highlighting his role in developing the technology that underpins modern online communication.
💡CERN
CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is the location where Tim Berners-Lee first proposed and developed the World Wide Web. The video describes CERN as an exciting and advanced place during the 1980s, with a growing focus on data networks. It was at CERN that Berners-Lee wrote the first proposal for the Web and where the first web server and browser were set up.
💡Hypertext
Hypertext is a significant concept in the development of the Web. It refers to text that is interconnected with other texts or media, allowing users to navigate through these connections. In the video, Berners-Lee saw an opportunity to combine hypertext with the Internet, which led to the creation of the World Wide Web. This technology enables the linking of documents and information across the globe.
💡Internet
The Internet is the global system of interconnected computer networks that provides the foundational infrastructure for the World Wide Web. The video discusses how the Internet and the concept of hypertext were combined to create the Web, which then became a platform for sharing information worldwide. The Internet's role is pivotal as it facilitates the connectivity and communication that the Web relies on.
💡World Wide Web Proposal
The World Wide Web Proposal refers to the initial plans and documents that Tim Berners-Lee wrote to outline the concept and structure of the Web. The video mentions two key proposals: the first in March 1989 and the second in May 1990, which were formalized by the end of that year. These proposals were instrumental in defining the technical specifications and goals for the Web's development.
💡Web Server and Browser
A web server and a browser are essential components of the World Wide Web. The web server is responsible for storing, processing, and delivering web pages to clients, which are typically web browsers. The video highlights that by the end of 1990, Tim Berners-Lee had the first web server and browser running on his NeXT computer at CERN, marking a significant milestone in the Web's history.
💡Open Standard
An open standard is a protocol or format that is publicly available and has various properties to promote interoperability and widespread adoption. In the video, it is mentioned that CERN management decided the Web should act as an open standard for all to use. This decision was essential for the Web's growth and universal accessibility, allowing it to become a platform used by billions of people worldwide.
💡SLAC
SLAC, the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, is significant in the video as it hosted the first web server outside of Europe. This expansion marked an important step in the global adoption of the World Wide Web, showing the Web's potential to connect users and information across different continents and cultures.
💡Inquire
Inquire is the name of the program that Tim Berners-Lee initially wrote as a precursor to the World Wide Web. Named after a Victorian reference book, it aimed to provide easy access to a mass of useful information. The video describes Inquire as a foundational concept that influenced the development of the Web, emphasizing Berners-Lee's vision for information sharing.
💡Data Network
A data network is a digital telecommunications network that allows nodes to share information. In the video, CERN is described as a leading center for data networks in the 1980s. The development of data networks was a crucial technological backdrop against which the World Wide Web was conceived, as it provided the necessary infrastructure for linking different computers and sharing information.
Highlights

In 1980, Tim Berners-Lee envisioned a system for sharing information on incompatible computer systems at CERN

Berners-Lee wrote a program called 'Enquire' to link people, hardware and software

CERN was a leading center for data networks in 1984 when Berners-Lee returned as a fellow

In 1989, Berners-Lee saw an opportunity to combine hypertext with the Internet

The first proposal for the World Wide Web was written in March 1989

The second proposal for the Web, co-authored with Robert Cailliau, was formalized in November 1990

By the end of 1990, Berners-Lee had the first web server and browser running on his NeXT computer at CERN

The CERN web server saw 100 hits per day initially, which grew to 1,000 per day a year later

The first web server outside Europe was set up at SLAC in California in 1991

In 1993, CERN management decided the Web should be an open standard for all to use

This decision was essential for the growth and widespread adoption of the Web

Without CERN's open standard policy, the Web as we know it today would not exist

Today there are nearly 2 billion websites, unimaginable without the World Wide Web

The Web has revolutionized how we access and share information globally

Berners-Lee's vision of a universal information system has transformed society and the way we communicate

The Web's open, interconnected nature has enabled innovation and collaboration on an unprecedented scale

The story of the Web's creation at CERN is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary collaboration

Berners-Lee's leadership and vision have had a profound impact on the world

Transcripts

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World Wide WebCERNTim Berners-LeeInternet HistoryInformation SharingTechnology EvolutionWeb DevelopmentOpen StandardDigital RevolutionNetworkingInnovation