Social Media Revolution

Another thing that has been brilliantly and completely changed by the internet.

Way back in the old days [citation needed], the only definitive form of electronic communication was by calling someone. Nowadays, who makes phone calls anymore? Certainly the frequency has reduced drastically.

Instant Messaging

Recently, Microsoft announced it was going to retire Windows Live Messenger in favour of Skype. It is with great fondness that I say goodbye as its lights dim on March 15, 2013. It had made it so easy to communicate with friends and family back in the day. Here is a short history of Instant Messaging.

Brief IM Timeline

1970s

Developers create peer-to-peer protocol, allowing users to send and receive private messages from others logging in to the same computer. Later versions allowed users to contact each other in real-time over a local network.

August, 1982

Quantum Link, a software package for the Commodore 64 computer, allows users to send online messages for an additional per-minute fee.

1983

Washington High School student Mark Jenks creates "Talk," giving students and teachers the opportunity to communicate through digital messaging boards and first-generation e-mail boxes.

August, 1988

Internet Relay Chat is created by Jarkko Oikarinen, giving the world a means to communicate through text-based messaging in multi-user groups called "channels."

October, 1991

Quantum Link changes its name to America Online; begins development of AOL software, including AIM.

November, 1996

Mirabilis releases ICQ, which allows users to send real-time instant messages over the Internet.

May, 1997

AIM debuts, featuring IM, chatrooms and file sharing capabilities.

March 9, 1998

Yahoo! Pager launches; new IM features include buddy alerts, the ability to block unwanted contacts and greater profile personalization options.

June 8, 1998

AOL acquires Mirabilis for $407 million, placing ICQ under the AOL family of products.

July 22, 1999

Windows launches MSN Messenger, featuring simple IM capabilities, a contact list and access to AIM buddies.

May, 2000

The multi-protocol IM client Jabber launches, allowing IM users to access all their buddy lists within one client for the first time.

Nov. 29, 2000

Trillian, a multi-protocol IM, gives users the ability to chat with friends on AIM, ICQ and MSN Messenger within one client, in addition to giving the buddy list greater organization through color coding.

August 24, 2005

Google launches Google Talk, featuring IM capabilities, contact lists and interoperability within Gmail.

Dec. 13, 2005

MSN Messenger changes its name to Windows Live Messenger, offering offline messaging, stronger search capabilities, a modified contact list and greater personalization options.

And now we look to the future - Skype. Yes we might not make phone calls in the conventional sense anymore, but calls through the internet are a popular way of communicating, especially over long distances. Here is a breakdown of its meteoric rise:

Having examined the past, and looked to the future, I can only conclude what was so promising and innovative, has surpassed expectations and will continue to develop into even greater things.

What can I say, its great to be born in and to live in the age of the Internet.

 

Introduction to the Internet

The internet needs no introduction really, especially to the technologically savvy generation of today. This week's COM125 lessons however, does get more specific as to why the internet is the amazing multitude of things we all know today. It introduced us to a slightly more technical aspect of the internet and how and why it is the way it is today.

It is interesting to learn that on the internet, data is transferred through packets of information which are sent over many different paths, and when they eventually reach their destination, reform together to form one file. We download and use dozens of files daily. These videos showed us how these things actually get to us. From the coding of a website to the downloading of packets of information, we are told the basic infrastructure of the internet.

Internet Browsers

As so aptly stated by Mr Choy, browsers are the windows into the internet world. Its importance cannot be understated, so its good to know there is healthy competition among browser providers to ensure constant forward thinking and improvement of browsers. It was also refreshing to learn about the various things that make up a browser, like hyperlinks, graphics and multimedia.

However much the internet landscape changes, browsers will always be ever present.

Net Neutrality

Net Neutrality was something that was highlighted as well, the principle that Internet service providers and governments should treat all data on the Internet equally, not discriminating or charging differentially by user, content, site, platform, application, type of attached equipment, and modes of communication.

It is crucial to the freedom of the internet. It encompasses so much and everyone can benefit from the internet. Everyone. It has come under threat from various governments and organizations before, and it will no doubt be in danger again in the future. There is a constant discussion among the most powerful groups of people in the world, all seeking control of the internet. It is for the people, and we must ensure it stays this way.

To wrap up, here are examples of how the internet has transformed our traditional media today:

Radio

Want to listen to radio? Many stations offer their services online. There are also an innumerable number of podcasts out there, all offering insightful and entertaining listening.

Television and Movies

What about television and movies? Plenty on offer on the internet, as long as you know where to find them. Many serials can be instantly bought and streamed, and companies are always trying to get their content onto the net as soon as possible.

 

Newspapers and Magazines

As for newspapers and magazines, there are tons of news and information websites, and many traditional papers and magazines have online and digital versions. The internet even has its own version of opinion and forum pages - blog sites and various forum websites.

 


Books

Ebook catalogues are a big part of the online world, most classics have digital versions and there isn't a major book today that gets published without an accompanying online version.

The internet has done wonders with the things which are already a large part of our lives, I cannot wait to see what the future holds for the internet.

Cheers,

R J