What Connected the World Before the Internet?

When discussing communication on a large scale through computers, the immediate predecessor to the World Wide Web was Compuserve. Established in 1979, Compuserve was a dial-in service offering a text-based user interface. It included features such as news, sports, and the popular “CB Simulator,” which enabled interactive chat among users choosing channels based on their interests. Access to Compuserve was facilitated via a modem, which dialed a phone number to connect, providing a speed of 300 baud (300 bits per second).

From Modems to the Web

Decades later, in 1989, Compuserve began offering Internet services. This development paved the way for further advancements in the 1990s. In the early 1990s, several companies entered the market, with AOL becoming the most notable. The World Wide Web was invented in 1990, followed by the creation of the first web browsers. By the mid-1990s, the World Wide Web had become the standard for computer interconnection. However, the emergence of local Internet Service Providers (ISPs) allowed users to access the web more directly and at a lower cost, reducing the need to pay for service through portals like AOL.

Pre-Internet Communication Methods

The story of long-distance communication begins long before the advent of the Internet. The telegraph, introduced in the mid-19th century, was the original long-distance instantaneous communication system. Earlier than the telegraph, communication methods included carrier pigeons and stage coaches. Stage coaches were an early form of overland transportation used to carry mail and passengers. Later, the invention of the telephone revolutionized communication, making it possible to converse in real-time over long distances.

Still later, radio emerged, extending communication into the realm of broadcasting and receiving information on a personal or public level. The 1960s and 1970s saw the introduction of satellite TV, which allowed for the transmission of images and information across vast distances. The first transatlantic TV images, which could be seen in Europe and North America, were transmitted via satellites like Telstar 1. This was a significant achievement and marked the pinnacle of communication technology at the time, with a brief 20-minute outage when the satellite was not visible to both hemispheres.

Cultural Impact and Modern-Day Relevance

The evolution of communication technologies has had a profound impact on society. The emergence of the Internet marked a new era in information sharing and communication, transforming how people interacted and conducted business. Similarly, the transition from telegraphy, pigeon mail, and even telephone to the Internet reflects a continuous journey of innovation and improvement in human communication methods.

Today, these early communication methods and technologies continue to influence modern communications, serving as a reminder of our technological roots. While the Internet has revolutionized the world, the lessons learned from the innovations that came before it are invaluable.