Summary of "3sat neues Doku: 40 Jahre Internet - 20 Jahre www"

This documentary traces the history, development, and impact of the Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW) over the past 40 and 20 years respectively, highlighting key technological innovations, pioneers, and cultural shifts. It emphasizes how the web evolved from a complex, academic network into a global, interactive medium that transformed communication, information sharing, and society.

Main Ideas and Concepts

Significance of the World Wide Web
- The WWW is considered one of the most important inventions since the telephone, radio, and television.
- It is a flexible, simple medium usable for diverse purposes (blogs, brochures, publishing, communication).
Origins and Early Development of the Web
- Tim Berners-Lee, a programmer at CERN, invented the WWW in 1989 to solve the problem of inaccessible scientific information spread across incompatible computers.
- His initial proposal, titled "Information Management," did not mention the term “web” but outlined the concept of hypertext servers, browsers, HTML, HTTP, and URLs.
- The web was designed as a symmetrical medium allowing not only reading but also writing and publishing by users.
Technical Foundations of the Internet
- The Internet predates the web by about 20 years, originating from Cold War-era research (Sputnik launch in 1957 spurred US technological initiatives).
- ARPANET (1969) was the first decentralized network linking universities, using packet-switching technology (TCP/IP) to efficiently route data.
- Early internet communication was inefficient, resembling a telephone connection, but packet-switching improved speed and reliability.
Challenges and Early Reception
- The WWW initially received little attention or support, even from Berners-Lee’s own institution (CERN).
- Early hypertext concepts existed (Ted Nelson’s work), but practical implementation and usability lagged.
- The first web browser was developed on the Next computer, enabling easy programming and use.
Growth and Democratization of the Web
- The release of the Mosaic browser (1993) for Windows PCs popularized the web beyond academia, bringing it into private households.
- CERN relinquished rights to the web software in 1993, enabling open development and widespread adoption.
- Tim Berners-Lee founded the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to maintain standards and interoperability amid competing browsers (e.g., Netscape vs. Mosaic).
Commercialization and Expansion
- The 1990s saw a boom in internet companies, particularly in Silicon Valley, with speculative investments and rapid growth in users and websites.
- By 1998, millions of users were online, but effective search engines were still emerging (Google’s appearance was pivotal).
- The advent of affordable DSL and flat-rate internet access accelerated usage and enabled multimedia content.
Web 2.0 and the Interactive Web
- The web evolved from static content (Web 1.0) to interactive platforms (Web 2.0) where users contribute content collaboratively (blogs, wikis, social media).
- Wikipedia exemplifies collective intelligence enabled by the web.
- The web has become a social medium, a primary source of information, and a platform for global communication and opinion formation.
Societal Impact and Future Outlook
- The WWW has revolutionized access to information, enabling unprecedented speed and ease of communication worldwide.
- It holds the potential to foster a better society by connecting people across borders and cultures.
- Modern technology and the web are viewed with hope as tools for global harmony and progress.

Methodology / Timeline of Key Events and Innovations

1957: Sputnik launch triggers US research initiatives leading to ARPA.
1960s: J.C.R. Licklider proposes the “Intergalactic Network” concept.
1969: ARPANET established, linking UCLA, Utah, Santa Barbara, Stanford.
Early 1970s: Packet-switching and TCP/IP protocols developed to improve network efficiency.
1989: Tim Berners-Lee writes the proposal for the WWW at CERN.
1990: Berners-Lee programs the first web prototype on the Next computer.
1991: First public demonstration of the WWW; initial skepticism and rejection at hypertext conferences.
1993: Mosaic browser released, popularizing graphical web browsing. CERN releases web software rights, enabling open development.
Mid-1990s: Formation of W3C to standardize web technologies amidst browser competition.
Late 1990s: Internet boom, rise of search engines (Google), and commercialization.
2000