Chapter 2 Friday, January 21st (The Internet and New Technologies: The Media Converge

2.)How did the Internet originate? What does its development have in common with earlier mass media?

(response to question #2) 

"The Internet originated as a military-government project, with national security as one of its goals." The creation of the internet, "Begun in the late 1960s by the Defense Department’s Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA)." It was nicknamed the "Net" and it enabled military and academic researchers to communicate on a distributed network system. The distributed network system was different than the "centralized telephone system of the time, the internet offered two security advantages. First, because multiple paths linked computers to each other, communications “traffic” would be less likely to get clogged at a single point. Second, because the network was distributed across so many paths, it offered a communication system that was more impervious to technical problems, natural disasters, or military attacks than a centralized system."  The development of the internet follows the pattern of any rising mass-media. In 2007, over 1.15 billion people used the internet regularly. The internet has "stuck", if you will, to our culture as it continues to be the leading form of commerce. This form of communication is instant and is the most wide ranging mass-media in history. 

1.)When did the Internet reach the novelty (development), entrepreneurial, and mass medium stages?

(response to question #1) 

The internet first reached the "novelty" stage in 1971; "with the introduction of microprocessors", which "were miniature circuits that could process and store electronic signals." This new invention began "the integration of thousands of transistors and related circuitry into thin strands of silicon along which binary codes traveled." With the use of microprocessors, manufacturers were then able to introduce the very first "personal computers" (PCs). these computers "were smaller, cheaper,and more powerful than the bulky computer systems that occupied entire floors of buildings during the 1960s."  Along with this new invention of personal computers, came "a second opportunity for marketing the "Net" in 1986. The National Science Foundation developed a high-speed communications network(NSFNET) designed to link university research computer centers around the country and also encourage private investment in the "Net"." The (NSFNET) led to the increase in Internet use and continued to open the door to the future commercial possibilities of the Internet.

8.)Who are the major players Trying for control of the Internet?

(response to question #8) 

The major players trying to gain control of the internet are: Yahoo!, Microsoft, AOL, and Google. These companies emerged as the leading forces on the Internet in the 90's, each with a different business angle. Yahoo!’s method has been to make itself an "all-purpose" entry to the internet. Microsoft’s approach began by integrating its Windows software with its Internet Explorer Web browser, making their site and other Microsoft applications appear more user friendly. AOL has managed to connect millions of users to its proprietary Web system through dial-up access. And Google has succeeded in becoming the world's most used search engine. Google has even now, adopted Verizon as a carrier and backed up its newest phone; the "Droid". With the Droid's latest edition style and fast acting internet, Google appears to be taking the internet by storm. 

"In order to stay relevant in the fast-moving era of Web 2.0, these four major Internet companies have transformed themselves by buying promising Internet start-ups and changing their business model in hopes of gaining more leverage over their competitors."  In my opinion, Google is on its way to becoming the king of the internet. Maybe there will never be a rightful owner...

Telecommunications Act of 1996: the sweeping update of telecommunications law that led to a wave of media consolidation.