Blackwell Reference Online

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Internet technology has developed in a rapid series of leaps to become one of the most fundamental communications infrastructures in modern society. When referring to the →  Internet as a communication infrastructure it is important to remember that the Internet is in reality a technological base upon which a multitude of software applications rely in order to provide users with the communication tools they desire. Despite this, it is important to realize that the Internet is not a single thing. It is a name that collects a cluster of technological innovations, groups of infrastructure(s), applications, and social organizations, which we commonly refer to as the Internet. The Internet is not one innovation, but a rapid series of steps, innovations, and collaborations within the field of communication technology. In addition, the Internet as a phenomenon is constantly evolving technically. Among the reasons for the prominence of the Internet as a communication infrastructure is the multitude of design choices that have been made out of necessity and conviction by groups of developers over half a century. This essay provides an overview of these developments and some of their implications (→  Technology and Communication ). First, it is important to clarify the difference between the Internet and the software applications that are used. Understanding this difference is important, ... log in or subscribe to read full text