| Believe it or not, the Internet (in its | | | | According to Scott Koerwer of Information |
| earliest form) dates back nearly 4 decades. | | | | Today, "This open standard allows entire |
| Ok we all know it was just a network of | | | | industries to grow as a benefit to everyone." |
| computers for the government sharing data, | | | | |
| but it has evolved into so much more. | | | | Unless you live in a cave (and even then that |
| | | | is not enough anymore), you probably have |
| Today, on the internet, you can buy just | | | | heard of search engines. I am sure you have |
| about anything, get news content on any | | | | heard of Google. Well Google was launched in |
| subject, and of course, the internet lets the | | | | September of 1998, and has grown to be a |
| small business owner compete with the big | | | | multi-billion dollar business. According to |
| guys by offering a global marketplace of like | | | | the SIIA, "Google is now used by 30 percent |
| no one has ever seen. | | | | of Internet users for services including |
| | | | maps, email, blogs, and video, and is listed |
| Through it all, what has been the biggest | | | | as their #1 item that has changed the way |
| advances of the internet, especially related | | | | people use the internet." |
| to eCommerce? Well you are in luck. The | | | | |
| Software & Information Industry Association | | | | However no one can ignore the fact that in |
| (SIIA) unveiled a list of the significant | | | | order for the internet to be successful, web |
| ecommerce developments during the past | | | | surfers must be able to get to their content |
| decade. | | | | up on their screen and get it there quickly. |
| | | | On this notion, up steps broadband. The once |
| Here we feature some of the items from their | | | | very expensive and highly remote service |
| list starting with the earlies developments, | | | | available to customers, is now the norm in |
| up until today. | | | | the industry for internet users and according |
| | | | to the SIIA, "Broadband Penetration of U.S. |
| The year was 1997 and the dot com explosion | | | | Internet Users Reaches 50 percent in June |
| was upon us, or at least on the cusp. In | | | | 2004. It took broadband 4 years to reach 50 |
| this year the world saw the creation of | | | | percent of the population. By the end of |
| Amazon, open standards for HTML (4.0) and the | | | | 2007, the number will reach an estimated 90 |
| creation of Wi-Fi. Amazon was that mentor | | | | percent." Resulting in more websurfers |
| for other sites to look up to. They | | | | getting to where they need to go, and in a |
| basically started a revolution by which you | | | | hurry. |
| can purchase books online with their ease of | | | | |
| use web site. Amazon was known to be one of | | | | So what does the future hold? YouTube, |
| the first websites to start eCommerce. | | | | mobile websurfing, SMS, web 2.0 and many |
| | | | other technologies currently exist, and are |
| The company responsible for making sure web | | | | being upgraded as well as expanded daily. |
| developers follow, or at least try to follow | | | | One thing is for sure, the internet is |
| a set of standards is known as the World Wide | | | | constantly evolving, and if you aren`t |
| Web Consortium. It is not a private company | | | | keeping up with the times, you are sure to |
| or government somewhere in the world, they | | | | fall behind. |
| make sure HTML, the language by which | | | | |
| websites appear on your web browser (a basic | | | | By: Bruce A. |
| definition) is followed and standardized. | | | | |