Internet

The Internet began as a military network that quickly grew into a global network, connecting millions of users worldwide. During its evolution, it adopted heavy standards that still today hinder traffic and limit the efficiency of digital communication.

More than a simple medium, the Internet has transformed how we share information, work, and interact. In this section, we will explore its history, analyze old and modern standards, and propose ways to improve them for current challenges.

The origins of the Internet trace back to military projects in the 1960s and 1970s, such as ARPANET, designed to maintain communication in case of conflict. Over time, its use expanded to universities, businesses, and eventually the general public.

Key milestones include:

• 1980s: TCP/IP becomes the communication standard, enabling interoperability between different networks.
• 1990s: The World Wide Web popularizes access to information through graphical browsers.
• 2000s onward: Social networks, streaming, and e-commerce transform digital interaction.

The Internet works thanks to a set of protocols and standards that regulate how data is transmitted:

• TCP/IP: The foundation of digital communication, allowing data to travel between different networks.
• HTTP/HTTPS: Web protocols ensuring information transfer and security on websites.
• DNS: Translates domain names to IP addresses, making navigation more intuitive.

Although effective, some of these standards were designed in a different context, which today creates inefficiencies, congestion, and vulnerabilities.

The operation of the Internet can be understood as a distributed system:

• Each connected device (computers, smartphones, servers) is a node.
• Data travels in packets, which may take different routes to reach the destination.
• Routers and switches direct these packets efficiently.

This architecture allows resilience and scalability, but also introduces challenges such as latency, packet loss, or congestion during peak usage.

The Internet continues to evolve to overcome limitations:

• Next-generation networks: 5G, fiber optics, and satellite technologies aim to reduce latency and increase speed.
• Security and privacy: Modern protocols such as HTTPS, VPNs, and end-to-end encryption protect information.
• Decentralized networks: Blockchain and P2P propose a more robust and democratic model against centralization.

These innovations reflect the need to adapt the Internet to the growing demand and complexity of digital services.

Learning about the Internet becomes clearer through practical exercises:

1. Traceroute and ping: analyze how data travels between your computer and a server.
2. Packet capture: tools like Wireshark allow you to see in detail the information circulating on the network.
3. Basic network setup: connect two computers in a local network and exchange data, simulating servers and clients.

These exercises show the complexity and ingenuity behind the network we use every day.

The Internet is history, technology, and communication. It began as a military project and today is the system that connects the world.

Its magic lies in the ability to interconnect people, devices, and services, transforming how we work, learn, and interact.

Although it faces challenges in efficiency and security, the Internet remains an open field for innovation, where every improvement can have a global impact.