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The internet is, without any shadow of a doubt, one of the most innovative and ground-breaking inventions in the history of mankind.
It’s literally revolutionised modern life as we know it today, yet it’s hard to believe that it hasn’t been around all that long…
Sure, early concepts of the internet were around for many decades prior, but in terms of popularity, it only really took off in the late-nineties.
And, without the internet, life today would likely come grinding to a halt. Businesses and economies would collapse, there would be blackouts, there would be looting, and it would almost certainly lead to total anarchy.
Let’s hope that never happens hey?!
Chatting recently with my good friends, website investment experts Matt and Liz Raad, led me to some interesting and insightful facts about websites that you may not have known, which I thought I’d share with you today.
#1. The world’s very first website
– Despite the internet not really taking off until towards the end of the 90s, the world’s first website actually went live at the beginning of the 1990s.
The site went live on 6th August, 1991 – info.cern.ch – and was dedicated to info about the World Wide Web. The site can still be viewed to this day and although it looks entirely primitive nowadays, at the time it was pure sci-fi.
#2. There are a lot of websites out there!
– Back in 1991 there was literally one live website in operation. Now, less than three decades later, it’s fair to say that things have changed a great deal.
We know how popular the internet is and how essential it is for everyday life, but do you know how many websites there are right now? (February 2019)
Currently there are more than 1.94 Billion live websites in operation – a staggering increase which is literally multiplying every single day.
#3. Rise of the machines?
– Though this may sound a little daunting, this next fact actually makes a lot of sense when you stop and think about it. There are currently more devices in the world with online connectivity, than there are living human beings.
We have our smart phones, laptops, computers, games consoles, tablets, smart TVs, TV adaptors, toys, gadgets, and much more – all of which can now wirelessly connect to the internet with a few touches of a few buttons.
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#4. What’s in a name?
– Even though the WWW before you type in a website is now defunct, the name World Wide Web is still synonymous with the internet.
Did you know however, that World Wide Web was one of many possible names for the internet? It was very nearly called the Information Mesh. Other shortlisted names included: Information Mine and Mine of Information.
#5. Even billionaires get things wrong
– You’ll no doubt know who Bill Gates is, right? Just to refresh your memory, he’s the founder of Microsoft and currently has a net worth of more than $94 Billion!
So it’s fair to say then, that he knows his stuff when it comes to tech. However, even billionaires sometimes get things wrong.
You see, back in the ’90s, when more people were talking about this whacky new invention called “the Internet” Bill Gates said that an internet browser was a trivial piece of software and that the money was in the hardware.
Well, you could say he got that bit right, and ironically, he would later go on to launch one of the most successful internet browsers in the history of the web, what we know as ‘Internet Explorer’.
… And my favourite interesting and insightful fact is #6…
#6. Don’t tick off Microsoft
– Microsoft is synonymous with the tech industry, and is one the most lucrative, powerful, and financially successful corporations on the planet.
Needless-to-say, some would suggest that getting on the wrong side of a corporation of that scale would not be one of the smartest decisions you could make.
Despite this, a student named Mike Rowe, once found himself on Microsoft’s radar when he created the website MikeRoweSoft.com.
Microsoft claimed trademark infringement and threatened legal action.
Mike however, did not roll over easily. He went to the press, drummed up local support and interest and even bagged himself a lawyer willing to represent him free of charge.
Rowe received huge amounts of support, both locally and globally, and he actually had to take down his site. This wasn’t to appease Microsoft however, it was because his site was receiving so many visitors that the servers literally couldn’t cope.
In the end, Rowe agreed to relinquish the domain to Microsoft in exchange for an undisclosed fee, and an Xbox Games Console!
To Your ‘Online’ Success
PS. Remember to check out how website investment experts, Matt & Liz Raad, buy, renovate and sell websites for a profit… and how you can too! It’s free, online and lasts about 60-minutes. You can check it out here