The virtual world was once a slow thing: burdened by creeping speeds and tedious page loads. Networks strained beneath the weight of users. Servers threatened to fail as public awareness increased. The Internet was originally unknown, a secret that few shared. But, as the years progressed, it became popular among the masses; with 1993 serving as the origins for online demands.
Such demands were difficult to meet, however. Dial-up was the only choice available then; and its reliance on cable lines and creaky connections was maddening. The public soon grew tired of it, desiring stronger speeds and networks that wouldn’t suddenly shatter with the ring of the telephone.
Broadband became the salvation they were all waiting for.
Few advancements have impacted the world more than the arrival of broadband. Although it first appeared in 1965 (developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with connections able to reach a then-staggering 50 kilobytes per second), it was kept from the crowds. The Internet was still tentative then and fast networks were only given to universities and research facilities. Few private homes even had computers, making the need for virtuality minimal.
As technology began to force its way into the cities and suburbs, however, broadband became recognized as a necessity. There were concerns with offering this, though. The process had not been developed fully and government restrictions were placed upon it, to ensure no protocols were broken. But the denial couldn’t last and, in 1996, the first access to this option was granted.
And everything changed.
No longer was the Internet a dull offering. It was instead shaped for immediacy; and individuals began to discover the endless potential and information within it. Relationships were formed; data was understood and the web became a truly global affair.
Few innovations had ever offered such prestige (or can do so even now). Broadband redefined the notion of the online world and its success continues today.