How did we get to this thing called the Internet?

In the early 1960s Paul Baran was among the first to explore the concept of packet switching. As an employee of the RAND Corporation (Research and Development Corporation) he was a part of research for the US armed forces. At that point the United States government was interested in an expansive network that that was able to be accessed from multiple points, and served as a communication network that would be able to survive catastrophe.
The fruits of Baran’s research were a series of papers one of which was titled “P-2626”. In this specific paper Baran outlined a network that was built on three principles. The first principle was decentralization of the network with multiple paths between two points. Baran envisioned a network that didn’t have one specific location so that it could never be destroyed completely, and was also accessible.
The next principle Baran explored for his network was division of messages into different blocks or packets. This allowed messages to be sent across the network at different times and along different routes. If messages had to be sent as one whole message, it would take a longer time for space in the network to open up for the entire message. .
The last principle this proposed network was built on was delivery of messages by store and forward switching. Store and forward switching can be illustrated by the noble cell phone. If no network is available on your cell phone when you are sending a text message, in most cases your phone will save your text message to the outbox, and then resend once the network is available. This is similar to how the network utilizes packet switching The individual packets are sent to an intermediate location, where the message is verified, and then sent on to another location or to the receiver.
By definition the internet is an example of a network utilizing packet switching. This technology allows for the exponential gain in speeds we have seen in sending and receiving messages through the internet. When any information is sent over the internet it is first broken into pieces. Back in the days of dial-up it was easiest to see packets being reassembled at your computer because images would load inch by inch. But as networks become more complex and there is more bandwidth to utilize, packets can be queued up faster and become sent faster. Depending on your computer most images load all at once although if you’re viewing a web page the text may appear before an image does.
Packet switching allows the internet to process data and increasingly faster pace. When information can be broken down into smaller pieces its easiest to send. Each packet can be sent a different route. At each intermediate step the packet is inspected to help preserve its integrity which helps result in the transmission of a complete message. Also, at the end of the day although the message may not be sent or may not arrive in the correct order, the packet is coded with directions to reassemble the packet in its correct order.
Another thing that I found interesting about packet switching is that it enables websites to provide memberships and optimum service to members. So now services such as Limewire which offers Limewire Pro for a fee, can become a profitable entity while still providing free services to all. Many other websites are formatted this way, and it’s good for consumers because we are not automatically ignored because we don’t want to pay a membership fees. So in the end, packet switching allows Internet users to get their information in a shorter time frame, and it allows e-commerce to flourish in age where time is at an all time low, and multitasking is king.