fbpx

Innovation at Home

Internet

Most people in developed nations under the age of 30 won’t remember a time where they did not have access to the internet but in reality, access to the world of online information, social media, shopping and so much more has only been part of everyday life for the past 20 years or so.

The internet has improved our lives in so many ways. It has made access to information much more equal. Many people can now source news and educational materials that were once only available to those who had the money to purchase expensive books such as sets of encyclopedia or who lived close to shops where they could easily access newspapers.

There is also email which we now associate with internet access. Email allows fast and effective written communication which once relied on physical delivery systems such as mail and later fax machines. Email has changed the way that businesses are able to operate and has enabled them to be more responsive to customers all around the world.

Inspiration for Screen Free FUN!

Key Events

  • 1812

    Creation of the Difference Engine

    Charles Babbage created the Difference Engine which is a high tech calculator that is the precursor to his design for the Analytical Engine. The Analytical Engine was never made but is considered one of the earliest designs for a computer.

  • 1963

    The APRAnet

    Joseph Carl Robnett Licklider created the ARPANET the first internet

    1963

  • 1969

    LOGIN

    The first digital communication sent from a computer at UCLA to Stanford University

  • 1971

    Email format

    Ray Tomlinson created email as we know if for the ARPANET. He established the format that we use today for email addresses today: username@host

    1971

  • 1985

    Domain names

    Elizabeth Feinler heads a team of people who develop the idea to organise and name every website in the network with a domain name system – such as .com, .gov or .org, giving us our current system of web addresses

UN Sustainable Development Goals

While the Internet is an invisible web, all the information is physically stored somewhere. It is stored in massive data centres which look like giant warehouses. It’s just rows and rows of servers – servers are a very specific type of computer. These servers use energy, most of which is still produced through burning fossil fuels.

If everyone on the planet took every piece of computing equipment that exists – phones, computers, tablets, etc and combined this all together, the amount of energy it would need to run, is the same amount that’s currently needed in the aviation industry. So essentially, the same amount of energy needed to fly all the planes in the all world is needed.

The concepts in the show also link to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 9 (Industries, Innovation & Infrastructure) and 13 (Climate Action)

Challenge
  1. Unsubscribe. Spend a moment and unsubscribe from all those SPAM and junk mails you receive. The lack of emails that are sent out via these automated emails, the less Carbon Emission is required to run the data centres.
  2. Devices down. Spend one night this week device free. Turn off your phones, computers, televisions and other devices and do something together offline. Download our offline entertainment guide for some ideas for what to do and then jump onto our Facebook or Instagram page to tell us how you went.
Resources

This episode was researched, written and edited by Melanie De Gioia.

It was narrated by Rachel Brittliff & Melanie De Gioia.

Extra vocal talents came from Mel’s daughter, Grace.

Music was sourced by Melanie from Audio Jungle.

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Share by Mail
Washing MachineRefrigerator
Scroll to top