You have almost certainly heard that today marks the 25th anniversary of the invention of the web by Sir Tim Berners Lee and of course, CERN are celebrating this - see their timeline of how its evolved. This screen grab of the Next desktop computer used by Tim Berners Lee also shows how far the experience for users has evolved - no need for mobile responsive sites back then!
Screenshot of the original NeXT web browser in 1993 (Image: Berners-Lee/CERN)
On Smart Insights we mainly discuss how marketers can take advantage of the commercial advantages of the Internet. Many of these have been facilitated by the interactions between users now possible via social media as Tim Berners-Lee stressed in his interview with the Guardian this week.
"The web's billions of users are what have made it great. I hope that many of them will join me in celebrating this important milestone," said the computer scientist. "I also hope this anniversary will spark a global conversation about our need to defend principles that have made the web successful, and to unlock the web's untapped potential."
But he has also re-iterated his concerns about privacy given recent disclosures about government surveillance, calling this week for an Online Magna Carta:
"We need a global constitution – a bill of rights. Unless we have an open, neutral internet we can rely on without worrying about what's happening at the back door, we can't have open government, good democracy, good healthcare, connected communities and diversity of culture. It's not naive to think we can have that, but it is naive to think we can just sit back and get it."
This threat to privacy is more important than the commercial concerns, so let's hope campaigning and the media gets supports this fight against government intrusion and other threats to the future of free, personal use of the Internet.
CERN also have a simple, interactive timeline at home.web.cern.ch which shows the early years before the web became more widely used in 1994.
How has the web influenced your life personally and at work? Since I'm not a "digital native" who grew up with the Internet, rather watching the lunar landings on black and white TV is what I recall I find it interesting to look back at how I've used different technology through time. In my Ebusiness and Ecommerce Management book I show the chart below and prompt readers to consider the technology and marketing techniques they have used since they first started using the web. The rate of innovation is amazing whenever you were born!
When did you first use the web? For me it was in 1994 when I got a demo from a researcher at Harwell Labs near Oxford.
By Dave Chaffey
Digital strategist Dr Dave Chaffey is co-founder and Content Director of online marketing training platform and publisher Smart Insights. 'Dr Dave' is known for his strategic, but practical, data-driven advice. He has trained and consulted with many business of all sizes in most sectors. These include large international B2B and B2C brands including 3M, BP, Barclaycard, Dell, Confused.com, HSBC, Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, M&G Investment, Rentokil Initial, O2, Royal Canin (Mars Group) plus many smaller businesses. Dave is editor of the templates, guides and courses in our digital marketing resource library used by our Business members to plan, manage and optimize their marketing. Free members can access our free sample templates here. Dave is also keynote speaker, trainer and consultant who is author of 5 bestselling books on digital marketing including Digital Marketing Excellence and Digital Marketing: Strategy, Implementation and Practice. In 2004 he was recognised by the Chartered Institute of Marketing as one of 50 marketing ‘gurus’ worldwide who have helped shape the future of marketing. My personal site, DaveChaffey.com, lists my latest Digital marketing and E-commerce books and support materials including a digital marketing glossary. Please connect on LinkedIn to receive updates or ask me a question.
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