The document discusses the history and development of the internet over the past 50 years, from its origins as a network created by the United States Department of Defense to foster communication between universities and researchers, to its modern incarnation as a worldwide network used by billions for a wide variety of purposes both personal and commercial. It grew exponentially from the 1990s onward due to falling technology costs and the development of easily usable services like the World Wide Web. Today the internet has become an integral part of modern life and a major engine for economic growth and innovation.