Few things have been impacted by the evolution of technology over the past 25 years more than the internet. Though it is a technological feat itself, the internet has also acted as a nexus point and a guinea pig for some of the biggest technological changes in recent history. So much has happened to the internet since its inception that it’s daunting to keep up with it all.
For a quick history lesson, here are some of the most important technological changes to have affected the online web:
Gaming
Perhaps the most obvious way of how the internet has been impacted was through gaming of all sorts. It’s hard to deny the impact the gaming communities have had on the development of the online world, both in terms of culture and technology.
The gaming sector has been a huge driver in developing the internet by spearheading many technological feats like communications and interactivity. Though it originally started with isolated consoles and arcade cabinets, gaming evolved greatly and took off when it went online and showed the world that people all over the planet could be easily connected.
This doesn’t just apply to video games and online RPGs, but games of all sorts, including iGaming and online betting. Many of the free demos found at www.johnslots.com/en/slots/free/ are great examples of the kinds of developments that have shaped how people use their online time. These games are some of the favourite pastimes of people who weren’t previously able to play their favourite casino games from home.
Social media
Social media is practically synonymous with the internet, especially these days. It is still one of the main reasons why people decide to go online, and social media websites are by far some of the biggest platforms in the entire digital world.
For those who remember social media’s first entry onto the public stage, it’s hard to separate its development from the smartphone, which itself is a very important piece of technology for its own reasons. Considering how much online traffic comes from those with smartphones accessing their social media accounts, it’s easy to see how they have helped to alter the trajectory of the internet’s growth.
Almost everything is connected to social media in some way. People’s public identities, the way advertisers promote their products, services and brands, and the way major institutions get in touch with the common man or woman – these are all important ways that have altered how people view the very core functions and purposes of the internet.
Virtual and augmented reality
VR and AR hardware have only begun making changes on the internet, but this technology is still in its infancy and we have yet to truly witness its major, permanent impacts on the online world.
VR especially will be a driving force in the realm of many services, such as digital tourism, educational opportunities, gaming innovations, new industry or business revolutions and the like. Even now, people can access VR simulations of various scenarios online – some of them even for free – that immerse them in ways that almost go beyond human imagination.
The number of trends related to VR and AR just keeps growing. Their growth and influence are gradual but not insignificant. Whether it be advancements in artificial intelligence, more immersive and data-driven marketplaces or ways to blend AR and VR together, these are the growing trends to watch out for this year.
Online banking
Once upon a time, just about all banking had to be done in person, often on designated schedules. Now, you can easily pay any bill or make any transaction from the comfort of your own home at any time you want.
Though it didn’t kill in-person banking, online banking has had major repercussions on how the internet developed. Much of the discourse centred around online privacy and cybersecurity is thanks to people trying to protect their hard-earned cash from scammers or hackers. Once our wallets and accounts went online, so did our sense of security.
How the internet continues to change today
Just as the internet has been deeply affected by many advances in software and hardware, it’s only inevitable that it continues to be shaped by the technologies that are still developing today.
Riffing off of online banking, the internet has also given birth to currencies that only exist online. With cryptocurrencies and their related blockchain technologies taking firm root as household names, the way they’ve made various privacy and security concepts mainstream will surely have wide-ranging and long-lasting implications for the future development of the web.
One easy example of these new concepts is decentralization. As peer-to-peer networks increase in use and popularity, the internet will practically have no choice but to become more decentralized as time goes on. This could allow opportunities for new services, products and apps to emerge.
But perhaps the biggest change to be on the lookout for is how hardware will impact the future growth of the internet. Though most consumers tend to think of the internet through a software perspective – games, apps, sites – we cannot interact with the web without hardware. Not only that, but the kind of hardware you use has a major impact on how you interact with the software in question.
User interfaces are designed around the understanding that people use a keyboard and mouse or a touchscreen to play their games, do their shopping and get in touch with others. But what happens to the internet when people are using VR headsets or smart glasses instead? Sites, apps, platforms and even user interfaces will have to be redesigned around these new technologies. That doesn’t just result in an internet that looks different, but an internet that feels different, too. It will develop into one that needs to be interacted with in an entirely new way.
Though everyone is used to how the internet currently works, it is always evolving. Like the way cars and planes look, or like the way video game or movie graphics look, we have not seen everything the internet has to offer.
