Tag: History

(5 minutes of reading time)


On May 17th the Internet Day is celebrated! The date was established by the United Nations (UN) in January 2006. On that occasion, it was also established that the day of Telecommunications would be celebrated.

Today, during the digital world, how would we be our lives without the internet? You can't even imagine, can you?

Can you imagine having to go to the bank every time you need to make a payment? Or go to the supermarket every time you run out of milk?

The internet has changed our lives, it has changed the way people interact, study, shop, play games, watch movies, listen to music and do business. The world, since the internet arrived, has never been (and won’t be) the same.


THE HISTORY OF THE INTERNET

The internet was created in the United States in 1969. Initially called Arpanet, its purpose was to connect research laboratories. That year, a professor at the University of California sent to a friend of him at Stanford the first e-mail in history.

Arpanet belonged to the US Department of Defense. At that time, the Cold War was going on and the network ensured communication between the military and scientists even in case of war.

In 1982, Arpanet began to be used in the North American academic world and then expanded to other countries, such as the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden. And so, the name was changed to internet.

It was only in 1987 that the internet left the academic environment, and its commercial use was allowed in the USA.

In 1992, several companies providing Internet access began to emerge in the USA. And the European Particle Physics Laboratory (CERN) invented the World Wide Web, which began to be used to put information within the reach of any internet user.

In Brazil, the use was released in 1995, however, some universities such as the federal universities of Rio Grande do Sul and Rio de Janeiro were already connected to the network since 1989.


THE INTERNET NOWADAYS

Today, 30 years after its popularization, the internet is used for work, study, business, and entertainment.

Today, we can do anything with a click. We buy clothes, food, work, study, socialize, make medical appointments, bank transactions and much more using a computer or cell phone screen.

With the COVID-19 pandemic there has been a significant increase in internet usage in the world. However, recent research shows that more than a third of the world's population does not have an internet connection.

A report by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) published in 2021 found that 2.9 billion people (37% of the world's population) do not connect to the network. Among them, 96% live in developing countries.

According to the ITU Secretary-General, Houlin Zhao, one of the main challenges to bring the internet to these people without access is to reach the rural areas of these developing countries, where access in urban areas reaches an average of 72% of people and only to 34% of the rural population. 

On top of that, there are also problems such as poverty, access to electricity or lack of digital knowledge. These are just some of the challenges for the "digitally excluded", according to the ITU.


THE FUTURE OF THE INTERNET

With the arrival of 5G its known that the internet will evolve even further. In addition to faster download speeds, 5G will facilitate the implementation and adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT), considerably leveraging digital communication for various industrial sectors and companies. 

One of the most attractive points for the use of 5G is the benefits for different areas, such as telemedicine, education, agriculture, and transportation.

Thus, with this new technology, we will have a new technological scenario that will open several possibilities in practically all segments of the economy, making it possible to create new products and services that will have a significant impact on our daily lives and business.


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(7 minutes of reading time)


You know that feeling when time goes by too fast, and you don't notice? Twitter fans are sure to experience this feeling in March. That's because the platform completes 16 years old since when it was launched in 2022.

Created in the United States in 2006 by Jack Dorsey, Evan Williams, and Biz Stone, the platform came up with the idea of being a kind of microblog for sharing textual and visual content.

One of Twitter's biggest differences is how it is used and how easy it is to stay on top of the most talked trends in each region. What draws the most attention, right from the start, it is the fact its less dense in terms of content sharing format, with a word limit.

Thus, it is important to note that over the years, Twitter has grown in popularity due to its simplicity, easiness of use, and immediacy.


TWITTER TURNS 16 YEARS OLD IN MARCH 2022

Since its launch, more and more people have come to Twitter with the intention of sharing momentary thoughts and engaging in debates with others by following the hottest topics.

Thus, a user can research which subjects are trending on the platform and, if he/she creates interest, he/she can join debates about the topic on the platform in a transparent and objective way.

Twitter is also the platform that serves as a stage for several controversies involving celebrities, and politicians around the world. It is common for these people to get involved in controversies by sharing something on the platform, such as a controversial opinion, for example.

Today, Twitter is already available in virtually the entire world and with 35 languages available for use on the platform.

In addition, Twitter also stands out in the market as one of the social networks with the highest number of active users in the world, 316 million. It is worth mentioning that around 500 million tweets are posted every day and 23% of the population with Internet access is present and active on Twitter.


TWITTER AS INFORMATION AND MARKETING CREDIBILITY

The platform can also be considered an important source of information, especially for Americans and inventors of the social network. According to a survey by Website Rating, 12% of Americans say they receive news directly through Twitter.

And who said that the social network has credibility only with individuals? The survey mentioned above also found that 54% of all companies in the B2B industry use Twitter as a digital marketing tool.

This is because it is a good option to publish small and new information, which must be released in a short period of time. In addition, the social network is great for companies to demonstrate a position on a much-discussed subject and that is linked to its sector of activity.

Still thinking about digital marketing, Twitter is also great for trending keyword research with its famous Trends tool. With it, companies can see what people are talking about and work with content based on this data.

Even with all the opportunities to generate organic traffic, it is still very common for brands to invest capital on Twitter, as around 165 million ads are displayed on the platform daily.

Because of this, Twitter is now used by brands and individuals around the world as an effective tool for advertising and marketing. There are many reasons for this, but it all boils down to the fact that Twitter offers an unparalleled level of engagement with its users.


THE IMPORTANCE OF TWITTER AS A SOCIAL PLATFORM FOR PEOPLE

Twitter is a social media platform that has become a popular way to share news, opinions and experiences with others interested in what they have to say to the world. It is also an effective marketing tool for businesses as they can advertise their products and services to people interested in their niche.

On top of all that, Twitter has also been used as a tool for activism as well as organizing protests and revolutions around the world. In addition to allowing its users to receive updates from their favorite celebrities, politicians, leaders and even companies. With the use of Twitter, it has become easier for people to connect with others from all over the world.


WHY TWITTER IS A GOOD SOURCE OF INFORMATION

Twitter is a good source of information because it offers a lot of content and it's not difficult to find what you're looking for. So, it's a good place to find interesting news, trends, and articles. It's also possible to get in touch with celebrities or famous people and, if you're lucky, get feedback from the famous.

The fact that it allows users to share and receive short messages called "tweets" or "updates" quickly and objectively makes Twitter an excellent source of information because it provides up-to-date information and news on the go.

Thus, the platform is a great source of information because you can get updates on what is happening in the world at any time. You can also follow your favorite celebrities, sports teams, and TV shows to keep up to date with what they are doing.

Social media is also a good essential marketing tool because it allows marketers to reach their customers on a personal level. Twitter makes it easy for marketers to interact with their customers by sharing news, tips, and promotions.

The list of benefits that Twitter offers is long. It can be used for customer service, lead generation, brand awareness, and more. Some of the benefits of using Twitter as a marketing tool are:

- Reaches a broad audience that is not limited by location.
- It has an interactive nature, which makes it more engaging for users.
- It's cost-effective and quick to deploy.


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(7 minutes of reading time)


In addition to being known as Women's Month, March also has a very important date when it comes to freedom of expression and democratization of the Internet: World Day Against Cyber Censorship, celebrated on March 12.

This commemorative date is the result of a movement prepared by the NGO Reporters Without Borders, originally from France and founded in 1985. The idea is to promote discussion in favor of democratization, accessibility, and popularization of the Internet in the world.

Another important focus of the NGO is to move the debate on freedom of expression on the Internet into a movement against censorship and in favor of the transparency of large corporations and public entities.

In Brazil, there are 3 major projects against cyber censorship and in favor of greater transparency on the Internet. However, some countries go against this position by restricting the limits of the Internet even more.

Celebrated since 2009, the World Day Against Cyber Censorship makes public a movement for more transparency and legitimacy to the processes carried out around the world on the Internet.

There is an estimate that about 50% of Internet users live in countries with constant cybercrimes involving robberies, thefts and deaths. Most of the time, these crimes end up unsolved due to the lack of legitimacy of the Internet network.

Some of the most common crimes related to Internet activities are: email fraud, information interception, extortion, theft of financial data, copyright and image infringement, illegal drug and organ sales, hate speech and computer hacking.

According to the NGO Reporters Without Borders, some of the countries with the most problems related to the democratization of the Internet are: China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam. Russia is also on the way to join the list.

This is because, in 2019, Russia approved a law that goes the wrong way of technological evolution towards the democratization of the Internet. In this case, the Russian Government is now allowed to interrupt its population's access to the Internet.

The result of this action is the possibility of controlling the Internet in the country and, consequently, the censorship of those who oppose the current regime, bringing less transparency and greater insecurity, in addition to making Russia a country with higher probability of cybercrimes.


FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IS STILL AT RISK

According to data released by the NGO Freedom House, 42 out of 65 countries have requested the removal of content with political or religious content, noting an increase of 5 countries since the previous report, made in 2014.

Of the total number of countries that were analyzed, 40 were stricter and arrested people for sharing a social, political, or religious nature. On the other hand, 14 countries were less strict and passed laws that legitimize the surveillance of web activities.

The report released by the NGO points to countries such as China, Syria, Iran, Ethiopia, and Cuba as the ones experiencing the most problems related to Internet transparency and freedom of expression.

On the other hand, and contrary to these countries, the NGO Freedom House reported that the countries that most respect freedom of expression are: Iceland, Estonia, Canada, Germany and Australia.


THE IMPORTANCE OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION ON THE INTERNET

The internet is a powerful communication tool that can help people share their thoughts and ideas to the world. On the other hand, freedom of expression is an important principle for the internet.

It provides a voice for those who would otherwise not be heard and helps people challenge social norms. In recent years, we have seen many cases of internet censorship. Some countries censor sites they don't approve of because they believe these sites are a threat to their culture.

Freedom of expression on the internet allows people all over the world to communicate and share their beliefs, values, and opinions. This freedom also allows for a multiplicity of points of view, which is necessary for a democratic society.

The internet freedom has also encouraged innovation in many industries such as entertainment, education, journalism, art, and more. This freedom allowed the creation of new business models that were not possible before.

Some countries censor websites that criticize their government or political system. The importance of free speech online is deeply rooted in its history and has been an issue since the early days of the internet.


WHY SHOULD WE DEMOCRATIZE INTERNET ACCESS?

Internet access is a human right. It is an important part of the modern world that we cannot live without. The internet has connected people all over the world and made it possible to exchange ideas, share knowledge and collaborate in ways never before possible.

These days, Internet access must be available to everyone. It shouldn't depend on your financial situation or location. We need to ensure that everyone has the same opportunities as those who are lucky enough to have an internet connection at home or work.

The Internet is one of the most powerful tools of our time. It allows people to learn, communicate and share information. But the Internet is not accessible to everyone. There are still many people who don't have access to it and that needs to change.

The first reason for its democratization is that it will help us achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). One of the objectives is precisely to “reduce inequality within and between countries”.

This can be achieved by giving everyone equal access to the Internet as it will allow them to learn, communicate and share information with others more easily than before. In addition, it will help the economy to grow more sustainably.

It is important to consider that the Internet is, today, a major vehicle of broadcasting information. Thus, its democratization helps to disseminate important information and data to the world population.

In this sense, it is essential to have a technological education to prevent the spread of Fake News and to further improve the capacity of users of the global Internet network.


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(13 minutes of reading time)


In January 24th 2022, the Macintosh (now known as the Mac) becomes 38 years old. Let's talk about this famous line of computers from Apple, which changed a lot from the original Macintosh to the present day.

McIntosh is a species of apple (without the "a" in Mac), which got its name from the surname of the person responsible for the discovery, a Scottish American.

By 1979 Apple was already a successful company, but it still was restricted to the hardcore market of computer enthusiasts. At that time, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak had created interesting models, the Apple I and II, but the company lacked a product to take off.

And that model would be the Lisa, named after Steve Jobs' daughter (a daughter with whom Jobs had an extremely troubled relationship until the end of his life). The Lisa model would have the highest technical specifications of the time, a modern design, and a very high price, but fair for the technology.

Apple Lisa (1983)

Jobs was so obsessed with this computer that he made so many complaints and suggestions to the team that, in 1981, he was removed from the project as he became more of a hindrance than a helping hand.

He then turns to a side project of another computer that had also been in the design phase since 1979. Jeff Raskin was the team leader for a cheaper, more intuitive product for the standard consumers. It would be discreet, with a text interface, nothing too powerful, but it would soon become Apple's great flagship.

In 1981, IBM launches the PC, which becomes a sales phenomenon and popularizes the term personal computer. Apple launches the Lisa in 1983 and it was a resounding failure due to the very high price and many bugs in its operating system. And to make matters even worse, Raskin leaves the project team that was working with Jobs because of the attrition with him. Thus, the project was delayed by three years, but it comes out with everything it promised.


MACINTOSH

Apple Macintosh (1984)

On January 24th 1984, Apple launches the long-awaited Macintosh with a legendary presentation by Steve Jobs and the device introducing itself by voice. It had a mouse, keyboard, and a black and white graphical interface, the first version of the Mac OS. What many people don't know is that many of these technologies were created by Xerox, which had already developed these novelties in one of its laboratories, the Palo Alto Research Center (PARC).

This model, released in 1984, got known as the Macintosh 128k and had an amazing commercial movie, directed by Ridley Scott, and presented at a Super Bowl halftime show. Everything looked like it was going to work out, however, it was still very expensive and, therefore, it was not a sales success, but it became an industry icon and revolutionized the sector.

Still in 1984, Apple launched a Macintosh with 512 kb of RAM and, years later, a Plus version came-out, that allowed the connection of up to seven peripherals and had 1 Mb of RAM. This one had an excellent sales performance on the market.


MAC II

Apple Macintosh II (1987)

Even with all the excitement of the Mac, the end of the 80’s was a period for software and service releases. All the differences between Apple and Microsoft were put aside with the release of Word, Aldus Pagemaker and the LaserWriter printer.

Still at this time, Steve Jobs was officially released from Apple and its board by the CEO John Sculley, who was recruited by Jobs.

In 1987, the Macintosh II was launched, which already had a color screen and came with the best processor of its time, the Motorola 68020. Its look was also much more similar to the computers of that period, so Apple managed to balance the dispute with IBM. But from there, Apple messes everything up, because it launches several updated models with different names: Macintosh IIx, IIc, IICi and the IIfx. One more expensive than the other, which certainly wasn’t a good strategy.

Still in the eighties, the company launched the Portable model, fully battery-powered and with LCD screen.

Apple Macintosh Portable (1989)

In 1990 the Classic model was launched, which readapted the original design with some modern touches. This was the last Mac model to have Jean-Louis Gassée, a controversial executive who, as product head , jettisoned low-cost products , claiming that the profit margin in high-end markets was much higher.

Gassée was fired precisely for failing to deliver the products he had promised. Several lesser-known models came out in that period, such as the 1993 Macintosh TV, which had a built-in television, but was not very successful.


THE ASCENSION – POWER MACINTOSH G3

Apple Power Mac G3 (1998)

In the early nineties, Apple decided to take a risk and started to use the PowerPC processor, the result of a partnership between IBM, Motorola and Apple itself. The company believed that this would be the best processor to challenge the PCs that used the Windows operating system.

In March 1994, Macs with the PowerPC processor were launched, thus creating the Power Mac family. These first models were simple and in no way reminiscent of the traditional aesthetic care of the Apple brand. That's because Jony Ive, the company's famous designer, was already working there at that time, but was only promoted to head of industrial design in 1997.

Another milestone for Apple this year was the return of Steve Jobs (in one of those novelistic twists). Back in the company, he cancels several products, reorganizes several areas and restarts the launching shows and conferences.

The truth was that, despite all the controversies involving the person of Steve Jobs, he was very good and, with his return, Apple launched many successful products.

The most successful Mac model at that time was the PowerMac G3, released in 1998. This model retired a line known as Performa and consolidated Apple as the company that values processing power and memory capacity. The G3 was the most powerful Mac ever released, and it had horizontal, vertical, and all-in-one versions.

The iMac was another interesting model, a computer with the shape of a monitor, but the most important thing about it was that it was the first Apple’s “iSomething” product.

Actually, it was going to be named “Mac man”, but then came the idea of including the lowercase “i” at the beginning of the name, meaning Internet and a personalization, identification with the “i” (“I” in English) of the consumers.


APPLE AND A DIFFERENT LOOK

Apple iMac G3 (1998)

And that much dreamed exclusive look Apple had managed to implement in 1998 with the iMac G3: the famous computer with built-in monitor and colored and transparent back. The original blue model had 4GB of disk, 32 Mb of RAM and extras like a built-in modem and neat cable setup. The price was still very high, which made it not a sales success, but this model certainly made history.

In 1999, the iBook was launched, which despite being the first Apple computer to have Wi-Fi (at the time was called AirPort), it wasn’t a very successful product. After him there were a few more generations.

Apple iBook (1999)

In the 2000s, Apple made a few more mistakes. It launched the Power Mac G4 Cube, which is considered one of the worst products in Apple's history. As its name says, it is a cube and it had design and functioning problems. Nowadays it has become something of a “cult” and popular among collectors. Its successor, the Power Mac G5, was rectangular again and was Apple's first 64-bit desktop, very powerful in terms of performance and graphics processing.

Apple Power Mac G4 Cube (2000)

In 2005 there was still the Mac Mini, a tiny case that was a complete desktop, which needed a keyboard, mouse and a screen to work. It was a cheaper and more consumer-friendly option.


AND THE CHANGES HADN’T STOP

In 2005, Apple drastically changed the CPU, leaving IBM processors aside and switching to Intel processors, as they offered better energy saving capabilities and compatibility with more programs and platforms.

In 2006, Apple gets it right again with the Mac Pro, a workstation aimed at the professional market and with the most powerful hardware on the market. The first models had the Intel Xeon processors and a design still close to the Power Mac G5, resembling a handbag.

Apple Mac Pro (2013)

In 2013 the Mac Pro line was transformed and became a very curious product, looking like a trash can. This model was changed in 2019 and continues to this day.


MACBOOK

Apple MacBook (2006)

In 2006 Apple launches the MacBook, which retired the iBook and, to this day, is the name used by the company's line of laptops. The first model launched was made of polycarbonate and was available in black and white with an Intel Core Duo processor.

Apple MacBook Pro (2010)

In 2010 comes the first MacBook Pro, with 15 and 17 inches, and a more premium style. In 2012, the Retina Display screen technology was implemented and, in 2016, the TouchBar shortcut, which was not very well accepted by the entire public. In 2018, the MacBook family was completed with the Air model, sold as the world's thinnest notebook without sacrificing keyboard size or performance, but with a full focus on portability.

MacBook models are updated annually or every two years and, in 2021, Apple launched a new version with 14 and 16 inches that features the new M1 Pro and M1 Max processors, evolutions of the company's own M1 chip. They also bring the return of the MagSafe charger and bring a display of up to 120 Hz with a notch to house the camera.

Apple MacBook Air M1 (2021)

THE MAC OS SYSTEM

Finally, we cannot forget to mention the versions of Apple operating systems that run on Macs.

The first Macs ran on Mac OS, always with numbered updates and a focus on multitasking, however, this system became insufficient. The company tried to innovate in the mid-nineties with prototypes called Copland and Rhapsody, but none worked well.

It was Steve Jobs who created the embryo of the system we see today, at the time he was away from Apple, in a company he created called NExT.

Mac OS X Server 1.0 was the first of this new phase, with a revamped interface called Aqua and the Dock, the applications tray. Over time, the updates were given names, to make them better to advertise, sell and remember. From 10.0 to 10.8 were names of big cats: Cheetah, Puma, Jaguar, Panther, Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Lion and Mountain Lion. In 10.9 the naming changed to honor California landmarks, with Mavericks, Yosemite, El Capitan, Sierra, and High Sierra.

In the Sierra version, the names of Apple's systems were unified with TV, watch, smartphone, and PC. Mac OS X then becomes macOS and gains a series of new features, especially in terms of visual identity and the possibility of moving tasks from one device to another.

And that's the story of Macs, one of Apple's most important products from the beginning of its trajectory until today. Over time, Macs lost the prejudice that many people had of being just “expensive products”. They are widely used today by professionals in design, engineering, software development and creative production in general. Although they are still not as popular as Windows-based computers, they have their charm, their qualities, and their contribution to the history of technology and, above all, Apple itself.

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