Why does the evolution of the Internet matter

 How old do you think the Internet is? 10 years, 20 years, 30 years, 40 years, 50 years

 Take some time to think about this.

 If you are thinking towards the middle or upper end of this range then you are correct. Although the widespread adoption of the Internet as a business and social communications tool occurred in the 1990s, its birth was much earlier. The history and origin of the Internet as a business tool is surprising since it has taken a relatively long time to become an essential part of business. In this module we look at why it has taken so long to evolve and what its impact on the world, both business and social, have been. For business people to make best use of the potential of the Internet, an understanding of the way it can be applied depends on an understanding of how it is used socially, by businesses and how governments and other organisations have tried to control it.