World Wide Web 1989 to present Tim Berners-Lee In concert with CERN, developed the first Internet Web Browser in 1991, considered the inventor of the World Wide Web by many. Marc Andreessen Founder and developer of Netscape (Mosaic), the first successful commercial Internet browser. Bill Gates Owner of Microsoft, the creator and developer of Internet Explorer, most widely used Web browser today. Tim Berners-Lee and CERN develop and release the World Wide Web and WWW server. Marc Andreessen and other students develop MOSAIC, later renamed Netscape the first commercially successful web browsing software. Sun Microsystems develops Java, an internet development tool that allows much more functionality on the 'Net. Bill Gates and Microsoft develop Internet Explorer in response to the success of Netscape. Internet Explorer eventually becomes the most widely used browser in America. Life and Times The Gulf War takes place in 1990-1991 and the U.S. defeats Iraq. Grunge music takes the place of hard rock and heavy metal in 1992 led by Kurt Cobain and Nirvana. Bill Clinton becomes president leading in part to a time of unprecedented economic growth in the U.S. and much of the world. The WWW itself is partly responsible for the huge growth of the economy leading to the "dot.com" explosion of Internet millionaires and companies who rely on the WWW for sales of equipment ranging from cars and computer hardware to pet supplies and used clothing. The Nasdaq stock exchange, heavily laden with technology stocks, becomes a place where many WWW entrepreneurs become millionaires overnight through initial public offerings of stock in their companies. The "dot.com" bubble bursts in 2000, leading to an economic downturn which continues today. Bill Gates Web site, http://www.microsoft.com/billgates/default.asp Biography of Bill Clinton, http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/bc42.html Sun Microsystems Java, http://java.sun.com/ Sun Microsystems Java, http://www.w3history.org/ Microsoft Internet Explorer website, http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.asp Nasdaq, http://www.nasdaq.com/ Kurt Cobain - voice of the early 90's, courtesy of http://members.tripod.com/~ricesj/acoustic.jpg Marc Andreessen, http://www.pcrealm.net/~mturbe/cyber7.html Apple Laptop, http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore All Netscape Logos, http://www.nzwwa.com/mirror/clipart/graphics/pictures/ netscape/index.html Tim Berners-Lee's Homepage, http://www.w3.org/People/Berners-Lee/Overview.html Image of the First Web page by Tim Berners-Lee, http://www.w3.org/History/1994/WWW/Journals/CACM/ screensnap2_24c.gif Scott J. Warren