2.  Global Communication (Knowledge Stage of Roger’s Stages of adoption)  IDEA KNOWLEDGE The internet open the world to global communications and researcher began to find ways to utilize this new innovation to its full potential. Web conferencing emerge from this exploratory research. It began with an Idea!

3. Instant Access ? The world demanded instant access and the innovation of web conferencing surfaced. Web Conferencing began Roger’s innovations development process with Internet structure in place.

4. Roger’s innovations development process began with Internet structure in place. In the 1960’s, the University of Illinois developed a system known as PLATO for their Computer- based Web conferencing began long before there was a World Wide Web or Education Research Laboratory (CERL). It was a small, self-contained system supporting a single classroom of terminals connected to one mainframe computer.  PLATO : The Emergence of Online Community  http://thinkofit.com/plato/dwplato.htm http://thinkofit.com/plato/dwplato.htm  1972 – PLATO IV  Student using a PLATO IV terminal. Image from the University of Illinois.  PLATO was a series of educational computer terminals that originated from the University of Illinois. In the 1960’s and 1970’s, PLATO contained many features that we take for granted today like e-mail, message boards and online tests. PLATO  The fourth generation PLATO IV terminal featured a flat (and bright orange) plasma screen that students could touch to answer questions. The

5.  (Persuasion Stage ) In 1972, PLATO was moved to a new system of mainframes that eventually supported over one thousand users at a time. In 1973, Doug Brown developed Talkomatic.

6. In 1975, Control Data Corporation set up its own PLATO system in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the first commercial use of multi-function conferencing system. Within ten years, PLATO was being used in over one hundred sites around the world, some with dedicated lines for full-time use.

7.  In 1973, Doug Brown developed Talkomatic. (Implementation stage) This was essentially the first “instant messaging” program ever designed, with multiple windows displaying typed notes in real time for several users simultaneously. In 1974, Kim Mast developed Personal Notes, a new feature for PLATO that enabled private mail for users.  In 1975, Control Data Corporation set up its own PLATO system in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the first commercial use of multi- function conferencing system. Within ten years, PLATO was being used in over one hundred sites around the world, some with dedicated lines for full-time use.

9. In the late 1980’s, however, microcomputers were becoming more reasonably priced and the heyday of mainframe-based systems was over. Eventually the original Control Data systems were shut down because PLATO was no longer cost-effective. Control Data now has a few systems operating under the name CYBISIn the late 1970’s, Ray Ozzie and Tim Halverson worked at CERL. Years later, they took some of the features of PLATO and greatly expanded on their capabilities when designing one of today’s most powerful web conferencing tools -- Lotus Notes, released in 1989.

10. In 1975, Control Data Corporation set up its own PLATO system in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the first commercial use of multi- function conferencing system. In the late 1980’s, however, microcomputers were becoming more reasonably priced and the heyday of mainframe-based systems was over. In the late 1980’s, however, microcomputers were becoming more reasonably priced and the heyday of mainframe-based systems was over. Eventually the original Control Data systems were shut down because PLATO was no longer cost-effective. Years later, they took some of the features of PLATO and greatly expanded on their capabilities when designing one of today’s most powerful web conferencing tools -- Lotus Notes, released in 1989. (WebConferenci ngZone, 2011). Web conferencing was marketed to any audience (Government and private businesses that would benefit from instant access communication s. This eventually included a board spectrum of business and people who sought the product for its capabilities. In 1972, PLATO In 1973, Doug Brown developed Talkomatic In 1974, Kim Mast developed Personal Notes, a new feature for PLATO

11. Web conferences met with many other competitors that offer clear voice quality and better dial up capabilities. However, Web conferencing was able to overcome the problems and produce “Wave Three” which offered the public a high quality web conferencing.

12.  Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5th ed.). New York, NY: Free Press  WebConferencingZone (2011). History of Web Conferencinghttp://www.web-conferencing- zone.com/history-of-web-conferencing.htm