1. Hardware Improvements Hardware form factors increased performance speeds continually – New features improved computer use Machines get faster while cost drops – Easily accessible to more people

2. Systems Development Predecessor to modern Windows arises – Spurs desire for PCs *nix trends grow in numbers – Linux released Virtually opened Unix to general public

3. Philip Katz File compression revolutionized file sharing – Motivated more efficient, complex sharing methods – Reinforced the idea everythings a file

4. Tim Berners-Lee HTML revolutionized mass information sharing Very limited originally, laid framework for new innovation Modern pages built off HTML – Recent development extends functionality upon HTML – PHP, Ruby, JavaScript, HTML5

5. Jarkko Oikarinen IRC revolutionized personal communication – First real-time digital means of communication Chat clients reformed how people communicate – Internet slang Instant access to people without physical contact – Expanded to PDA, phones, texting Inspired voice communication through VoIP