Key Internet Features

I’ve been wondering of late if that will ultimately be the greatest contribution of the net to history — that it provides a cheap, reasonably accessible, mechanism for multi-way international communication. – Steve Bellovin; Usenet/history/1985-1990; 10 Oct 1990.

The Internet is a unique medium with global impact, and within a relatively few number of years has become inextricably intertwined with the conduct of almost all human activity. The following sections describe the key features of the Internet which have contributed to this world-wide success:

• Key Internet Features

• Geographic Distribution
• Robust Architecture
• Near Light Speed
• Universal Access
• Internet Growth Rates
• The Digital Advantage
• Freedom Of Speech

• Key Web Features

• Ease Of Use
• Universal Access
• Search Capabilities

• Key Usenet Newsgroups Features

• Group Communications
• Common Space

• Key Email Features

• Email Is A Push Technology
• Email Waits For You
• Email Is One-To-Many
• Email Is Almost Free

• Key IRC Features

• Distributed Real-Time Communications
• Emergency Assistance

• Key MUD Features

• Virtual Space
• Extensibility

• Key Mailing List Features

• One-to-many communication.