SBS50: Biggest Stories 1996

1996 saw a huge leap in the number of computers which could host the internet, rising from 1 to 12 million. The World Wide Web was starting to take off as a means of information dissemination, commerce, and collaboration across the globe.

Microsoft Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bill Gates (AP Photo/Steve Castillo) Credit: AP

Then Microsoft CEO described the growing emphasis on browsing.

You can look up any movies, see reviews, see what your friends like, have it suggest based on what you like, playing games on the device, we have multiple people playing together and you can see the other people while you play.

Bill Gates

Now many everyday tasks involve the internet – with more than three billion people using the world wide web.

It has been predicted that by the year 2020 there will be 50 billion devices connected to the internet, including computers, phones and televisions - changing and impacting our lives like never before.

Discover more at sbs.com.au/sbs50