Final answer:
A network is defined as a group of interconnected computer systems, which have evolved since the 1960s to become integral to the global economy and communications. The development of ARPANET, advancements in networking protocols, and the introduction of the World Wide Web played pivotal roles in the history of computer networks. The proliferation of personal computers further expanded network connectivity and social interactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
A network is defined as a group of two or more computer systems linked together. The history of computer networking is rich and crucial to the development of the global economy and communication systems we rely on today. The 1960s and 1970s saw researchers in partnership with the Department of Defense creating some of the first computer networks, laying the groundwork for advances such as the ARPANET.
By the mid-1990s, computer networking expanded beyond government and academia and the birth of the Internet evolved this connectivity concept into a vast interlinked system. The development of the World Wide Web in the late 1980s enabled the hosting of data, images, and multimedia through interconnected hypertext web pages, essentially changing how information is shared and consumed globally.
Throughout the years, various systems such as the semi-automatic business research environment (SABRE), regional bulletin board systems (BBSs), and the concept of the "Intergalactic Computer Network" all contributed to the expansion and importance of computer networks.
These networks allowed the sharing of information, creation of small social networks, and participation in virtual communities. Moreover, the transition from minicomputers, which supported multiple users, to personal computers made the technology more accessible, leading to an explosion of personal and business computing applications.