Final answer:
A series of computers linked together to share information is called a network. This concept dates back to the 1960s, with significant advances in the 1970s and 1980s leading to the creation of the global Internet and modern digital communication.
Step-by-step explanation:
The series of computers linked together to allow information to be shared between them is called a network. This concept emerged as early as the 1960s when Department of Defense researchers developed private communication networks between computers, which later evolved into the ARPANET. The development of standardized communication protocols in 1982 led to the creation of the global Internet. The growing importance of computer networks, like the semi-automatic business research environment (SABRE) and electronic bulletin board systems (BBSs), enabled people to share information and shaped the future of digital communication and commerce. Today, computer networks facilitate not only sharing of information but also the global economy through the exchange of various products and services.