Final answer:
From the 1950s to the 1990s, the term 'hacker' transformed from describing skilled programmers pioneering technology to individuals breaking into systems often for illicit activities, paralleled by the commercial rise of personal computers and the expansion of the Internet.
Step-by-step explanation:
The meaning of the term 'hacker' has evolved significantly from the 1950s to the 1990s. Initially, the term was used to describe individuals who were adept at writing and manipulating computer code, often in the context of experimentation and pushing the boundaries of what could be done with technology. This was a period highlighted by the advent of experimental computers in the 1940s and their commercial importance in the 1950s.
By the 1990s, as the Internet became more widespread thanks to efforts by government researchers and commercial PCs becoming more common in households, the meaning of the term 'hacker' shifted. It came to be associated more with individuals who used their skills to break into systems and networks, often for malicious purposes. This change in connotation was reflected in the cultural zeitgeist, with movies like 'The Net' depicting hackers as nefarious figures capable of unraveling a person's digital identity.