NAVIGATING THE FACTS

A blast from the past: Tales from the early internet!

Image: Franck

Picture yourself navigating through the city with a paper map or asking strangers for directions on the street. Today, it would be a bit unusual, right? In the old days, those were some of the everyday challenges. Staying connected with a friend was no easy task; you had to take the time to write a letter and wait days or weeks for the mail to arrive. To reduce the distance between yesterday and today, we're going to tell you these 10 fun facts about the history –and the present– of the Internet that might surprise you.

Image: Museums Victoria

Although nowadays creating a website is not so difficult, some 20 years ago it was a hard task, especially because no one had ever done it before.

http://info.cern.ch/hypertext/WWW/TheProject.html was the first website in the world and, of course, it was created by the inventor of the World Wide Web, Tim Berners-Lee. This site was born in 1991, when we were still very young, and was designed to share and classify information about the World Wide Web project.

The interesting fact is that you can still access the webpage. But be careful, don't expect it to be like today's sites!

Image: Merve Sehirli Nasir

In the early 70s, visionary Ray Tomlinson was working on a messaging system for ARPANET, the predecessor of our familiar Internet. His intention was to enable different computers to communicate with each other. And so he did. He is now credited with the creation of the email.

But one thing was missing: a symbol that separates the user name from the domain name in email addresses without creating confusion. This is where our @ comes in. Although the @ symbol is everywhere now, it was not very popular then, making it an unlikely choice for users to include in their email names. Smart choice, right?

Image: Alexander Shatov

Some brands achieve what every brand wants: to create unmistakable logos. Just remember the red of Coca-Cola, the bright yellow of McDonald's golden arches, or the green and white Starbucks logo.

In the world of social media, Facebook's blue stands out as one of the most recognizable colors. But there's more to this choice than marketing.

There is another reason why Mark Zuckerberg, the famous creator of Facebook, chose this color: he is colorblind to green and red hues. As he stated in a 2010 interview with the New Yorker, blue is the color he perceives most vividly.

Image: Karen Grigorean

Imagine someone from centuries ago arriving in our time and discovering that we need to click on a box to confirm that we are not robots. It would blow their minds.

This little window when entering a website prompting you to identify images, is a CAPTCHA, and it basically gives you a test to prove that you aren't a bot trying to break a site's or an account's security.

While you might recognize the name, few know what this acronym truly stands for. Well, it's a specific description of its task. CAPTCHA stands for "Completely Automated Public Turing Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart." With that extension, turning the name of this tool into an acronym was inevitable.

Image: Dreamlike Street

Let's bust some myths here. Unlike CAPTCHA, the word WiFi doesn't have a meaning. At least it didn't when it was invented.

Commonly, WiFi is thought to be an acronym for "wireless fidelity," as a nod to Hi-Fi (High Fidelity). Although this makes sense (you know, because it is indeed a wireless connection), its name is not an acronym.

In fact, WiFi was created as a simple, catchy word that everyone could easily remember but with no specific meaning.

Image: Sara Kurfeß

Creating content for YouTube has evolved into a full-time job nowadays. Most videos are now productions that can span hours. But the platform's beginnings were quite different.

Jawed Karim, one of YouTube's founders, uploaded the very first video in 2005, more than 18 years ago! Titled "Me at the Zoo," this piece lasts just 19 seconds and is still on the site.

The short video of Jawed speaking at the San Diego Zoo has already more than 300 million views, and that number is increasing every day!

Image: Tingey Injury Law Firm

Over the years, the Internet's explosive growth has revolutionized the way we present ourselves to the world and interact with each other. It also allows people to share their ideas and talents, unlocking opportunities for everyone.

In today's world, the Internet is extremely important. It's not just about keeping in touch; some of the crucial stuff in our everyday lives relies on it.

Those who truly got it are the Finns because, in 2010, Finland proudly became the first country to ensure every citizen has the right to access the Internet. Let's hope other countries join the party!

Image: Brett Jordan

If you've recently made a mistake or find yourself worrying about potential errors in your life, relax. We all make mistakes, even the greatest geniuses. And that's what happened to the creators of Google, or should we say the creators of Googol?

When Larry Page and Sergey Brin created the search engine, the name they thought for it was "googol," which is the term for the number 10¹⁰⁰ (1 followed by one hundred zeroes). However, due to a misspelling, the official name ended up being Google.

Image: Goran Ivos

The first webcam owes its existence to coffee. Well, that's one way to tell the story!

Most of us appreciate a good cup of coffee during working hours. Quentin Stafford-Fraser and Paul Jardetzky knew this well while working in a Cambridge University lab in 1991. But they had a problem: the coffee maker was on another floor. To solve the trouble of walking all the way to that room just to find an empty coffee pot, they came up with a great idea.

They developed a device that kept an eye on the coffee pot and transmitted the action to their lab computer. Thanks to the cam, the coffee maker became famous on the World Wide Web two years later!

Image: Firmbee.com

Being popular on the Internet has its advantages these days. The number of followers or clicks to your content can change your life. With millions of users navigating millions of websites daily, having the title of the most visited is a huge feat. You probably already know that the crown for the most popular site goes to Google, which got more than 85 billion visits just in 2023!

According to Forbes magazine, up until 2023, the G giant remained in first place, with the renowned YouTube and Facebook following, though at a bit of a distance.

Tick-tock talk!

Turn back the clock with these timeless expressions!

Image: Aron Visuals

Time has a funny way of sneaking up on us, doesn’t it? One moment you’re checking the clock, and the next you’re wondering where the day went. Over the years, we’ve come up with all kinds of phrases about time that capture life’s ups and downs. Today, we’re diving into some of the most popular time-related idioms and what they really mean. So grab a coffee (or tea), sit back, and let’s have some fun with these timeless expressions. After all, it’s never too late to learn something new—is it?

Image: Kym MacKinnon

Have you ever heard someone say, "That only happens once in a blue moon"? They’re talking about something so rare it might as well be mythical—like spotting a unicorn or winning the lottery (one can only wish!).

Fun fact: a blue moon isn’t actually blue; it’s just the second full moon in a calendar month, and it only appears about once every two to three years. When it does, it shines bigger and brighter, and it’s so rare that when one comes your way, you just have to stop and soak it in. Life might not hand us many, but that’s what makes them unforgettable. And hey—who doesn’t love a good excuse to celebrate?

Image: Kevin Ku

We strongly advise against killing anything, let alone time! "Killing time" may sound grim, but it’s really about finding ways to pass idle hours.

This idiom originated in the 18th century as a way to describe the boredom of waiting for something to happen. Maybe you do a crossword puzzle, take a quick walk, or call a friend—killing time can actually be a productive and enjoyable activity, even if that’s not always the case.

Waiting doesn’t have to feel like a waste; it can be an opportunity in disguise. Next time you’re stuck waiting, think of it as a chance to recharge. After all, you know how the saying goes: a watched pot never boils!

Image: Morgan Housel

Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could actually turn back the clock? Who hasn’t dreamed of going back in time to relive that wonderful family trip? Well, to "turn back the hands of time" means longing for days gone by.

Maybe you’d relive a favorite holiday, enjoy your kids as little ones again, or undo a choice you wish you’d made differently. Of course, we can’t literally rewind time (no magic clocks over here!), but looking back can still bring us joy.

Even if it feels a bit nostalgic, we have to remember to enjoy the here and now—after all, time moves forward, not backward. Nostalgia is a beautiful thing, but so is creating new memories. Don’t you think?

Image: Phil Desforges

Picture a small tear in your favorite sweater—if you sew it up now, you’re golden. Ignore it, and soon you’ve got a hole big enough to regret. This oldie-but-goodie is all about the value of fixing small problems before they become big ones. Don’t you just love it when that happens?

First recorded in the 18th century, the phrase compares timely action to mending a tear in fabric before it worsens. Procrastination? No sir, we don’t know that road around here.

Why wait for trouble to snowball when you can nip it in the bud? A stitch in time saves nine!

Image: Szűcs László

Well, aren’t we feeling confident? Yes, we are—time is on our side! This phrase was already popular, but it skyrocketed when The Rolling Stones released a song with that title.

This idiom is all about confidence and positivity. It suggests that time can be an ally in helping us achieve goals or solve problems. But remember: time is also a synonym for patience.

If you’re someone who lets things unfold naturally, then this phrase is for you. But if that’s not the case, it might be worth reflecting on how rushing things often leads to mistakes. Time, when treated with care, can work wonders for personal growth and healing. So why not embrace the idea that life has a way of working itself out?

Image: Niklas Rhöse

If you’ve ever slid into a meeting just as it started or saved dinner from burning seconds before disaster struck, you’ve experienced an "in the nick of time" moment.

This phrase is for those close calls that get your heart racing but leave you feeling like a pro. It’s like living life on the edge—but with a happy ending. And hey, isn’t there something thrilling about pulling it off just in time?

Of course, it’s not exactly the most stress-free way to live, so maybe try to keep these moments to a minimum. But when they do happen, you might as well give yourself a pat on the back. You nailed it—barely, but still!

Image: Djim Loic

Life is full of surprises and uncertainties, and no matter how much we try to predict or anticipate what’s going to happen, life always finds a way to catch us off guard. So, it’s only a matter of time before that next surprise arrives.

"Only time will tell" is a reminder that the future is full of uncertainties. This idiom suggests that some answers can only reveal themselves over time. Yes, you got it right—it’s all about patience!

Sometimes, the best approach is to let go and trust the process. So sit back and let time do its magic—there’s no rushing the future!

Image: Wil Stewart

This phrase may seem gloomy, but it’s all about perspective. As we said, life is full of uncertainties—but death isn’t one of them. We’re all going to die, that much we know. But some people live longer than expected, so we say they’re living "on borrowed time."

Not that they owe anything to anyone—this expression describes the second chance you get after a close call or a health scare.

Gloomy? Maybe. But it’s also a phrase that carries a sense of gratitude and urgency. Every day becomes a bonus—a chance to savor life’s small joys and big adventures. And if we’re lucky enough to get a second chance, why not make the most of every borrowed moment?

Image: Gian Prosdocimo

Ever find yourself rushing to get something done just before time runs out? That’s what it means to "beat the clock," and let’s be honest—it’s a bit of a rush! Whether it’s racing to meet a deadline, dashing to the store before it closes, or wrapping up a project with seconds to spare, we’ve all been there.

The phrase likely came from sports or games where every second counts, but now it’s part of everyday life. Sure, it can be stressful—but doesn’t it feel amazing when you pull it off? Beating the clock is like a little personal victory over time itself. Just don’t make it a habit. Sometimes, slow and steady really does win the race.

Image: Ahmad Ossayli

To wrap it up, let’s go to the opposite end of the time spectrum and talk about those moments when we feel like time is all we’ve got: We’re having "a whale of a time," which means enjoying ourselves immensely, like a kid on a rollercoaster.

This playful idiom likely comes from the image of a huge whale, symbolizing something big and unforgettable. It’s often used to describe vacations, family gatherings, or even a good laugh with friends.

You know those moments of pure joy—the ones that remind us that life doesn’t have to be all work and worry? Fun and laughter are timeless treasures that keep the spirit young. Next time you’re with loved ones, make it a point to have a whale of a time. After all, life’s best memories are built on it!