If you're old enough to remember the early days of the Web, 'The Internet of Yesterday and Today' will be an awesome adventure back in time -- and if the "early days" to you means the beginning of Facebook, this infographic will serve as a technology history lesson.
Looking at the statistics and images from this illustrated chart by Online University, it's hard to believe what some of the most popular websites today looked like in 1996. With graphics and design that now appear incredibly basic and unimpressive, sites like MapQuest.com and Travelocity are almost unrecognizable in their early days. In an age where social networking sites are taking over the Web, it's difficult to imagine a time without them, when AOL.com and Webcrawler.com led the list of the top 10 most popular Internet pages.
'The Internet of Yesterday and Today' has definitely made me appreciate the technology we now have, where information on just about everything and anything is readily available via the World Wide Web.
Time-Traveling Tech Graphs
'The Internet of Yesterday and Today' Travels from 1996 to 2011
Trend Themes
1. Web Design Evolution - Companies can disrupt the industry of web design by offering innovative designs and functionality that improves user experience.
2. Social Media Growth - Opportunities in social media are wide open for innovation, particularly with new advertising models and the growth of video content.
3. Search Engine Optimization - Companies can disrupt the search engine optimization industry by developing new algorithms and techniques for ranking websites and content.
Industry Implications
1. Technology - With constantly changing technology, there are many opportunities to disrupt industries by developing new software, hardware and infrastructure solutions.
2. Marketing - As companies strive to stay ahead of their competitors, innovative marketing strategies that utilize new platforms and technologies will be a key disruptor in the industry.
3. Education - The education industry is ripe for innovative disruption, particularly in the areas of e-learning, certification programs and online degrees.