An invention that's revolutionising our lives

It's the ideal solution for everyone's shopping needs,but a decade ago, few imagined we'd be able to shop on the Internet from the comfort of our homes

Did you know that 15.4 million people are now on the internet in the UK?

1623 1890 1943 1969 1974 1976 1980 1991 1997 2000

Englishman Charles Babbage builds first mechanical computing device.

Early mechanical computer used in US to process 1890 census. Alan Turing's electronic computer used to break German codes in WW2. The first email message sent from Los Angeles to Stanford. First use of the word "Internet" for inter-network communications. Queen Elizabeth II becomes first head of state to use email. Clive Sinclair launches an inexpensive home computer the ZX80 Beginnings of the World Wide Web - the first websites appear. Number of websites breaks the one million mark. Some 15.4 million people are now on the internet in the UK.

E-VOLUTION AT THE BEEB

For nearly 80 years,the BBC has been at the cutting edge of new technology. Since its beginnings in 1922, the BBC has pioneered radio, television and more recently the Internet. The BBC's information website, BBC Online has quickly grown to become the UK's favourite site since its launch. Now beeb.com adds to the picture,offering easy access to the best in the Internet shopping from the BBC.

Ever since the first stallholder set out his wares the way we shop has seen more revolutions than almost any other aspect of day-to-day life.

Shopping habits have switched from market place to high street, and from department store to shopping mall. But the most far-reaching revolution is taking place right here and now: the Internet. With the ever-growing choice of products and services avalable online it's difficult to grasp that less than a decade ago the Internet was the preserve of a tiny clutch of scientists and academics.

The Internet was born out of projects to link up American military computers in the 1960s. Few people then had reason to know about the network, which quietly grew around the world.

It was not until the early 1990s, soon after the appearance of the user-friendly Word Wide Web, that people began to explore The possibilities of using the Internet for commerce and shopping.

In 1993, a US pizza company became the first to let customers buy online, offering a simple ordering service on website. From this beginning, Internet shopping has exploded into a multi-billion pound sector. Hundreds more retailers are going online every week -and beeb.com can help you find the best ways to take advantage of the exciting e-tail revolution.


1623	1890	1943	1969	1974	1976	1980	1991	1997	2000
Englishman Charles Babbage builds first mechanical computing device.	Early mechanical computer used in US to process 1890 census.	Alan Turing's electronic computer used to break German codes in WW2.	The first email message sent from Los Angeles to Stanford.	First use of the word "Internet" for inter-network communications.	Queen Elizabeth II becomes first head of state to use email.	Clive Sinclair launches an inexpensive home computer the ZX80	Beginnings of the World Wide Web - the first websites appear.	Number of websites breaks the one million mark.	Some 15.4 million people are now on the internet in the UK.