The Invention That Made the Internet Possible
In 1978, Dr. Roger Billings invented Universal Networking — the foundational technology behind how the modern internet shares information.
In this episode of ScienceLive, he tells the complete story for the first time, in his own words. It starts with a problem. J. Willard Marriott, founder of the Marriott Hotels empire, had 12 of IBM’s largest mainframe computers — the biggest the company made — and they still couldn’t keep up with reservation demand. IBM told him a 13th machine would crash the entire system. He needed a solution that didn’t exist yet. Dr. Billings invented one.
His concept was elegantly simple: instead of every computer trying to talk to every other computer simultaneously, create a dedicated “library” computer — what we now call a server — that any number of users could query independently. The result was a system that could scale to an unlimited number of users without overloading. He called it Universal Networking, patented it as U.S. Patent No. 4,714,989, and proved it worked by installing it at real businesses around the world using the Billings Microcomputer — one of the earliest personal computers ever built.
Today, every website, every app, and every internet transaction runs on this same client-server principle.
This is the story of one of the most important and least-known inventions of the 20th century — told by the man who invented it.
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The scholarship is really helpful for all of us!
It’s amazing how Roger Billings did such an awesome thing for our current world.
Almost sounds like a movie idea, its crazy how many apsects of science you’ve been involved in
I learned about the 3D printed robot with the cylinder air on it’s back and how it’s made. So cool.
R51 is great as always
The Science Live for this week was awesome!
Thank you for the opportunity for a scholarship
Thank you for all that you do Mr. Billings!
Goodnight Acellus, Thank you very much for the scholarship I’ve been learning alot from these science lives!
The concept of the Internet is so complex and cool to learn about. Love this episode !!
where would we be without the internet??? kind of wild and scary to think about!
I have a 3D printer and never thought about using air to make the prints work. My mom wanted me to tell you she is very grateful for the scholarship!
I think its really cool that you got to meet the guy who started the Marriott hotel chain, and also I would like to say that I really appreciate how much you are willing to sacrifice if it helps aid in the education of others, and I really enjoy watching the lives and learning fun new science facts as well as gaining a new appreciation for mine and other’s education. I am sorry that others have not been watching, and its their loss because I love the science live!
I like that you would give your stuff away for the kids future but I don’t like how some people would try to take advantage of that I didn’t even know there was a scholarship I just like the wendsday night science live im glad you can keep track
Man do I love learning about the internet! the internet is such a wonderful gift we have since we use it every day in life! see you guys next week! Can’t wait to see some more science live.
Thank you so, so much for the scholarship. I would never be able to be two grades ahead of my peers without Acellus. I live currently live in a area where the schools are not so great and when I was going to a public school, I felt that I could go faster than I was going at the time. I felt that I was being held back from my full learning speed potential. But when I began learning from Acellus, it felt like a whole new world was waiting for me to explore it and the only limit was how fast I could explore! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be able to learn as much as I can!
I really enjoyed this video and learning so much about all your inventions!! Thank you so much Mr. Billings for all your help with my high school program and i love Acellus.
Dropping in from Montana!! That video was so awesome and interesting!!! 🙂
R-51 Is still my favorite! I swear he is ADHD in a nutshell. This was amazing I loved it! Can’t wait for next week!
This science Live was amazing. I love watching the science Live each week, thank you. I feel I have learned so much already.
My dad works in the internet field, this was really cool.
The internet is the single most important invention. It provides so much access to information and provides communication across so many terminals.
I liked learning about your invention that you created. Thank you for Acellus. We watch Science Live every week
My grandpa used to work for IBM. He was a computer programmer!
I think it’s messed up that there are those that think it is okay to act this way. I am lucky to have found a school like this and if it was not for the help to pay for school I would not be here. I am a high fuction autisic student.
What is the name of the company that stole your idea? I would like to know.
Thank you Dr. Billings for your generous scholarship program. I’m sorry to hear some abuse your generosity.
i love how much he cares about other students and education and how smart and inspiring he is and all i have to say is he touched my heart to its core thank you inventor of acellus
I loved how we learned about the internet.
Today’s Science Live was AmAzInG as always! Thank you so much Dr. Billings! You are such a wonderful person and I am greatful I am able to go to your academy. 😊
My favorite ice cream is chocolate !
Hello from Missouri
I love how Dr Roger Bilings work hard for the students.
The story behind the internet was interesting!
I love Science Live! Thank you Dr. Billing for sharing your inventions with us.
Thank you for the scholarship Dr. Billings. Working hard and I’m getting smarter, Thank you!!!!
It was interesting to learn about the crystals that was used for the wristwatch. Also Dr. B thank you for all of the sacrifices that you have done for us but please do not get rid of the jet!
Dr B,
You are an amazing man and quite influencial on my child. He just finished 7th grade and is already working on his 8th grade classes ahead of schedule and taking AP classes. Thank you so much. This program is amazing and my child loves it.
Hello from Texas, YALL! I have a 3D printer at home, so I thought that the little robot was so cool! I love the first watch invention and the story behind it, incredible! I also love that Dr. B. knows J. Willard Marriott; that is so fascinating! I do have a question for Dr. Roger Billings. What was your very first invention, and what was the impact surrounding it? I love Area 51, it is probably-no is- the funniest part about the Science Lives! Great job, guys!
we love Acellus and Science Live. Our family is so blessed to be able to homeschool.
Some of those kids have really good ideas. I would be really nervous talking in a video or in front of people. Pretty cool
Hi i love science live i look forward to this every week . I love the air robot that was showed today .
My favorite part science live is Dr. Roger Billings .
I have a recommendation for the next science live can we maybe learn about dinosaurs . Also can we talk about the people from NASA that went to the moon today .
R.51 is so funny !
Happy April Fools Day !
Im late but i ‘ve never missed a single one since I joined almost a year ago. My family and I watch Science Live every week. Thank you for all you do for us!
DR.B IS COOL
How did Roger Billings make the Billings computer? Also, thank you for the scholarship and all you give of your time to make Acellus Academy and Science Live a reality.
Thank you for everything you do for me and all the other students. Your are a very kind generous man. When i saw you choke up i even chocked up and had a little tear because i could feel you feeling and emotions. You inspire me. Thank you for sharing your inventions that you have been part of. You have made this world a little easier with all your inventions. God bless Thank you for your generosity.
Thank you for helping with my tuition! Your kind heart has blessed my family! I watch the live every Wednesday night. My brother and sister watches it as well!
Even if some of the people are not watching the Science Live, I think that it is very Inspirational and helps me study well.
That tuning fork sound is satisfying.
Thank you for the opportunity to have a scholarship sir. I like this program alot!
Thank you Dr. Roger Billings for the scholarship you give for us and the information on science live.
I love Science Live!!
That was very interesting. I also really appreciate the scholarship you pay for! That is extremely helpful!! Thank you very much.
My mom and dad talk a lot about how things like the internet have changed since they were little.
I loved this week’s science live! I am very grateful for the scholarship that Dr. Billings gives to us, but I can’t believe people aren’t very fair to Dr. Billings after all that he has sacrificed for our education. People really didn’t understand the concept (Acellus students know what I mean.)
My favorite part is always R51!!!!
We watch every Wednesday. We did miss one Wednesday but watched that morning on Thursday. Mom said it is our responsibility to watch it cause that is what we agreed on. You shouldn’t go back on your word.
This is so cool.
I loved how we learned about the internet
good night everybody it was really cool learning about the events that led up to the internets creation!
Science Live is so interesting!
Thank Dr. Billings for the scholarship you provide, my family and I am so thankful to you!
Dear Mr. Billings, are there any future plans for your inventions? Do you have any ideas to keep up with the current times? In that case, are you going to update and tweak your current inventions? Or, are you going to develop new electronics?
Wow it’s interesting to learn about the internet
Thank you so much for the scholarship you give for us! It has been such a blessing, and I am so grateful!
Thank you so much for the scholarship you give for us! It has been such a great time with science Live.
This was a good a science live!
The internet is so cool.
thank you for the informational live!
This live was really good.
Oh its on YouTube now?
LOVE ACELLUS!! this Live was so interesting
Learning story behind the internet was very cool!
It’s interesting how much everything has involved from this, I love science live and the topics that are talked about in it.
Thank you Dr. Billings!
I love these lives!!!! They’re my fav and i look up to them every wednesday.
I have a few 3D printed dragon toys. One of the dragons has rosettes along it’s spine and many fine articulating parts. The detail is incredible.
I LOVE Science live
this is a great video
My favorite video yet! I love watching the history behind the Internet!
I can’t believe you had met Marriot and worked with them!! I love science live! I watch it and love learning about new science and technology every week that I never knew before!! Education is very important for us and our future.
i look forward to learning more interesting information every Wednesday!
I liked learning about the crystals
Thank you so much Mr. billings you have changed my life so much. You are the Greatest and i love science live Wednesdays because you teach me so much and i really like your Rolls Royce.
That is so cool that you had a part in bringing the internet to what it is today.
Love science live!!!
Science live was amazing.
I always love watching these. It’s a great way to spend my time!
Hey from Mississippi
Hello from South Carolina
Thank you for science live
Thank you so much! Great episode!
so cool that robots can move without electricity and about the watch.
another great episode
Nice car it looks cool. Cant wait for the next science live
Dr. B you warmed my heart hearing about what you would do with your car just to help out kids with their education. You are so kind.
Woah! This is all so interesting! Mind blown.
Hello from NY! Another great Science Live!
great show from maryland
Fsd is so cool I feel inspired by it.
GREAT EPISODE!!
Great show I look forward to watching more
I love science live
Hello from Ohio!!
I loved hearing about Mr. Marriott I knew nothing of him before this so now I’m so excited to know more about him. I had no idea Dr. Billings helped with the solution and that is awesome inspiring! Also, I loved hearing that Dr. Billings first science fair project was seed germination, that is always such a blast to experiment with and watch the plants grow!
I enjoy the talked about Watch Industry and Dr. Billings Computer Technology Invention that help Martiot Hotel’s problem.
I love the info is learn from this.
I like the different science projects.
Wow! Very interesting!
Hello from Mississippi. This live was very interesting. Dr billings is a very interesting man and very smart.
Hi I enjoyed watching tonight looking forward to next time.
I really liked this!!🦋
We watched the astronauts go into space today.
This live was really enjoyable to watch!
Hi from California San Diego
Hello from Texas!
I love science live.
Here in Loisiana!
Hello everyone! This stuff is so interesting!
Dr. Billings is Amazing
This is the best science live ever.
Loved it! So amazing
Jackson from Illinois and I love science live!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks so much for another great Science Live.
Hi from Texas
Beautiful jet Dr. Billings!
Hello, from chicago
Hello from California
loved this!!!
It’s amazing how one invention can completely change the way the world connects and communicates!!!
Good episode!
This was a really cool episode, it’s cool you invented Universal Networking but mostly anything you do is cool lol 😂
<2
Hello from Mississippi. Dr Billings is very smart at what he does. Very interesting.
Love from NY!
this was the best one yet!
Very cool, from Montana!
Gasp me too
I liked learning about the computers and the robots from the 3D Printer.
Your passion is the best Dr billings for acellus!!
This was a great science live
Hi I’m from Nevada
Hi from Texas.
hello from mississipi
Hi, watching from ATX
Hello from Louisisana
I’m glad to be here today thanks for everything
I liked the 3D printed robot, it was interesting.
I enjoyed watching this! The internet is very neat.
Watching on vacation in Washington
Did anyone watch the NASA live of Artemis II take off?! So exciting!
That is a cool way to see it
Thank you Dr Billings!
That patent is incredibly interesting for me!
great video love it!!
Such a cool topic for this video!
Really cool episode, it’s cool you invented Universal Networking.
Hi from Massachusetts
its just amazing how things work
I loved this science live!!
Hello from Calumet City, IL!
Hello from Texass!!
Mr. Roger’s you’re like a hero!
Wow! You are amazing for being willing to sell your personal property.
Hi from Texas so interesting love acellus lives
Howdy from Texas!!
I want a 3D Printer now! So cool!
Thank you Dr. Billings for the Scholarship!
Hello from OH :))
HI FROM TN
Did anyone see the artimes launch. I got to go to nasa a few months ago and got to see how the build it.
HI from NC!!!
hi from illinois
Really interesting to watch !
I love 3d printing
Hi!! joining from texas
Hello from Texas
Hi, computers are awesome.
Greetings from kentucky!
I really watching science live🤩
Hello from Tennessee.
hi from tx
How long did it take for you to realize that you needed a server
I love watching these.
this is so interesting!
The robot was very cool!
Technology has come so far
Yay!! Science live!!