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.
About DrB
Read more about DrB »
About the Roger Billings Scholarship Program »
It’s so cool to see this!
This video was cool.
Getting time in the old days was very hard Im surprised that they got it right.
I’m really enjoyed learning about watches. i did not know much about them. thank you tobias the tuning fork was really interesting.
Hello from Texas love watching this – Harkomal s
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Hello from Arkansas i love science live its so fun i love learning.
I find it so cool that robots with moving parts can be made from a 3D printer and then be powered with only air and not electronics!
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Im so grateful for Science Live!!
hi from NE
*ding* the watch is so cool *ding*
Would the air-bot work in the vacuum of space?
HELLO FROM ROCKET CITYYYYY!!! WE GOT TO WATCH THE ARTEMIS II LAUNCH LIVE AT THE US SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER TODAYYYYY!!!
Hey from Texas!
The 3D print and air project is so interesting. The fact that it only took two parts for it to function is crazy. The simplicity of it is quite life changing. Thank you for showing us something new every week science live. It’s always a fun watch.
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Hello from Conroe, Texas
It’s so cool what 3D printers can do.
wow! so cool thanks!!
ollie from tx
Hi from on mi
hi, Sooo exited
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Hi From the big and beautiful NY!
when was the internet first envented.
Hi from Illinois
this is cool
When is the science fair?
I never thought about how time worked, but it is an amazing thing.
I loved this episode of science live!
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I love SCIENCE LIVE!!!!
I never thought I’d hear about a crystal powered watch that wasn’t fictional.
When is the Coherer Kit coming to the store?
Love the tip on investing in your future
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Jazette watching from puerto rico
Hey from ky!
Thanks for another interesting science live about the air controlled robot.
A robot running autonomously off just air is a pretty crazy feat, and it shows just how advanced robot technology is getting, as well as how much potential it has with all of these advancing AIs. Anyways, thanks for listening!
hi from texas
Hello! I’m from Illinois
Hi from ms also this is really cool to watch
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Hii from Florida!! I watched this with my parents they loved it
hello from Alabama
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hi from ky
Does it matter what kind of plastic is used in the 3D printer to make the robot move?
it’s so nice learning about this
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Hey from MT. Excite for the topic tonight
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I love Science Live!
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Cool video!
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CAN’T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE THIS ONE WAS VERY FUN TO WATCH
I think it’s so interesting that the 3D printer does what you want it to do. Although you have to put it together. But if you try to make a robot it will be harder.
Seeing past science fair labs is very inspiring and educational. I appreciate how you try to provide us with more ideas for the science fair. Thanks science live! always learning and thinking something new.
Quite intriguing
Hi, watching from Texas.
a 3D-printed robot that entirely runs on air pressure instead of electrical components is interesting
Good evening, the video was very interesting and insightful!
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learning so much from these
the android ice cream truck was ironic.
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Those watches are amazing!
I love science!!
love science live!
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how are you tonight
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great stream so far
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Wow I had no idea!
What is the difference between the internet and technology? Hi from Maine!
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I love science!!
Wow
Nice topics today!
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I learn a lot from these! Hi from Florida.
Tobias explaining about the tuning fork and the Bulova watch was neat to learn about. I love watches. Science is so awesome!
Hello from Arkansas, cant wait to learn about what made the internet possible.
hey from USA/NY
Sooo cool, watching this!
I can’t wait for the science fair
Hi, I love the science live!
hi from alabama
hi from tx.
So much information!!
Cant wait!
love this
That robo-creature is cool! I’m excited to learn more about the mechanics and coding behind it!
Hello from Nc! Its so cool learning about how watches were created!
Very cool! Hi from Virginia!!
It sure is cool watching this!
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hi from TX!
hi from indiana
Ready for another great lesson.
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hello from Nebraska!
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so cool
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Hello from NY!
amazing show!
Great episode!!!
Excited to watch tonight!
hi
Hello from Bermuda 🇧🇲🇧🇲🇧🇲
Hi Tobias!
Great to everyone from Morocco.
hey here from west virginia, nice vid
Hi from mn can’t wait to learn something new
I always love some Science Live. Hello from Tennessee.
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Hello From LV!
hello from mo
hi from nc
When is the science fair were is it, and when does it start
Hi! The air powered robot is super cool!
Internet is genius
Love this live
Hi from Texas!!
That’s a cool design
Hi from St Louis ☺️
so happy to be here again
How can it just run on air. That’s so cool I can’t believe they made a robot that just runs on air.
I really liked the show today!
Great science projects!
Great show
Hello from texas
Hello. I hope everyone has a good day!
Amazing! Here from New Jersey!
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I didn’t know that we can make robots without any electronics that is so cool that we can do that 😀
Artemis was awesome, and science live is just as awesome!
saying hello from tennesee
Hello from Mississippi
Here from Missouri
Amazing! Here from Texas!
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Good evening from Texas!!!
this is so cool!!!
Oh interesting!
hi from florida
hii from ms !
Hi from texas
Here in Oklahoma!
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Hello from NC
What is the average cost of a 3d printer?
this is gonna be a great video I’ve had a great day can’t wait to watch