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
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About the Roger Billings Scholarship Program »
Great information
I love tech time and break thru moments in science.
Pretty creative using air to make robots and the stable states to push the air to control the legs so it doesn’t fall.
*hi from Michigan!!!!!
I love acellus.
And hello from Gardnerville,NV
Great live today
Hi from Iowa!!!!!!!!!
Great video!
Are there any other inventions you’re proud of?
Yay! Science live!!
that’s a cool invention
The 3D printed robot was really interesting!
hello from Texas
this is so cool!
Hello Linus from Illinois
Taylor from Texas!
This was super interesting!!
i learned about using air to make robots move
watching from ny!!
Interesting how how many options we have now to measure time.
I really like that Robot so cool. Vinny
I cant wait for the next one.
awesome!
What is Dr.Billings most recent invention?
Aliya from emirates<3
I’ve used a 3D printers. They’re amazing and fun. If you’re a creative person, I recommend that you try one if you are given a chance.
LOVED Electronic chip ice cream!! I would love to try that flavor! Happy April Fool’s day!!!!!!!
I love this episode
hi from missouri
Hello from Idaho
I love listening to Dr. Billings tell how he worked his way through things.
Hey everyone hope your all doing good!!!
i really liked this live
Why would the quartz vibrate when you put voltage against it?
Hi from flordia!
Hi from PA love these episodes!
I loved this one! Thank you!!
hello from tennessee
hii from tn!!
this so cool
i love science
The Bulova watch is really nice. The 256 is cool I like the sound from the tuning fork.
So if we can use air to power robots is there any other way besides building one and using air?
Hello from Virginia !
So much cool information!
from texas
hi from nc
i loved this
Audrey from texas
Hello from Texas
Hi from kansas
watched from Alabama.
Hey from Virginia!
Isabeau from San Antonio
Hey!!! From Georgia!! I cant wait for next weeks video! Love theses videos!!!
Hello from Nj !!!
The robot made with an air tank is a smart idea. Now, no more wasting electricity!🤖
Hello from Austin Texas!!!
I enjoyed this
Hello from Las Vegas! Another great science live!
I liked the air powered robot
I hope for a safe trip for Artemis II and all of the Astronauts on her.
I am really enjoying listening to Dr. Billings talk about inventing Universal Networking.
Thank you for doing science live I thought the waterproof robot was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!
hi mt usa so happy to be hear!
Hello! From Virginia.
Tuning in from Illinois
Love science live!!
hello from mississippi
Hello from Texas
hiii from nc
Hello from Missouri! 🙂
hello from tennessee
I was waiting for this day!!
Hi from Alabama.
I love science live!
this is fun too see
hi from texas
Thank you Mr. billings for explaining about computers, its so interesting what all they can do and i loved learning something new. i love watching science live.
Hello, from South Carolina!
Hello from Michigan
Its interesting how the technology and data for computers developed. It truly is interesting.
hi from georgia!
Hai from Texas ^^
Hi from Texas!!
Hey from TX
From Georgia 🫡#hi also that 3d robot is awesome! I’m gonna ask my dad if he can print one! have a good April fools! 😀
hi from ct
Josaphine from HI
Very cool and interesting video this week!
Thank you guys so intruging
Hi from North Carolina! Such a great video!
It’s amazing listening to Dr. Billings talk about inventing Universal Networking!
A 3D printed robot that entirely runs on air pressure instead of electrical components is interesting. And an amazing feat! 😀
Hi from Nebraska
Hello form TN
hi from tn
hello from knoxville tn
hi from mississipi
alyssa from Texas.
I really like the idea of an air powered robot, such a good idea!
Hey from New York!
Hi from Georgia
Hi from Georgia!
hi from ny
wow 3d printers are so cool
this is cool
A 3D printed robot that entirely runs on air pressure instead of electrical components is interesting 😀
The 3D printed robot was really interesting!
How can a computer not keep up?
Tuning in from Texas.
watching from Texas
Hi from ATL! Dear Dr.Roger billings what is your favorite Invention.
wow being able to power a robot with air is amazing, i wonder how many other things we can do that with
Hello from Mcallen i hope yall are having a good day!
hi from ohio
Hi everyone! I am watching live from Michigan!
This science live is amazing
which progect was the most fun?
I’m really looking forward to the Science Fair!
Hello from SE Missouri!
Cool episode. From NC.
Hello from Maryland!
I love science live and I have a 3D printer myself
It’s cool hearing the history in hearing sound (vibration, ticking,) and the history in making watches and learning they use quartz crystal to make them
wow!!!
I like science
wow that is really cool
Hi from Texas!
hi from illinois
Here from California!
The robot is really cool and this is awesome science live
My grandpa worked in the Marriott Hotel for many many years !
Watching from NC!
hi from Florida
Hi from ga
Hi I’m from New Mexico
This has been a very interesting ScienceLive.
Here for one more interesting science live!!!
This is the best!
Hello from Bangkok!
Another amazing live
Wow that is a great invention to keep track of things.
Hello, from Nebraska!
The air powered robot was great !!!!! That’s great.
this is awesome, you are swesome, fully awesome
Wow a air powered robot, awesome. I wonder if we will ever have full functioning solar powered robots?
Watching from Nevada
Watching from VA!!
Good information
This is a cool video
I love that Robot! Air powered robot. Interesting Live Video today so far!
Hi from tennessee
Nice to see Roger Billings today
Hello from ky ^^
Hi from Greenville al
Hello from KC. *
Have a good day/night
hiiii. from tx
watching from Alabama.
HELLO FROM CALIFORNIA
Hello from WI!
hi from macomb
It must have been so stressful with the computers not working as fast as they were working before.
It was so interesting learning about how quartz watches were made, I wonder what people had to do before watches became popular!
hi from california
hi from Midland
I love acellus!
Hi from MS!
Hello im so excited to be learning again never knew there was a air powered robot
Hi from KS.
So interesting
the watch mechanism is so cool.
Hi from NV and Happy April Fool’s Day, Science Live!
Hi! Dynia from Illinois!!
Hi i’m from Louisiana, and I wonder what your favorite invention you made is?
Cool stuff! – TX