The Invention That Made the Internet Possible
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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I’m a visual person an Acellus makes learning much easier because they show how things work and are made. Another great Science Live.
The internet is fasinating in different ways because you can literally do anything thats on your mind and create something big
Dr.Billings you are so awesome!!
So cool to know how this all started. We rely so much on the internet now.
I loved the tiny robot that worked with only air and moved by itself without any wires. There was no technology and it worked in water.
Computers are so fast now it’s insane!
Wow! I didn’t know you had so many patents!
Learning about the pneumatically powered robot was really intriguing! The fact that it has no electronics is shocking!
I think it is interesting how the first watch used a tuning fork inside. It is so cool how crystals are used to help run a watch to tell time. Thank you for the scholarship, Dr. Billings! I think Science Live is interesting! I appreciate All You Do to make a Difference and Impact! 🙂 🙂
Thank you for your continuous support and guidance through this patch in life.
you explain this so well
Acellus has really helped me with learning at my own pace and always guides me around with questions I don’t understand, thank you Acellus.
My favorite ice cream is chocolate!
Extraordinarily inquisitive episode, Dr. Billings!
so cool ! I love watching science lives!
I love watching science live! Best part of my week!
So cool Dr. Billings helped make the internet.
Hi Dr. B! How many IBM 370’s do you think it would take to match a modern day scientific calculator (not even graphing) in terms of power? Also are there any other materials that vibrate at a very consistent rate like quartz?
I’ve stayed at a Marriot before but never knew anything about the founder
Dr. Billings is awesome!!
I absolutely love Acellus! Its so helpful and I especially love mister Todd’s history classes!
Thank you guys for changing my life with science live
I love the internet!!! Thanks Dr.B!!!
I love watching these every wednesday!
This is such a wonderful part our school.
Thank you so much roger billings for this opportunity
Barnes, family science live day! Will definitely be doing the science fair in the next couple of years
That is so heart warming that you are willing to sell one of your prized possesions to afford to pay for kids tuition, I am so greatful for this program.
I loved seeing all the science project ideas that other kids came up with!!
R51 my favorite ice cream is vanilla. Thank you for your awesome inventions.
This is a cool invention! I love Acellus!
Me and my mom really enjoy watching these every week!!!
Don’t give up the jet, Dr. B.. but we do appreciate your passion and dedication for our children’s education
Learning all kinds of new things thru Acellus.
sad this will be my last Science Live but can’t wait for everything to come! Just wanted to say a quick thank you for making my time on here so fun for learning I wouldn’t have wanted to do it any other way!
How do we get to see a Science Live in person? I would love to be in the audience!
Great question Ronan, we’d love to have you and your family attend! Your parent can register online: https://sciencelive.com/book-tickets/
Dr. Billings is so cool I love this live!
Dr Billings is awesome
My brother and I both do acellus and appreciate this opportunity because of all you do! We will continue to work hard. Thank you!
you did it again Dr billings!
Thank you for the school my mom said I would’nt be able to homeschool without it. And I had no idea that Dr. Billings invented the technology behind the internet, I also never knew that garlic was so cool.
thank you for alowing me to be apart of this homeschool
These lives are always so interesting!!
Thank you for the scholarship program!
what other Non-electric sources of power can we use to power a robot?
Thank you for being so generous. We appreciate the scholarship program!
I love learning about the internet!