The Invention That Made the Internet Possible
Unable to load video? Click here.
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
Dr. Roger Billings is a visionary innovator whose work has touched the lives of millions of students and transformed the landscape of education. Widely known as “DrB” to the countless kids who benefit from his groundbreaking Acellus learning system, Dr. Billings has dedicated his life to advancing education through technology.
As part of DrB’s lifelong commitment to supporting education, Science LIVE was launched as a way to “give back” by mentoring students in conjunction with the Roger Billings Scholarship Program.
Read more about DrB »
About the Roger Billings Scholarship Program »
This video was very cool!! looking forward to the next one.
I LOVE YOU SCIENCE LIVE.
I can’t believe how massive the standard computer was! I love science live, can’t wait for next week!
I actually learned a little bit about the internet today in my Highschool History class today, and now I’ve learned even more!
its so cool how technology works cant wait to see what the future holds
Great Live Dr Billings!
This is an amazing video. Checking in from Alabama
Thank you for this amazing video
I loved this weeks video! I also love science fairs
I LOVE WATCHING THESE
Really interesting topic today. Love to see it!
I learned that a robot can be made out of air
This episode was so interesting!
I learned so much this week, thank you!
Wow! todays episode was great.
You’re very generous, Dr. Billings! Thank you for giving me and so many others this oppurtunity to learn from you!
I love the science he shows us
I find all of these facts very interesting
I loved this video!
Thank you Dr Billings this video was very fun to watch and learn more things !
I thought that the 3-D printed robot was really cool I liked how it ran on air
Here from Texas! Reply if you are, too! Texan’s, ASSEMBLE!!!
Acellus is so cool
I find it so cool how you can 3D print anything that comes to mind with enough creativity and engineering.
The watch was interesting
Great episode this week! Thanks Acellus!
this was the best video
Love this weeks video
I learned That in China, they used a robot That was air used with air
I enjoyed the part about the 3 d printed robot that runs on air.
best science guy yet
Thank-You, another great video
I love these videos so much!
Hello from NC
thank you so much for all the interesting things in this video!! Thank you Dr B!
I love this one wow
It’s cool that you can make a robot and operate it with air.
I loved Dr. Billings comment, “It’s my greatest invention…so far!” Also, my favorite ice cream is swirl!
This week’s video was great
Hello from NC!
Will the proteges be in the next science live video?
Does the military still use the faster internet you made? Super cool either way!
I learned a lot about the internet–one of my favorite inventions!
Next week will we learn about the Artemis 2?
love accellus lives
wahoo! So cool! Iove science live!!
Hey from alabama
I love that password it is so funny!
Hello from Texas
Amazing science live this week!
So science live is switching to YouTube?? Hello from KY!
That was amazing. Science LIVE is so fascinating and who would of thought androids get their own ice cream. From SC.
Hello from NJ
Hey watched on youtube not sure if I got the credit. Have aq great day Acellus
Excellent educational content!
Such a cool video to watch, thank you!
Science live is so educational!
I liked Tobias’s segment.
Great video! Thanks Dr. Billings
I love Acellus!
thank you for teaching us
science live was amazing
That’s so interesting! I didn’t know exercising helps the mental and physical
loved this episode<3
This is so cool!
Hello from Kansas
The internet is so cool!
Is the internet infinite (in capacity, can it store data infinitely) or is there a limit? If so, does the limit have to do with the speed of the internet of the capacity with which we store information?
You need to talk about hybrid cars!
I actually never knew about some of this info so thank you for telling me about this!
i love science live today
Cool learning about the Internet
Having a robot that runs on air is very neat.
The 3D printed robot was so interesting.
I like when they did the 3d printer experiment.
I love science live
The 3D printed robot thingy was cool. I wonder how long it would last underwater.
Great video! So excited for next weeks!
it’s very cool that they use his own words because you get to know what he’s actually thinking not justwhat they think he will say.
Are you making a robot that runs om air?
that would be so cool.
I love being an Acellus student
being an acellus student is the greatest thing ever especially learning from these love videos
Thank you, always very interesting.
This was an interesting episode. The robot was cool to learn about as well!
Acellus is awsome
Love the jet! We watched together as a family on the way back from our annual adoption day celebration! Mom and dad said we could not do Acellus without the scholarship and to tell you Thank You!
I never knew that it took so long to invent the quartz watch.
Thank You for the awesome live!
clocks are so interesting
Science live is always the highlight of my week!
This is a great video
Hi from texas
acellus is so funnnnn 🙂
Rowan W
TX
Its crazy to see how far technology has come!
I liked this weeks live! My favorite ice cream is raspberry!!
This episode was so interesting, I had no idea you had part in inventing internet.
Thank you ! I appreciate all you do and I love the science lives!
I think that it is cool that there used to be tuning forks in watches that made it vibrate in order to work.
Hey y’all I’m from the lone star state!!!!!!
i like when Dr. Billings explains what he did back when he was younger and what he made and how he made it.
Dr. Billings, who is the most intresting person youo have ever met. Also do not sell your car or airplane. You are too nice.
Hi from Texas
How does the 3d printer know exactly the dimensions of the shape its printing? and why did they print the robot??
hello from new york
Thank you for sacrificing so much for us!
Thank you for all your sacrifices! Our family really appreciate it very much!!
Thank you for caring about Acellus students and our futures.
I love how they made the cinnamon roll go to space!
here for science live!!!
love it!!!! so cool.
CoolI liked learning about the internet
Learning about the clock was interesting and fun
i love being a acellus student
This was a great new science live!
cool science live today
Hello from Ohio
Hello from Ny!I think the internet is one of the greatest inventions made nowdays its what connects all of us!😁
3 d printers are so cool. It is amazing that they can use it to make things they can make. Hopefully one day they will everyone will be able to afford a 3d printer.
im so glad you helped with the creation of the internet, its helped so many people
You should add a 3-D printer to your shop.
watching from Norco, CA
It is incredible how many things Dr Roger Billings has done
I love science live and I love being an Acellus student!
It is very heartfelt that you are sacrificing your car to help the students! Education is very valuable very well said!
This science live was awesome!
Science Live is so good! 😀
This week was cool I had fun watching this weeks Science Live.
Hello from Texas!!
i like the rolls royce design and the jet design of doctor b.
My parents did not grow up with the internet. Their stories are pretty cool too. Computers were so big back then! It’s mind blowing. My mom taught science for 3 years for middle school. She likes that you have so much science info. Thank you for Acellus. I really love science.
I like the robot.
Thank you for the lesson today.
Thank you from KY.
Checking in from KY.
enjoyed learning about the internet!
Super fun to watch!!
Watches are awesome!
I admire Dc Roger Billings I want to meat him in person one day!
Wow! Dr. Roger Billings for sure is a smart person as he makes a lot of inventions!
Roger Billings is such an inspiration. His preservation is truly remarkable. Thank you for making this program and doing these broadcasts every week!
Hello Acellus family . I loved the episode today it was full of information and funny jokes. What I also loves was Dr. Roger Billings sacrificing to help students in Acellus. Thank you so much. 🙂
So, does this mean that Roger Billings invented the internet?
Hello from RSA!!
Woahhh loved learning about Pierre Curie’s invention with the tuning forks and the crystals it was all very cool. I am so greatful for Acellus Academy and for Dr. Roger Billings for giving me a chance of a better education. Thank you so much for keeping the Billings scholarship going I will try my hardest to keep my end of the deal and I love watching science live! :))
I really enjoyed learning about how Dr. Roger Billings invented Universal Networking!
Thank you Roger Billings for my scholarship!
Also for that pneumatic bot, do you think we could prolong its air tank by using a regulator?
I love being an acellus student
Thank you for the generous scholarships even though some people take advantage of it!
Great topic!
Me and my dad love watching these!
Hello from Texas
The 3D printer is very cool
Very cool!!! I enjoyed this weeks video to learn more about the internet!
Best science live yet 🧬🧬🧬🧬🧬😁
Thank you Dr Billings!
I love science live!
This was wonderful!
Here from tx
Amazing!!
We love watching every week!
I love how you guys build stuff like this and are able to show us, thank you!
this was a very interesting video excited for next weeks!
So awesome!!
Science live is so fun to watch!
I like that we learned about the internet.
What did they build the robot??
The internet is cool to learn about
Thank you for the scholarship! I appreciate being able to homeschool without it being a large price for my parents.
Amazing live!!! I love those
Greetings from the Dominican Republic.
I live for the internet
science is cool.
Science Live is so interesting!
I love this scholarship, it makes education so accessible while also providing the benefit of Science LIVE!
Very Interesting, thanks
loved it!!!!!!!
The robot made from the 3D printer is so cool I cant wait to see what it will get used for.
This live was interesting
This Science Live was great!
Amazing live as always!
i loved how we learned of the internet
Hi from Florida
wow this is so cool!
I love science live!
It was so interesting to learn about the internet!
I always look forward to science live every week! This episode was on my birthday!