In the middle of the 20th century, inventors progressed to the point of developing the first computing machines. These large machines were able to add numbers with mind-boggling speed and accuracy. Technology raced forward, and by the 1960s, the cutting-edge computers were smaller and more powerful. The Internet debuted in 1969, known as the ARPANET and designed mainly for the military's use. By 1986, computers had taken another giant leap forward with the invention of the mouse and current graphical user interfaces such as Windows. Internet service providers began offering Internet service to customers by the mid-1990s.
As the Internet gained popularity, communication changed drastically. Instead of using the telephone and incurring potentially high long-distance charges, suddenly, it became possible to converse with people via the Internet. Email communication became available with the development of Web-based services and Internet service providers. Instant messaging and conversing in Internet forums also became prevalent.