Masterminds of the Arpanet

The Internet began with the Arpanet, which celebrates its 45th birthday this year. The Arpanet came out of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which was created in 1958 and, through its Information Processing Techniques Office (IPTO), has been a major source of support for IT research and development. Early IPTO directors envisioned interconnected computers, and three masterminds in particular led the effort to achieve this vision: Larry Roberts, Bob Kahn, and Vint Cerf.