Educational Technology Practice Test

The movement towards using computers as communication devices was significantly facilitated by support from ARPANET and similar networks. ARPANET, developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, was one of the first networks to implement the packet-switching technology that underpins most modern computer communications. This network allowed different computers to communicate with each other, laying the groundwork for future networked communications and eventually the internet.

As ARPANET evolved, it demonstrated the potential of computers not just as solitary tools for processing information but as powerful devices for communication. This ushered in an era where file sharing, email, and later, the World Wide Web became possible, significantly transforming the way people interacted, collaborated, and shared information globally. The establishment of these networks created a fundamental shift in perception and functionality of computers, marking them as vital communication tools in addition to their computational capabilities.

While the development of personal computers, the increase in internet accessibility, and issues related to the digital divide in education all play important roles in the broader context of technology use, it was the foundational support and evolution of networks like ARPANET that directly initiated and propelled the change in viewing and utilizing computers as communication devices.