Pioneers of the internet awarded Queen Elizabeth prize

Five web pioneers have been given the engineering award in recognition of their work

17:20 19 March 2013

The first individuals have been given the Queen Elizabeth prize for engineering this week to mark the work they have done, after an award ceremony took place on Monday, 18^thMarch.

 

The announcement that Sir Tim Berners-Lee among others had won the prize was made at the Royal Academy of Engineering in England’s capital city.

 

The winners, who have all contributed to the internet, are named as; Louis Pouzin, Marc Andreessen, Robert Kahn, Sir Tim Berners-Lee and Vinton Cerf. All five can now enjoy the £1million prize.

 

President of the Royal Academy of Engineering Lord John Browne, who was Chief Executive of gas firm BP until 2007, gave the award out.

 

He said, as reported by The Telegraph: “By laying the foundations for the internet and the World Wide Web, the five winners have done an extraordinary service for humanity.”

 

Many of us take the internet for granted each day, using it to access our emails, perhaps our online bank accounts, as well as to use social network sites such a Facebook and Twitter.

 

Recent times have seen many people choosing to buy products online, with groups such as Amazon benefitting from the advancement of technology.

 

As recently as last week, supermarket group Morissons said they are to look at selling groceries online, which follows in the footsteps of some other large supermarket stores.

 

Following this week’s presentation in London, Queen Elizabeth II is expected to award the group this summer.