The Evolution of the Internet Cafe
How the Internet and Coffee Became Best Friends
The sign on the building said “Food, Drinks, Internet.” At first glance, the marriage of food and computers seems illogical. After all, what does electronic technology have to do with eating and drinking? The very thought of setting a liquid near a keyboard sounds risky at best. Nevertheless, the introduction of a world wide communication system via computers brought the two together.
Coffee houses have existed since the 16th century. They’ve always provided a relaxed atmosphere for people to gather to socialize, exchange information, play board games and transact business. In fact, the term cafe originated from the Italian word caffe, which means coffee. Many coffee houses also served light meals such as sandwiches, desserts, and pastries. It seems inevitable, then, that such places would evolve to hosting the modern form of communication via computers often called social media.
What’s now known as a cybernet cafe or internet cafe is a 21st century phenomenon that began with the introduction of the internet. Historical records, however, give South Korea the credit for the first cyber cafe in 1988. Called the “Electronic Cafe,” it opened near a university campus in Seoul with two computers. Apparently, users paid to play games because the internet didn’t…
