The internet is the new Wild West of interconnected computer networks that use the standard protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide. It's also the biggest distraction known to mankind.
The conventional world wide web network of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the internet we're all familiar with today was invented and developed by the British, or more specifically, Tim Berners-Lee. Its rapid success was facilitated by him purposefully not copyrighting it.
So, apart from the jet engine and the aircraft carrier, that's another technological leap you've got us to thank for.
