Back in the 1980’s, the main purpose of a computer in an internet café was to be rented by the

average office employee to send e-mails or read computerized files.

Only certain companies and internet cafés were the

ones who had computers as they were all
impractical during the time. Snail mails and
typewriters were the practical assets most people
relied on.

Games were also limited on computers. During the

time, video games were built on arcade machines
and handheld devices (Gameboy).

It was purely business when going to computer

rental shops. Most services at the time offered
printing and photocopy services and the market was
mostly for employees around 23-35 years of age. Business, work and specialty was the main selling point
of most internet cafés.

Arriving at the 2000’s, thus started the age of interactivity. Several companies have invested in
not just office-based programs and products, but has diversified into expanding into other forms of
communication as well as entertainment.

This was the time where certain websites like

Friendster, MySpace, Plurk, and many other sites all
were introduced in the early 00’s and became
popular as it created an entire website genre
known today as social media. The Yahoo!
Messenger was the most in-demand chat system
for its revolutionary interface and e-mails were
more organized. Computer games also made a
breakthrough; Starcraft, Warcraft 3 and Counter
Strike made noise in the video games industry as it
introduced the LAN system where you can play with
your friends.

Demand for internet cafés significantly went up. The revolutionary innovations like social media, chat
and the LAN games all became a reason why everyone should rent from time to time. It attracted a
wider age bracket from 15-35 years old. Being able to talk to your friends while on the internet was a
convenient way of socializing. Being able to play together with your friends in the same place and in the
same game gave a new way for teenagers to bond. The interaction capability through computers was
the selling point of 2000’s.
In today’s time, with all the potential for advancement, a much more massive advancement
occurred. Seeing how the potential is for technology, many invested in researches and studies about the
internet and it became a necessity for everyone.

Facebook, the most powerful,

revolutionary social media website in
the history of the internet, has been
the ‘poster boy’ of this evolution. It
diversified and adapted every aspect
of technological improvement in the
00’s and made it way faster. Now,
Facebook hosts social media, friends,
chat, profiling, and even games.
Twitter and Instagram, other big
social media websites, all connected
everyone in a much faster rate.

Games became a whole industry in this time. Compared to last time’s LAN dependent culture, online
features became an industry standard. Everyone can now play with anyone from anywhere with just fast
internet. Games such as Dota 2, League of Legends and many more opened game socializing to a whole
new level.

With all the improvement, affording a good computer with reliable internet has been financially
restricting. It costs now to own your own and it became a logical concept to pay for an hour of renting
then pay for a whole unit. Internet cafés were able to compete with the ‘home-based computers’
alternative by offering the latest and most advanced equipment with fast internet at a reasonable price.
At this time, it was the development of fast and high-tech reliability that became the selling point of
internet cafés today.

[image sources: 1, 2, 3]