Let's take a look at the history of the Internet cafe

Originally an Internet cafe that was a coffee shop for checking emails.Such "Nekafe" has been functioning as a place where pirated music is available, a hot spot for game addicts, and sometimes a temporary home.Let's unravel the history of such an unknown Necafe with Gizmodo reporter Bryan Lufkin.

Birth of Internet cafe

"Tea and computer: Coffee house cyberpunks are looking for the meaning of love and life."You may think this is the title of the article published in the Washington Post on February 17, 1993.

What a lighter John Boudreau has given the topic as a topic is that Bohemian Cafe, which created "BEATNIK", turned into a coffee house lined with low tables with a keyboard.He also explains that he is connected by a network with other coffee houses in San Francisco and Berkeley through computers.A wide variety of people, from those who do not want to work in such places to physicists, have formed a new communication place called "SF NET".Of course, this time was an era when the Internet was an "electronic bulletin board".

In "SF NET", there are people who are in the opposite sex, some people post a short story, and deepen discussions on existence.Of course, some people became an unrealist.According to the Washington Post's article, some have posted as the Pope in the 14th century.

"SF NET" was founded in 1991 by Wayne GREGORI, which was 35 years old.At that time, there were 900 users in the bay area, and about half was connected from a coffee house.By the way, it was necessary to pay 50 cents every 8 minutes to use a computer.There is no problem even if you spill coffee because the keyboard has a good cover.Gregori speaks like this for the interview.

In 1994, designer Ivan Pope will be more sophisticated with the idea of the Internet cafe.He proposed a cafe based on the concept of accessing the Internet (browsing art there), rather than providing the Internet as an attached amenities as before.This was a request for the art event "TOWARDS THE AESTHETICS OF THE FUTURE" at London's Institute of Contemporary Arts.

With such a dial -up connection and flying toaster era, the world's first Internet cafe opened in the British capital.The name is "Cyberia".If ordinary people can access the web world from a computer with a little money...It was established with the thought.And these Internet cafe business gradually gather the attention of the money of money.

In 1999, the CEO of Easy Jet, a low -cost European airline, opened an Internet cafe chain "Easy Everying" in the UK.The flagship store was located at Victoria Station, centered on London, with about 929 square meters and 400 screens.The Internet usage fee for one hour is about 1.$ 6 (196 yen).

The idea of the Internet cafe is exported to Times Square in New York in 2000.However, going to "only" to connect to the net was already old.Because accessing the internet from the house was normal.And from here, the Internet cafe will evolve more and more.

Pirates places

An Internet cafe on track by hip stars in the 90s wearing a flannel shirt.From here on, the "pirates" who are trying to get free movies and music will develop the next development.When the 20th century is about to end, as the popularity of the file sharing software "NAPSTER" grows, people will gather in the Internet cafe in search of MP3 files.

In the beginning of 2000, Easy Jet's Internet Cafe chain has been developing a promotion that can copy music acquired from the Internet to CDs for about 5 euros (about 650 yen).Of course, this is a big problem for record companies.Sony Music, Universal Music, and EMI have been in a 18 -month -old lawsuit battle, and in January 2003, Easy Jet will be defeated by copyright violations.

At the same time, it was said that pirated versions were also stamped at the Mexican Internet cafe.Around 2000, he could usually buy illegal software CD-ROMs in the city.The retailer said in an interview with WIRED, "Everyone is here. Small children buy Dragon Balls and grandmothers buy Encarta 2000."As this continues, the police will take the Internet cafe.In addition, I was trying to check the software in the computer and check the receipt for Microsoft software.

However, it was more difficult to operate pirated versions than now.This is especially true for Internet cafes in developing countries.In 2006, one -third of the Mexican uses an Internet cafe, and one computer is used by multiple people.It is not easy to crush one pirate act in such a state.

Meanwhile, in Australia, there was a large -scale care for the Internet cafe in 2008, and Sydney's Internet cafe was charged with a fines of $ 82,000 and a crime on copyright.60 computers and three servers are confiscated.The pirated music, television, and movie data remained on the computer are said to have been 8TB.In the end, this company was guilty of all charges.

In recent years, pirated penalties have become more and more severe.For example, in Australia, the Internet cafe used by customers for pirates needs to pay more than $ 60,000 (approximately 7.35 million yen).

If it becomes a hotbed of pirate acts, the Internet cafe will decline more and more....?It may seem like it, but that was not the case.This is because the purpose of visiting the Internet cafe has gradually changed.In addition to checking e -mails and using the Internet, some countries will create new culture soil.

The beginning of GAME DEN

Although the demand for the Internet is rising steadily, there are many people in the world who cannot access the Internet from home.That's where the Internet cafe appeared.By the way, it is said that 350,000 Internet cafes were in the Asian region in 2011.In countries such as China and South Korea, the Internet cafe is very prosperous thanks to gamers.It was the gamer.

According to PEARTL RESEACH, Internet cafes in the 2011 Asian region (East Asia and 5 Southeast Asian countries) were about $ 19 billion.Furthermore, in Korea, 82 % of the people owned their personal computers at home, but some seemed to use Internet cafes for multi -player online games.

The trigger of this enthusiasm is "STAR CRAFT" released by Blizzard Entertainment 20 years ago.Thanks to the science fiction military RTS games that have grasped the hearts of people in Korea, a tremendous number of people will go to the Internet cafe (also called "PC Bands" in Korea) for games.Even if there was a personal computer at home, I was able to play with a high -performance machine specializing in games by going to PC Bangs.

"PC Bangs" is said to have 22,000 cases as of 2007.If you pay about $ 1 hour, you can buy snacks and enjoy high -speed Internet with a high -performance machine that works quickly.

The problem here is the problem of game addiction.All time and money are dedicated to PC games, and everyday life is neglected.In 2011, South Korea announced that people under 16 years of age prohibit entry and exit of net cafes from midnight to 6:00 in the morning.

Of course, the Internet cafe spreads throughout East Asia.In China, online games, like South Korea from the 1990s to the 00s, have been selling Internet cafes.However, in 2002, a painful incident occurred in which a teenage boy ignites an internet cafe and dies 24 people.The government will strictly regulate Internet cafes.

On the other hand, the Japanese Internet cafe, which crosses the sea, has developed as a more private space compared to other countries.A small private room with a personal computer has a cozy chair, so you can enjoy all -you -can -drink drinks and unlimited reading comics.

In Japan, some people have been living in an internet cafe in the last 10 years.According to Bloomberg, about 69,000 people spent a night at an Internet cafe, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare reported in 2007.Nevertheless, Japanese Internet cafes have a nap area properly, and beds instead of chairs in the booth.You shouldn't feel so much to stay overnight.However, out of the 6900 people, the number of people settled in the Internet cafe is about 5,400.They belong to the so -called "net cafe refugees".

What you need to spend overnight is about $ 15 (1838 yen).The cheaper bed, which is cheaper than the hotel, has been functioning as a temporary residence for single and couples without money.

Japan's Disposable Workers: Net Cafe Refuses From MediaStorm on Vimeo.

In addition, Internet cafes are also places where strange news is born.Men died in a Taiwanese store earlier this year, and the cause of death was playing games for three days.In China, there was also a surprising news that a 26 -year -old woman gave birth in a private room in the toilet.

Nevertheless, the profits of the Internet cafe are now falling, no matter how many gamers are or who wants temporary housing.In the last six years, government regulations have been strengthened in China, and at least 130,000 internet cafes have been closed.The reason is that the Internet cafe is leading users under the age of 18.

Another catalyst was the mobile phone was a mobile phone.

The future of the Internet cafe and how

Microsoft, Google, and Apple are working hard to provide the Internet to people around the world.This means that the options that people who cannot access the Internet can take are no longer the only Internet cafe.

For example, Nigeria has an active mobile web user from 30 million in March 2013 to 90 million in February 2015.When mobile phones connected to the Internet become widespread, Internet cafes are no longer needed.

The market is shrinking and is closed one after another around the world.According to Quartz's article, the number of internet cafes is decreasing in Thailand, India, Rwanda, China and Korea.

However, considering that the Internet cafe has a multiple functions, not just a place to provide an internet environment, it may not be possible to simply cut off the bass.

Earlier this year, Colorado police announced that it is being used as a gambling law in an Internet cafe.Five places were closed in April, of which two stores have resumed.In Colorado, slot machines and gambling are prohibited, not games that compete for poker -like skills.For this reason, it seems that there was a shop that did not write gambling at the storefront, or only "Certified Skill Games (approved skill game)".

This may be the future of one Internet cafe.Recently, the online gambling room seems to be different from the time when Bay Area Cyber Punks, who are crazy about Nirvana, were writing on an electronic bulletin board.

Of course, Internet cafes may appear in a little bright news.NPR reported that the Internet cafe for refugees from the Middle East was established last month by a Pakistani lawyer.The cafe is located on a road along the European border, which offers services such as English conversation learning, warm meals, telephone cards, and Skype calls.

Depending on the evolution of the Internet, how people involve the Internet will change.Internet cafes may continue to change in shape.An era where there is a free WiFi of Starbucks on a cheap smartphone.Still, it is somewhat human for some people to use an internet cafe.

Top Image by Cancan Chu/Getty Images

Bryan Lufkin --Gizmodo US [Original text]

(Opposite)