Der Anfangspunkt der Vorgeschichte des Internet wird in den meisten Darstellungen mit dem sogenannten Sputnik-Schock 1957 gleichgesetzt. Im Januar 2009 findet in Basel eine bemerkenswerte Tagung zu diesem Thema statt, die aus der Perspektive der Osteuropaforschung dem Thema nachgehen will:

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first man-made object in space, the successful launch of Sputnik in October 1957, much attention has been paid to the history of space missions/explorations and the discourses following the opening of the „cosmic era“ in the U.S. and (Western) Europe. Its influence on military competition, Cold War politics and Western imagination have received much attention. But space exploration was much more than a technological breakthrough. It left a distinct and lasting impact on everyday life and popular culture in many countries. The interdependence between space, politics and Lebenswelten (meaning the daily life of human beings) in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe is a new field of research and interest.

Das Call for Papers endet am 31. März 2008.