I believe it was started as a military venture, to enable Information from different bases to be accessible by all. Also if one base were to be invaded (captured) all info could be sent else where and destroyed at that particular military site.
Later as the technology to send data via telephone lines developed, so did it's market potential. Hence now everyone has internet capabilities.
EDIT:
search for ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network).
http://www.dei.isep.ipp.pt/~acc/docs/arpa.html
The word itself would give you some insight 'to connect two networks', 'now two web sites' also, what else, or otherwise to ask cute questions like this here to be answered by a genius like me!
Every day effect is more negative than positive I suppose no one is answering genuine questions but fake ones. Even e-mails are ignored and we are forced to follow and trust the snail mail.