A lot has changed since WRIS got its start in 1996. From Google and Wi-Fi to WordPress, social media, smartphones and AI, many of the technologies we rely on every day didn’t even exist yet. In celebration of our 30th anniversary, we’re looking back at 10 things that have transformed the digital world—and one technology that’s been with us almost from the beginning.

Before Google, finding information online often felt like a guessing game. This Tech Throwback looks at the early search engines that shaped the web, how search has evolved, and what today’s changes mean for your website’s visibility.

Remember the days of dial-up and waiting minutes for a page to load? Today, speed is everything — users expect websites to load in just a few seconds, and anything slower can hurt your rankings, increase bounce rates, and cost you potential customers.

Our latest Tech Throwback takes us back to the early days of MySpace, when online profiles were fully customizable, music discovery was everything, and the internet felt a little more personal. This piece looks at how MySpace helped shape digital culture, from DIY web design to online communities, and why its influence can still be seen across today’s platforms.

Before Google Analytics, hit counters were the go-to way to track website traffic, though they offered little more than a growing number on the screen. While outdated, they remain a nostalgic symbol of the early web. In this edition of Tech Throwback, we look at how web analytics evolved from simple counters to powerful data-driven insights.

Once a chaotic staple of 90s web design, the humble GIF has transformed from pixelated fun into a powerful branding tool. In this edition of Tech Throwback, we trace its journey from dancing babies to marketing gold.