The World Wide Web turns 20 – how it's changed the world forever

Of course, there are risks to the internet's growth, with net neutrality, web blocking and three-strikes plans all swirling around the corridors of power of governments looking to control this most powerful of media.

The web was built on the idea of openness and freedom, though, and Berners-Lee offered his world-changing idea for free to anyone who wanted it, never thinking to charge a fee. For Foursquare's Selvadurai, this is its supreme achievement.

"I think the greatest thing is that it's stayed independent (and hopefully will continue to do so): no one entity 'owns' the web. This allows anyone (the exception being countries that block the web) to create content and publish it for others to see," he said.

Of course some nations do block the web, fearful that it can be used by 'dissidents' to organise protests and undermine state authority, as was the case earlier this year when governments in Egypt and Tunisia succumbed to mass protests organised online.

While it would be unfair to give the web credit for it all, there is no doubt that the ability for citizens to post messages to the outside world, organise demonstrations and raise awareness of their campaigns is a powerful tool in the fight against tyranny.

Let's not forget, though, that the web is a place of fun and silliness too. Berners-Lee may have enabled the creation of whole new businesses and means of productivity, but he's also responsible for billions of lost hours on Facebook and Lolcats.

The web is whatever you want it to be - a tool to bring down governments, create new businesses, disrupt entire industries, watch celebrities melt down, share stupid links, run your own blog, track the Tour de France live. It's all things to all people.

Its creation is a moment in history that, according to Deloitte's Everson, those in the technology sector should feel privileged to have witnessed, and one that will be regarded as seminal in the evolution of mankind.

"Being involved in the technology space since the web has been around has been a wonderful time to be working in the industry. It's what it must have been like to be around at the time of the industrial revolution," he said.

Roll on the next 20 years.