What is the Internet?
The Internet is a network of networks connecting computers all over the world. This vast system is publicly available to people in order to share information. It allows people to share whatever they want to everyone all over the world. The Internet is decentralized, which means that no single entity has control over it. A computer can connect to the internet through telephone lines, cable data lines, fiber-optic or wireless signals. These connections can be established by purchasing them through an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The connections allow computers to pass information back and forth (1). According to the United States Census Bureau issued in May of 2013, Internet use at home in the United States in 1997 was 18.0% and was up in 2011 to 71.7%. This evidence shows that the use of the Internet now plays a crucial role in the lives of Americans (2).
Internet vs. World Wide Web (WWW)
The Internet is not the same as the World Wide Web (WWW) or the Web, this is a common mistake. The Web consists of all the websites and pages that are on the Internet. The Web relies on the Internet to connect your browser to different its different servers. The World Wide Web is just a small part of the systems that make up the Internet (1).
History of the Internet
The Internet is a tool that many people take for granted it has been around for over 40 years. The beginning stages of the Internet began in 1969 with ARPANET. This was a network designed for the purpose to help the United States Department of Defense. They were testing new networking technologies, with the intent to transfer information between servers if there was a nuclear attack. The first two nodes were created between UCLA and Stanford Research Institute. This advancement linked many universities and research centers (1). The internet came to the front in 1982 when the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) developed the first packet switching networks. These packets engaged network communication over a shared network (3).
Relevance to Fundamentals and Issues of Using the Internet
The Internet is constantly changing. The technology is becoming more advanced with that being said, it is crucial that people are informed about what the internet is and where it originated. Also, it is important to know the power of the internet and how to protect yourself and your personal information.(kristen)
Introduction to the Internet Continued
Internet Society-Brief History
Links
News
Humor and Pop Culture
Other
FOOTNOTES
1) Introduction to the Internet