S01.L01 - Understanding the Internet
- 2. INTRODUCTION • The Internet is made up of millions of computers around the world linked together in such a way that information can be exchanged between them at any time. These computers can be in homes, schools, universities, government buildings, or businesses, small and large. The Internet is often described as “a network of networks” because all of the smaller networks of organizations are linked together to form one giant network called the Internet.
- 3. THE HISTORY OF THE INTERNET • The Internet was born in the sixties, as a result of the "Cold War" between the former Soviet Union and the US. At that time, the defense system of the US was based on computers, which were interconnected. A nuclear attack on a central unit could bring the complete defense system of the US to a standstill. However, if a nuclear bomb destroyed one computer, another computer could instantly take over, and the computer network would not go down. Thus, the Internet was created by the U.S. Department of Defense in 1969 under the name ARPANet (ARPA was the department's Advanced Research Projects Agency).
- 4. Purposes of ARPANet • To share research among military, industrial, and university resources. • To provide a system for sustaining communication among military units in the event of a nuclear attack.
- 5. Where is the information? • The Internet itself does not contain information. It is somewhat incorrect to say that a "document was found on the Internet." It would be more correct to say that it was found through or using the Internet. What it was found on was one of the computers linked to the Internet. The Internet is also called the Information Superhighway, Cyberspace, the Virtual World, or INET, which is a shortened form of InterNET.
- 6. What is ISP? • An Internet Service Provider (ISP) is a company that provides access to the Internet to individuals or companies.
- 7. What is DATA? • Data is the raw material of information. The word refers mostly to the information entered into, and stored within, a computer or file.
- 8. What is URL? • URL is an acronym for "Uniform Resource Locator." This is the address of a resource on the Internet. World Wide Web URLs begin with http://
- 9. What is a Web Page? • A Web page is a document designed for viewing in a Web browser, and is typically written in HTML.
- 10. What is Web Browser? • A Web Browser is software that gives a user access to the World Wide Web. Web browsers often provide a graphical interface that lets users click buttons, icons, and menu options to view and navigate Web pages.