The Internet

The Internet, which was used by the military before to hide important information, started in 1969. The Internet was designed to provide a communications network that would work even if the sites were destroyed by a nuclear attack. The Internet began by only having four host computer systems and is currently increasing in number. As the Internet evolved, more computers were able to connect and communicate with each other. Today, the Internet has millions of users that communicate and share files with each other. Jeff Tyson (ND), says that one of the greatest things about the Internet is that nobody owns it. So what is the Internet? The Internet is a massive network of networks which connect millions of computers around the world to communicate with any other computer that is connected to it.

People have different perspectives as to what the Internet is. Some define the Internet as something that can be used as a means of communication. Some define the Internet as a network where people can share files with each other. There are many definitions of what the Internet is but one of the famous definitions that the people think of is that the Internet is the World Wide Web. The terms, Internet and World Wide Web, are commonly interchanged by people and are often used in everyday speech without much distinction. These two terms are not synonymous and are two separate but related things (Jeff Tyson, ND). "The World Wide Web, or simply the Web, is a way of accessing information over the medium of the Internet. It is an information-sharing model that is built on top of the Internet" (Jeff Tyson, ND). The Web is one of the services communicated via the Internet. It utilizes browsers, such as Mozilla Firefox or Internet Explorer, to access web pages. The Web is just one of the ways that files and information can be shared or sent over the Internet. The World Wide Web and the Internet are two terms which are not synonymous and and should not be confused.

The Internet, as defined by the dictionary, is an interconnected system of networks that connect computers around the world via the TCP/IP protocol. The Internet is a global network connecting millions of computers in around more than 100 countries which are linked into exchanges of data, news, and opinions (QuinStreet Inc., 2010). When people log on to the Internet, they are given access to other computers that are connected around the world. Once a person is connected to the Internet, they are able to do many things such as sending and receiving e-mails and browsing the World Wide Web (Dave Kristula, 2010). Today, people use the Internet because of social networks such as Facebook. People are making use of the communication services that the Internet has, which is one of its main purposes.

Many people access the Internet every day and most of them do not know how the Internet works. The Internet is based on a series of standard technical protocols which allow various computers to access and view specified files on other computers (Marnie Webb, 2000). There are many technical protocols and the one responsible for allowing computers to describe data to one another over a network is the transmission control protocol (TCP). This protocol takes the information that the person wants to send over the Internet and breaks it down into small chunks of data called packets (Marnie Webb, 2000). Another kind of technical protocol is the Internet Protocol (IP) which takes over and routes those packets through computers to get them to their destination. According to R. Kayne (2003), every computer that is connected to the Internet has a unique Internet Protocol (IP) address. When one clicks or enters a link his browser sends a request to the website that contains the content that he wants to view. Routers are the ones responsible in relaying the data packet's address to the best route possible (QuinStreet Inc., 2010). When the data packet arrives at the website, the server reads the request and returns it back to the person's computer via a return address in the data packet (QuinStreet Inc., 2010). The data packet is then routed back to the person and his browser interprets the content and displays the page for him (QuinStreet Inc., 2010). These protocols provide the technology necessary for a person's computer to hook into the Internet.

Many people use the Internet for various activities such as downloading music, streaming videos, and playing online games. The Internet has also enabled entirely new forms of social interaction, activities, and organizing, thanks to its basic features such as widespread usability and access. Social networking websites such as Facebook have created a new form of socialization and interaction. The interaction and communication of people with one another is evolving and so does technology and the Internet. How do you think will the Internet be in the years to come?

References:

1. Definition of the Internet

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/internet

2. Dave (2010) "What is the Internet?"

http://www.davesite.com/webstation/inet101/net01.shtml

3. Jeff Tyson (1998-2010) "How Internet Infrastructure Works"

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/internet-infrastructure1.htm

4. QuinStreet Inc. (2010) "What is Internet?" http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/I/Internet.html

5. R. Kayne (2003-2010) "How Does the Internet Work?" http://www.wisegeek.com/how-does-the-internet-work.htm

6. Marnie Webb (2000) "How Does the Internet Work?"

http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/connections/archives/page10206.cfm