ICT II - Lecture 1

Lecture 1 – Internet

Understanding the internet

The word internet evolved from the terms Inter for international and Net for network. It refers to a global collection of interconnected networks – a network of networks.

The internet is accessible to anyone connected to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) with a PC, a modem and a telephone line. It represents a vast network of computers that allows information access and exchange by users from around the world.

Definition:

1. Local Area Network (LAN) – a collection of inter- connected communication and computer equipment and resources that enable sharing and distribution of information in an office building, warehouse or campus.

2. Wide Area Network (WAN) - Two or more interconnected LANS constitute a bigger network called WAN. These are geographically dispersed LANs.

3. TCP/IP – Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol. The standard protocol wherein computers are able to communicate with one another. The Term TCP specifies protocols on how data is broken down before transmission while IP takes care of moving information to desired destinations.

4. A Client/ Server model consists of several hundreds of host (servers) accessed by millions of PCs/ users(clients) for information.

Overview of Internet Applications

The internet brings together the best qualities of communication systems. The Internet eliminates long waits for a letter to reach a friend, eases shopping, banking and other transactions electronically. It’s democratic and facilitates global exchange of ideas, transforming the world into a global village without geographic boundaries. In the workplace, wise internet use results in productivity and efficiency. Information is transmitted across management levels easily, while managerial leverage is enhanced and promoting healthy interpersonal relationship. The internet is also found it’s place in education, business, medicine, and government. More and more people get themselves connected. People no longer talk about the local market but of an even larger virtual market of global proportions.

What is the internet?

The internet is a collection of computers throughout the world which are mostly connected using telephone lines for the purpose of sharing information.


Who owns the internet?

No organization, corporation or government owns or runs the Internet. Instead, many people and organizations voluntarily participate in task force groups who meet to develop standards for the many various technical needs of running the internet.


A Brief History of the Internet

In 1969, the US Department of Defense started a project to allow researchers and military personnel to communicate with each other in an emergency. The project was called ARPAnet and it is the foundation of the Internet.
Throughout the 1970's, what would later become the Internet was developed. While mostly military personnel and scientists used it in its early days, the advent of the World Wide Web in the early 1990's changed all that.
Today, the Internet is not owned or operated by any one entity. This worldwide computer network allows people to communicate and exchange information in new ways.
According to www.commerce.net, in April of 1999, there were 92.2 million Internet users over the age of 16 in the United States and Canada. By 2005, it is predicted 75% of the total US population will be online
The Internet Explosion
As os December 2005, the internet had more than 1 billion users worldwide. This number is projected to balloon to 1.8 billion by 2010. There is no question that the number and variety of people logging on is growing daily. The “virtual community” is increasingly representative of the demographics of the “real” community, as internet access becomes more common in businesses, schools, libraries and homes.