What is a computer network?
Computers and digital devices can be joined together. Another word for joined is connected.
When devices are connected, we can use them to send and share information and messages.
A group of connected computers and digital devices is called a computer network.
Watch: What is the internet?
NARRATION: So, you've probably heard the word internet a lot, but what is the Internet?
The internet is a network of lots and lots of computers connected to each other, so people can keep in touch.
Hello, ciao, hi, guten tag, howdy, g’ day!
NARRATION: You can use the internet on computers, tablets, games consoles or phones. Even on watches, glasses, cameras and cars.
Some computers are connected with cables that run all around the world, underground and under the sea. Some computers are connected without any cables at all. This is called wireless.
The internet is a big part of our lives because we can use it to do lots of things.
Like doing our shopping from home, playing games with friends who are far away or sharing fun videos of cats
A giant network
We can connect small networks together to make bigger networks.
The internet is a very big network of computers from all around the world. It is made from lots and lots of smaller networks joined together into one giant network.
We can share information with all the connected computers and devices.
Did you know that 5 billion people around the world use the internet?
How is the internet connected?
The computers and devices that make up the internet are connected using thick wires called cables. Some of these cables go under the sea. Some go underground.
The messages and information that we send around the internet move through these cables very quickly.
Some devices are connected to the internet without wires. This is called wireless or wi-fi.
Wi-fi is a way of sending information through the air. Devices have to be close to each other to use wi-fi.
Did you know that some internet cables are made of glass? We call these fibre-optic cables.
What can we connect to the internet?
We can connect many different types of device to the internet.
Have a look at some of these devices below.
When did YOU last connect to the internet?
What can we do on the internet?
We use the internet to do lots of different things. When we are using the internet, we say we are online.
We keep in touch with friends and family by sending emails and messages.Emails are letters that we send using the internet. Messages are short, sometimes only a few words.
We can also send photos, sounds and videos by email and messages.
We can chat using the internet too. We can talk to people we know online and see their face with video calling.
We can even go to school using the internet and talk to our teachers and classmates in an online classroom.
Who do you chat to using the internet?
What is the world wide web?
The world wide web is a huge online library. It is sometimes called the www or the web for short.
It contains millions of websites. Each website is like a book, with pages called webpages.
Webpages can have words, photos, videos, sounds and music. They can also have games and quizzes.
We can see webpages on the screen of a device connected to the internet.
We can use the web for lots of things. We can:
- learn new things
- look for information and pictures
- buy things from online shops
- find out the latest news
- play games, puzzles and quizzes
- watch videos and films
- get directions from an online map
- listen to music
You should always check with an adult before using the internet and the world wide web.
What have you found out about on the world wide web?
Glossary
Here are the meanings of some important words:
Computer – A device that can follow instructions stored in its memory.Digital device – A machine that has a computer inside.Network – A group of things that are connected.Cable – A thick wire that connects devices together.Wireless or wi-fi – A way of sending information through the air without wires.Computer network – A group of connected computers.Internet – A giant network of computers connected across the world.Webpage – An online page of information with words, pictures, video and sound that we see on a screen.Website – A collection of connected webpages.World wide web or www – A library of websites.
Activities
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