What is the internet?
The A global network connecting millions of computers. has revolutionised the way we work and play. It allows us to communicate, to share data and to seek information in a matter of seconds. All this is possible through the use of computers and networks.
The internet is a global A group of interconnected computers/devices. of computers. All computer devices (including PCs, laptops, games consoles and smartphones) that are connected to the internet form part of this network. Added together, there are billions of computers connected to the internet, all able to communicate with each other.
Today, the internet is a massive part of our daily lives.
How did the internet originate?
In the 1950s, the United States Defence Department formed several agencies, such as the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA, now known as DARPA) with the purpose of developing technology. However, since they were based at universities around the country, ARPA’s scientists could not easily communicate or share information. To solve this problem, ARPA created a network of computers, which they called ARPANET. Realising how useful ARPANET was, other organisations built their own networks. However, these individual networks could not easily communicate with each other.
In the 1970s, a A set of rules for how messages are turned into data packets and sent across networks. was developed. Called TCP/IP, this protocol allowed the separate networks to communicate with each other. The joining of these individual networks created a huge Wide area network. A network that spans across a building, buildings or even countries, eg the internet. (WAN) which came to be known as the internet.
Since then the use of the internet by organisations and individuals has grown year upon year. In the beginning, ARPANET consisted of just four computers. Now billions of computers are connected to the internet.
When we connect to the internet, we are said to be Connected to and using the internet.. Today the internet has many online facilities, for example:
- communication via Electronic mail. A method for sending messages and files to other people. and Voice over internet protocol - a protocol used for communicating voice data over the internet.
- sharing of information such as text, images, sounds and videos
- storage of information
- streaming television programmes, films, videos, sounds and music
- playing online games
- shopping
- social networking
- banking
Most of these online facilities are available through the use of websites on the World Wide Web.