Networks and the Internet

• The internet is a global network of computers that allows us to communicate, share data and seek information in a matter of seconds
• The internet


  • It 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
  • It is a global network of computers
• How the internet originated

  1. In the 1950s, the United States Defence Department formed several agencies like ARPA to develop technology

  2. ARPA created a network of computers called ARPANET to allow their scientists to communicate and share information

  3. In the 1970s, the TCP/IP protocol was developed to allow separate networks to communicate with each other

  4. The joining of these individual networks created a wide area network (WAN) which came to be known as the internet
• In the beginning, ARPANET consisted of just four computers, now billions of computers are connected to the internet
• Online


  Connected to and using the internet
• Online facilities available through the internet

  • Communication via email and VoIP
  • 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