Internet (Module Overview)

Introduction

The Internet is the method used to gain access to a huge depository of information held on computers throughout the world. The Internet connects these computers allowing you to access the information. The access is like your local library or school media center, just much, much larger. It's enormous. Books, videos, audio, and opinions abound. The connection with other sources of information is larger than exchanging books or videos within the county library system or other schools in your district. The exchange is world-wide, with every data source connected through the Internet. When you are using the Internet, you are a source of information.

The World-Wide Web (www) is the pages of the sources of information that the internet allows you to access and retrieve from around the world. The URL, uniform resource language, provides the access to the exact item that you want that is housed on a computer somewhere in the world.

Many people refer to these both as the generic internet, but they do have a separate purpose. In a nutshell, the Internet provides the access to the information and the world-wide web allows you to select, retrieve, and use the information through a system of programs.

Internet access is supplied by various internet providers in different areas of the world. The provider you are using routes your computer requests onto the internet to find information and then subsequently using the world-wide web use the information you have found. Remember when your Internet company has an outage? You cannot get on the Internet because your computer is using the access routing of your provider.

Internet access from your computer is wired (uses an Ethernet cable attached to your computer) or using Wi-Fi, wireless access through a router.

Essential Questions

How can a creative development process affect the creation of computational artifacts?
How can computing and the use of computational tools foster creative expression?
How can computing extend traditional forms of human expression and experience?
What is the Internet?
- How is it built?
- How does it function?
What aspects of the Internet's design and development have helped it scale and flourish?

Key Terms

abstraction - a method to reduce processes to need to know.

bandwidth – the maximum amount of data that can be sent in a fixed amount of time.

blog - an online journal which may include text, images, video, and more detailing personal information or information on a particular topic.

browser - software used to find information for review, retrieve the information, and display the information for the user.

cookie - a small file on your computer that stores information shared between you and a website that you have visited.

DNS - domain name server; a computer that deciphers a domain name, i.e. gavirtualschool.org, and translates this to an IP address which the internet can use to route requests and information.

email - electronic mail; one method in which the internet is used.

fault-tolerant system -a system that can experience failure(s) in its components, but continues to operating properly.

homepage - the start page of a website.

HTML - HyperText Markup Language - defines the structure and pages of the Internet.

HTTP - hypertext transfer protocol; the language of the internet.

IP address - internet protocol address for computers, routers, servers, and other devices directly attached to the internet

internet - a network of computers connecting computer facilities, public and private, organizations and individuals allowing for interconnection access/

internet censorship - the attempt to control or suppress of what can be accessed, published, or viewed on the Internet by certain people.

internet speed - the transfer rate from a source system to the destination system.

latency - the delay or the time it takes for a signal to reach its destination and back.

mail server - a server that handles, manages, and runs email.

net neutrality - the idea that internet service providers like Comcast and Verizon should treat all content flowing through their cables and cell towers equally.

network redundancy - a method for ensuring network availability in case of a network device or path failure and unavailability.

privacy - the degree to which others can see your work.

private - the owner of the information (work) controls who has access to the material they have created.

protocol – an agreed-upon set of rules that specify the behavior of system. Examples are HTTP, HTTPS, IP, and many more

public - the owner of the information (work) allows everyone to access and see.

scalable system – a system which continues to function well as the usage increases.

server - a computer that works to determine IP addresses, retrieve webpages and other items for client devices (computers, phones, etc. that have requested information)

social media - online communities created to share information.

TCP - transmission control protocol

URL - Uniform Resource Locater - the address of the webpage.

web server - a server that handles, manages, and runs one or more websites.

webpage - one page of online information.

website - online pages of information connected to provide information.

WWW - World Wide Web, a system of websites/webpages around the world stored on server computers, just one use of the Internet.

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