OAI - Characteristics and Use of the Internet Lesson

Characteristics and Use of the Internet

What is the Internet?  Let's begin with a common misconception. Most people do not distinguish between the Internet and the World Wide Web, but they are two completely different things. The basic distinction is this:

  • The  World Wide Web (WWW)  is an application that runs on the Internet. The WWW is a system of interlinked resources -- documents, images, sounds, videos, data files -- that are stored on the Internet and can be accessed through a browser.

The Internet is the underlying global network that supports the WWW and many other applications. It consists of many different local networks that are connected together by various hardware devices.  

Uses of the Internet  

What are some of the ways you use the Internet? Look at the infographic "What Happens in an Internet Minute?" to see how others are using the Internet.  

Internet Usage - in just one minute

This open network of the Internet encourages communication and collaboration between people all over the globe. It provides tools that allow people to create, collaborate, communicate, and gain new knowledge.

These are a few of the ways people use the Internet:

  • Email
  • Social Networking
  • E-commerce
  • Chatrooms
  • Online Gaming
  • Education
  • Watching videos
  • Information/Education

No matter what the activity, everyone communicates on the Internet using the Internet Protocols established. They govern the way people connect and communicate on the Internet.

Characteristics and Uses of the Internet

Does anyone own the Internet?  The Internet has no centralized governance in policies and usage.  The "Open Access" of the Internet refers to an arrangement that provides access to network infrastructure and services at fair and reasonable prices on non-discriminatory terms. The infrastructure refers to the physical characteristics of the Internet. The services on the Internet follow a set of Protocols called the Internet Protocol Suite.

Physical Characteristics of the Internet

The Internet is a global collection of networks, both big and small. Any computer with the appropriate communication equipment can connect to it. The Internet backbone is the principal data routes that connect computer networks on the Internet. All of these networks rely on routers to talk to each other. The National Science Foundation created the first high-speed backbone in 1987. The Internet Backbone consists of high-speed fiber-optic cables connecting high speed routers that direct network traffic. These data routes are hosted by commercial, government, academic, and other high-capacity agencies. The largest long distance phone carriers are some of the largest internet backbone networks. A backbone provider supplies the Internet Service Providers (ISP) with access to the lines. An Internet service provider (ISP) is an organization that provides services for accessing, using, or participating on the Internet. ISPs provide Internet access, employing a range of technologies to connect users to their network using computer modems that interface with telephone lines, television cable (CATV), wireless Ethernet (Wi-Fi), and fiber optics.

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