Dates in History

Dates in History
Beams of light crossing paths and connecting with each other.

THE INTERNET

Simply put, the Internet is a worldwide system of interconnected computers and networks, connected by phone lines, fiber optic lines, coaxial cable, satellites, and wireless connections. It moves packets of information, and enables any computer to communicate with any other computer that is connected to its infrastructure. The Internet is the computers, the cables, and a network of subnetworks.

The subnetworks are alike in that they all share the same cables and the same computers of the Internet, but each subnetwork has its own specific purpose, each has its own protocol (its own specific digital language to allow for document transmission), and each requires a different specialized software for use. All of the subnetworks are dependent on the Internet; without the Internet, they would not exist.

The World Wide Web (Web), the Internet’s largest subnetwork, accesses any digital information that uses a URL (uniform resource locator).

The Web uses hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) to connect and weave digital information together; it allows links and jumps (hyperlinks). A web browser software, such as Internet Explorer, AOL, Firefox, etc., is necessary for use of the Web.

Other Internet subnetworks and their protocols include: e-mail (SMTP/POP protocol); file downloading (FTP protocol); live chat (IM protocol); file trading, such as music and movies (P2P protocol); remote control mainframe access (Telnet protocol); and discussion groups (NNTP protocol). Each of these subnetworks has its own specific software.

The Internet assembles and binds all the protocols of all its subnetworks together -- using the Internet’s digital language of TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol). All the processes that occur are embedded, are behind the scenes, so it seems like one single experience to an Internet user.

Click here to view the events that occurred on the path that led to the internet.