Understanding the Internet: Structure, Features, and Uses
Understanding the Internet
The Internet comprises a large number of computers that exchange information with each other through a telephone connection. They use a common protocol, TCP/IP. It is a worldwide computer network. A user connects to the network through TCP/IP, and you can contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP), making them aware of your physical address. Using TCP/IP, the ISP assigns an IP address to your PC and network access. To access this page, a domain is provided that is translated into the DNS Servers and localized. When we know on which Web Server the page you want to visit is located, it proceeds to download and display it in the browser’s PC.
WWW (World Wide Web) provides an attractive interface and makes use of the network for all users by adding interactivity through the introduction of hypertext, graphics, and forms. Hypertext is what makes clicking on a word or figure move from the page where we are to a different page. This is what created the concept of surfing the Internet. Within minutes, we see information that resides on computers located in different countries. Web pages are written in HTML (HyperText Markup Language).
Modems installed on a personal computer allow it to connect to the telephone network through which the data arrives from the other computers connected to the Internet.
Who and How Information is Created on the Internet?
Servers allow access to your information over the Internet. The information on the servers is organized in a hierarchical or tree structure. To access the root, the address of the server should be given. From this, you can access the different branches or directories, separated by a slash. At the end is the file you visualize.
There’s also information in the form of files of different types available worldwide on FTP servers. Then there’s the information exchanged privately between two people via email or other methods.
Internet Features
Universal: It is extended almost all over the world.
Easy to use: No computer knowledge is necessary to use the Internet. Anyone should be able to browse a website.
Varied: You can find almost anything.
Economic: Save time and money.
Useful: Provides lots of information and services readily accessible.
Free: Anyone can place information on the Internet without censorship.
Anonymous: Hiding your identity is quite simple on the Internet.
Self-regulating: The rules that allow the Internet to function have come from the Internet itself.
A little chaotic: It is not sorted or has strict rules of operation that will ensure that everything works correctly.
Unsure: It is possible to intercept a communication and get the information.
Dynamic growth: The Internet is growing at a strong pace.
What Can Be Done on the Internet?
Search information: For example, tax rates.
Search for utilities: Information and services over the Internet. Example: Government pages.
Access Databases: Look for a book in the databases of many libraries.
Queries to newspapers and magazines: They are visited the most and offer almost the same information.
Hear the radio, webcams, watch videos: The transmission of sound, and especially video.
Share Information
News and discussion groups: Exchange news. They allow many people to communicate in written form on a specific topic.
Mailing lists: Members of the list can subscribe and unsubscribe from the list themselves from the Internet.
Forums: It is much like a discussion group but much more simple and organized.
Publish Information
Publish Content: Three things are needed to place information on the Internet:
- Develop the content.
- Transfer the contents to HTML.
- Publish content on the Internet.
Obtain Free Space
- Enroll in a specialized site offering free space.
- Use the free space that providers tend to offer when you connect to the Internet through them.
Put Your Pages on the Internet
This is done through an FTP transfer program, for example, SmartFTP.
Create a Blog: A Blog is a web page that contains a series of text entries or items that are updated periodically. They are used as personal journals, where their creators find a way to convey their ideas to the world.