An Introduction to the Topic of the Internet

Meaning of internet

The Internet is a worldwide network of interconnected computer networks that communicate using the TCP/IP protocol stack. It’s a collection of networks that connects locally to worldwide private, public, academic, business, and government networks using a variety of electrical, wireless, and optical networking technologies. 

 The World Wide Web’s (WWW) interconnected hypertext texts and applications, electronic mail, telephony, and file sharing are just a few of the information resources and services available via the Internet.

The Internet has reshaped, redefined, or even bypassed most traditional communication media, such as telephony, radio, television, paper mail, and newspapers, resulting in new services such as email, Internet telephony, Internet television, online music, digital newspapers, and video streaming websites.

Functions and services provided by the internet

The Web, often known as the World Wide Web (WWW), is the world’s most popular software platform. Originally, it was an Internet-based hypertext document management system.

The Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is used to transfer Web resources, which are then accessed by users via a web browser and published by a web server. Web resources can be any downloaded media, but web pages are hypertext documents using Hypertext Markup Language formatting (HTML).

Communication -Email is a popular Internet-based communication service. The idea of transmitting electronic text messages between people, similar to sending letters or memoranda, predates the Internet. Multiple email addresses can be cc’d on a message.

Internet telephony is a widespread Internet-based communications service. The cost reductions are significant as compared to standard phone calls, especially over long distances. Customer premises are connected to the Internet via cable, ADSL, and mobile data networks, while traditional analogue telephone sets are connected using affordable VoIP network adapters.

Data transfer -Transferring vast volumes of data through the Internet is exemplified by file sharing. As an attachment, a computer file can be emailed to customers, coworkers, and friends. It can be uploaded to a website or FTP server for others to download. It can be saved to a “shared location” or a file server for easy access by coworkers. Print publications, software products, news, music, cinema, video, photography, graphics, and other forms of art are all included.

Streaming media -The delivery of digital media in real-time for instant consumption or enjoyment by end-users is known as streaming media. Many radio and television stations stream live audio and video productions through the Internet.

Podcasting is a variation on this theme, in which audio content is downloaded and played back on a computer or transferred to a portable media player for listening on the go. These systems, which use cheap technology, allow anyone to broadcast audio-visual content over the world with little censorship or licence restrictions.

Webcams-The use of webcams is a low-cost extension of this trend. While some cameras are capable of providing full-frame-rate video, the image is usually tiny and updates slowly. Live and in real-time, Internet users can see animals at an African waterhole, ships in the Panama Canal, traffic at a neighbourhood roundabout, or their own premises.

Directory services -A directory service is a collection of software that keeps track of information about your organisation, customers, or both. Directory services convert network resource names into network addresses. Users and administrators can access printers, servers, and other network devices using a directory service. The following are examples:

 DNS (Domain Name System) is an acronym that stands for Domain Name DNS is handled by this server. A DNS server keeps track of the mappings of computer hostnames and other domain names to IP addresses.

7. Automatic Network Address Configuration: Every system in a network is given a unique IP address by Automatic Network Addressing. A network server that assigns IP addresses, gates, and other network information to client devices is known as a DHCP service.

Network Management Services-Another important internet service for network administrators is network management services. Connection problems can be prevented, analysed, diagnosed, and resolved with the help of network management services.

Electronic commerce, commonly referred to as e-commerce or eCommerce, is a commercial idea that allows companies and individuals to buy and sell things through the internet. Websites/apps like Amazon, Flipkart, and others are examples.

Computer awareness

A computer can be defined as an electronic device that processes and accesses information. It processes the incoming data according to a set of instructions known as the programme and generates new data as a result.

Charles Babbage, a British scientist, is credited with inventing the computer in 1833. J.P Ekart and John Moseley invented the world’s first electronic computer, the ENIAC-I, in 1946.

Types of Computer

Computers are classified into the following categories based on their size and capacity:

Microcomputers- Sometimes known as PCs or personal computers, are computers used by individuals for both personal and professional applications. 

Mini Computers – These are computers that are larger than microcomputers and have a 5 to 50 times higher processing capability.

The mainframe computer is a big computer that allows more than 100 people to operate on various terminals using Time-Sharing and Multitasking techniques.

Supercomputer- It is a type of computer that is extremely powerful and has a large storage capacity. Supercomputers are the most expensive and fastest computers available, capable of completing even the most complicated tasks at breakneck speeds.

Quantum computers- These are the most powerful computers, capable of outperforming human minds. Instead of Binary Bits, Computer Q-Bit will be employed in such machines.

Generation of Computer

The First generation of computers was popular from 1940 to 1952, with the main electronic component being the Electronic Valve Vacuum Tube.

Between 1952 and 1964, the 2nd Generation of computers was used, with the IBM-700, IBM-1401, IBM-1620, CDC-1604, CDC-3600, ATLAS, and ICL-1901 as the major electronic components.

Integrated circuits were the key electronic components in 3rd Generation computers, which were utilised from 1964 to 1971, with IBM-360, IBM-370, NCR-395, CDC-1700, and ICL-2903 as the main systems.

The 4th Generation computers were those that were used from 1971 and now, with a large number of integrated circuits as the major electronic component and Apple and DCM as the primary computers. 

5-Optical fibre and Artificial Intelligence are the key electronic components in 5th Generation Computers, which will be employed in the future.

Conclusion

The Internet is a worldwide network that connects computers. People can share information and converse via the Internet from any location with an Internet connection. The internet can be used for a variety of purposes; however, how we use it in our daily lives is determined by our particular needs and objectives.