GE Elec2 – Living in the IT Era

Unit 3
The Internet

Learning Outcomes:
 Able to understand Internet.
 Apply the use of internet in our daily lives

Discussion

The Internet, sometimes called simply "the Net," is a worldwide system of computer
networks -- a network of networks in which users at any one computer can, if they have
permission, get information from any other computer (and sometimes talk directly to users at
other computers). It was conceived by the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) of the
U.S. government in 1969 and was first known as the ARPANET. The original aim was to create a
network that would allow users of a research computer at one university to "talk to" research
computers at other universities. A side benefit of ARPANet's design was that, because messages
could be routed or rerouted in more than one direction, the network could continue to function
even if parts of it were destroyed in the event of a military attack or other disaster.
Today, the Internet is a public, cooperative and self-sustaining facility accessible to
hundreds of millions of people worldwide. It is used by many as the primary source of
information consumption, and fueled the creation and growth of its own social ecosystem
through social media and content sharing. Furthermore, e-commerce, or online shopping, has
become one of the largest uses of the Internet.

How the Internet works

Physically, the Internet uses a portion of the total resources of the currently existing
public telecommunication networks. Technically, what distinguishes the Internet is its use of a
set of protocols called Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Two recent
adaptations of Internet technology, the Intranet and the extranet, also make use of the TCP/IP
protocol.
The Internet can be seen as having two major components: network protocols and
hardware. The protocols, such as the TCP/IP suite, present sets of rules that devices must
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Unit 3
The Internet

follow in order to complete tasks. Without this common collection of rules, machines would not
be able to communicate.
The protocols are also responsible for translating the alphabetic text of a message into
electronic signals that can be transmitted over the Internet, and then back again into legible,
alphabetic text.
Hardware, the second major component of the Internet, includes everything from the
computer or smartphone that is used to access the Internet to the cables that carry information
from one device to another. Additional types of hardware include satellites, radios, cell phone
towers, routers and servers.
These various types of hardware are the connections within the network. Devices such
as computers, smartphones and laptops are end points, or clients, while the machines that
store the information are the servers. The transmission lines that exchange the data can either
be wireless signals from satellites or 4G and cell phone towers, or physical lines, such as cables
and fiber optics.
The process of transferring information from one device to another relies on packet
switching. Each computer connected to the Internet is assigned a unique IP address that allows
the device to be recognized. When one device attempts to send a message to another device,
the data is sent over the Internet in the form of manageable packets. Each packet is assigned
a port number that will connect it to its endpoint.
A packet that has both a unique IP address and port number can be translated from
alphabetic text into electronic signals by travelling through the layers of the OSI model from the
top application layer to the bottom physical layer. The message will then be sent over the
Internet where it is received by the Internet service provider's (ISP) router. The router will
examine the destination address assigned to each packet and determine where to send it.
Eventually, the packet reaches the client and travels in reverse from the bottom physical
layer of the OSI model to the top application layer. During this process, the routing data -- the
port number and IP address -- is stripped from the packet, thus allowing the data to be
translated back into alphabetic text and completing the transmission process.
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Unit 3
The Internet

Uses of the internet

In general, the Internet can be used to communicate across large or small distances,
share information from any place in the world and access information or answers to almost any
question in moments.

Some specific examples of how the Internet is used include:

 Social media and content sharing;
 E-mail and other forms of communication, such as Internet Relay Chat (IRC), Internet
telephony, instant messaging, video conferencing
 education and self-improvement through access to online degree programs, courses and
workshops and
 searching for jobs -- both the employer and applicant use the Internet to post open
positions, apply for jobs and recruit individuals found on social networking sites
like LinkedIn.

Other examples include:

 Online discussion groups and forums
 Online dating
 Online gaming
 Research
 Reading electronic newspapers and magazines
 Online shopping, or e-commerce.

Difference between the World Wide Web and the Internet

The key difference between the Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW or the Web)
is that the Internet is a global connection of networks while the Web is a collection of
information that can be accessed using the Internet. In other words, the Internet is
the infrastructure and the Web is a service on top.
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The Web is the most widely used part of the Internet. Its outstanding feature is
hypertext, a method of instant cross-referencing. In most Web sites, certain words or phrases
appear in text of a different color than the rest; often this text is also underlined. When a user
selects one of these words or phrases, they will be transferred to the related site or page.
Buttons, images, or portions of images are also used as hyperlinks.
The Web provides access to billions of pages of information. Web browsing is done
through a Web browser, the most popular of which are Google Chrome, Firefox and Internet
Explorer. The appearance of a particular Web site may vary slightly depending on the browser
used. Later or more updated versions of a particular browser are able to render more complex
features, such as animation, virtual reality, sound and music files.

Security and the Internet

Large amounts of information, both public and private, are collected across the Internet,
opening users up to the risk of data breaches and
other security threats. Hackers and crackers can break into networks and systems and steal
information such as login information or bank and credit card account records. Some steps that
can be taken to protect online privacy include:
 Installing antivirus and antimalware
 Creating difficult, varied passwords that are impossible to guess.
 Using a virtual private network (VPN) or, at least, a private browsing mode, such as
Google Chrome's Incognito window.
 Only using HTTPS
 Making all social media accounts private.
 Deactivating autofill.
 Turning off the device's GPS.
 Updating cookies so an alert is sent anytime a cookie is installed.
 Logging out of accounts instead of just closing the tab or window.
 Using caution with spam emails and never opening or downloading content from
unknown sources.
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 Using caution when accessing public Wi-Fi or hotspots.

Additionally, there is an element of the Internet called the dark web. The dark web is hidden
and inaccessible through standard browsers. Instead, it uses the Tor and I2P browsers which
allow users to remain entirely anonymous. While this anonymity can be a great way to protect
an online user's security and free speech or for the government to keep classified data hidden,
the dark web also creates an environment that facilitates cybercrime, the transfer of illegal
goods and terrorism.

Social impact of the Internet

The social impact of the Internet can be seen as both positive and negative. On one side,
people argue that the Internet has increased the risk of isolation, alienation and withdrawal
from society, pointing to increases in an emotional response called FOMO, or the fear of
missing out. On the other side, people believe the Internet to have had the opposite effect on
society, arguing that the Internet increases civic engagement, sociability and the intensity of
relationships.
Whether the impacts are good or bad, the Internet has changed the way society
interacts and connects. One example of change is the increased focus on personal growth and a
decline in a community that is determined by work, family and space. People are now
constructing social relationships based on individual interests, projects and values.
Communities are being formed by like-minded individuals not only offline and in person, but
through the Internet and the multitude of online environments which it creates and offers.
Social networking sites -- like Facebook and LinkedIn -- have become the preferred platforms
for both businesses and individuals looking to perform all kinds of tasks and communicate with
others.

Benefits of the Internet

Benefits of the Internet include:
 Access to endless information, knowledge and education.
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 An increased ability to communicate, connect and share.

 The ability to work from home, collaborate and access a global workforce.
 The chance to sell and make money as a business or individual.
 Access to an unlimited supply of entertainment sources, such as movies, music, videos
and games.
 The ability to amplify the impact of a message, allowing charities and other
organizations to reach a wider audience and increase the total amount of donations.
 Access to the internet of things (IoT), which allows home appliances and devices to
connect and be controlled from a computer or smartphone.
 The ability to save data and easily share files with cloud storage.
 The ability to monitor and control personal accounts instantly, such as bank accounts or
credit card bills.

History of the Internet

The ARPANet, the predecessor of the Internet, was first deployed in 1969. In 1983, the
ARPANet transitioned into using the TCP/IP open networking protocol suite and in 1985, the
National Science Foundation Network (NSFN) designed the network to connect university
computer science departments around the country.
Communications over the Internet greatly improved in 1989 when the hypertext
transfer protocol (HTTP) was created, giving different computer platforms the ability to connect
to the same Internet sites. In 1993, the Mosaic Web browser was created.
The Internet has continued to grow and evolve over the years of its existence. IPv6, for
example, was designed to anticipate enormous future expansion in the number of available IP
addresses. In a related development, the IoT is the burgeoning environment in which almost
any entity or object can be provided with a unique identifier (UID) and the ability to transfer
data automatically over the Internet.

Importance of Internet Technology for Easy Life

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Unit 3
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Today, the internet has become unavoidable in our daily life. Appropriate use of the
internet makes our life easy, fast and simple. The internet helps us with facts and figures,
information and knowledge for personal, social and economic development. There are many
uses of the internet, however, the use of the internet in our daily life depends on individual
requirements and goals. That is why we have internet plans that suit those needs, whether that
be Xfinity internet plans for the home or business internet, each one has a part to play.

1. Uses of the Internet in Education

The Internet is a great platform for students to learn throughout their lifetime. They can use the
internet to learn new things and even acquire degrees through online education programs.
Teachers can also use the internet to teach students around the world.

2. Internet Use to Speed Up Daily Tasks

The Internet is very much useful in our daily routine tasks. For example, it helps us to see our
notifications and emails. Apart from this, people can use the internet for money transfers,
shopping order online food, etc.

3. Use of the Internet for Shopping

With the help of the internet, anybody can order products online. With multiple choices ranging
from online home décor stores to buying coats and jackets from Gym King or similar companies,
the options are endless. Moreover, the increase in online shopping has also resulted in
companies offering a huge discount for their customers.

4. Internet for Research & Development

The Internet plays a pivotal role in research and development as it is propelled through internet
research. The benefit of the internet is enjoyed by small businessmen to big universities.

5.Business Promotion and Innovation

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The Internet is also used to sell products by using various e-Commerce solutions. The result is
new services and businesses starting every day thereby creating job opportunities and reducing
unemployment.

6.Communication
Without a doubt, the internet is the most powerful medium of communication at present. It
connects people across different parts of the world free and fast.

7. Digital Transactions
The internet facilitates internet banking, mobile banking, and e-wallets. Since all digital
transactions are stored in a database, it helps the government to track income tax details or
income reports in the ITR. It is also great for small businesses who are potentially looking
at florida business banking services, or ones closer depending on the location of their business,
so they can do everything remotely that can help them with keeping it running.

8. Money Management
The internet can also be used to manage money. Now there are many websites, applications,
and other tools that help us in daily transactions, transfers, management, budget, etc. With the
growing popularity of digital currency, it could be said that the internet is the necessity of this
century. Cryptocurrency is one of the major platforms for trading digital assets or digital money
through blockchain technology. If you want to learn more about how to invest in crypto, you
can check out Bitcoin Prime review or other similar blogs.

9. Tour & Travel

During tour and travel, the use of the internet is highly effective as it serves as a guide. People
browse the internet before they start visiting the places. Tour bookings can also be done using
the internet.
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The Internet

The influence of the internet in our daily life is huge. It has opened us a magical world of
information and we would have never seen the world as it is without the internet. Considering
its scope and importance, it would be hard to imagine a world without the internet.

References:

https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/Internet#:~:text=The%20Internet%2C
%20sometimes%20called%20simply,to%20users%20at%20other%20computers).
https://asianetbroadband.in/importance-of-internet-technology-for-easy-life/#:~:text=Internet
%20Use%20to%20Speed%20Up,shopping%20order%20online%20food%2C%20etc.

Exercises:
Note: Submit to my email or hard copy.
1. What is the impact of internet in your daily activities?
2. How many hours you are connected to the internet? Do you think it does not affect the
things that you need to do every day?