MODULE IN TECHNICAL WRITING 1

MODULE IN TECHNICAL WRITING 2

UNIT 6 ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION

Module 11

THE INTERNET, INTRANET AND EXTRANET

Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
1. Explain the definition and uses of Internet, Intranet and Extranet.
2. Differentiate the three networks.
3. Discuss its advantages and how it can help our communication and writing skills
better.

Introduction

For the first time in centuries, the written word has undergone a quantum
metamorphosis, leaping from the printed page into cyberspace. This change has
affected technical writing significantly. Correspondence, once limited to letters and
memos, is now often online as e-mail. Corporate brochures and newsletters, once
paper bound, now are online. Resumes are online. Research is online. Technical writing
is increasingly electronic. To keep up with this communication revolution, you must go
online also.

The Internet

Your e-mail, online help screens, and Web sites will be transmitted via the
Internet, an intranet, or an extranet. The word “Internet” has been bandied about for
years, finally on October 24, 1995, we received an official definition. The Federal
Networking Council (FNC) unanimously resolved to define the word, in consultation with
leadership from the Internet and intellectual property rights (IPR) communities. Here’s
their definition:
The FNC agrees that the following language reflects our definition on the term
“Internet.”
“Internet” refers to the global information that—
1. Is logically linked together by globally unique address… based on the Internet
Protocol (IP) or its subsequent extensions.
2. Is able to support communications using the Transmission Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite or its subsequent extensions… and
other IP-compatible protocols.
3. Provides, uses or makes accessible, either publicly or privately, high-level
services layered on the communications and related infrastructures.
 MODULE IN TECHNICAL WRITING 3

The FNC’s definition, though official, is challenging. To simplify, the Internet is a

network that electronically connects over a million of computers internationally. As of
January 1998, the Internet included approximately 30 million users in over 100
countries. The latest data might be doubled and such a way that traffic on the internet at
present is doubling every 100 days.
The Internet is a decentralized medium, with very few external controls. To use
the Internet, you can choose which Internet service or provider you wish, and access
any Internet sites you desire. Thus, as synonym “information superhighway”
suggests, the Internet allows the user to access data from your computer to information
sites worldwide. You can speak to and hear from educators, engineers, lawyers,
doctors, business people, athletes, or anyone linked to this international communication
web, day or night.
How do you find the information you need on the Internet? Of you were on a
highway looking for a specific site, you might consult a road atlas. To help you find the
information on the Internet, you can use something resembling a road atlas—the World
Wide Web (WWW or Web), along with Web browsers such as Netscape Navigator and
Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. The World Wide Web supports documents (websites)
formatted in a special computer language called HTML (Hyper Text Mark-up
Language). HTML allows the webmaker (the creator of the web site) include graphics,
audio, video, and animation as well as hypertext links to other sites and other web
screens.

Common Web Sites, Internet Abbreviations and Acronyms

<A HREF> Anchor Hyper-reference

<BG> Background
CGI Common Gateway Interface
.com Commercial business – domain name
.edu Educational institution – domain name
ftp File Transfer Protocol
.gif Graphics Interchange Format
.gov Governmental – domain name
HTML Hypertext Mark-up Language
HTTP Hypertext Transfer Protocol
<IMG SRC> Image source
.jpeg; .jpg Joint Photographic Experts Group
<Li> Listed item
.mil Military – domain name
MOO MUD, object oriented
MUD Multi-user Dialogue
.net Network – domain name
<OL> Ordered list
.org Organization – domain name
 MODULE IN TECHNICAL WRITING 4

SGML Standard Generalized Mark-up Language

TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
.tif Tagged Image File
<UL> Unordered list
URL Uniform Resource Locator

Uses of Internet

Below are the top uses of the Internet (from educba.com)

1. Electronic Mail (e-mail). This had enabled faster communication between
people and improves business efficiency. Email has reduced the usage of paper
considerably and reduced load on physical mail systems.

2. FTP File Transfer. FTP is the file transfer protocol that enables data exchange
between two stakeholders over internet media in a secure way. The data
exchange may occur between two business entities or customers with business
and vice versa.

3. Search engines. These engines locate the information one seeks, available in
whichever server across the globe. Google, Yahoo and MSN are the renowned
search engines in use today.

4. E-commerce. The Internet enables the selling of goods and services in online
mode. Customers can get good discount and they don’t have to visit physical
stores.

5. Online Banking (or Net banking). It allows doing banking transactions at ease
sitting at home or while on mobile. This supports electricity bills, telephone bills
and other services payment.

6. Cashless Transactions. Bill payment at merchandise outlets through debit

cards, credit cards, UPI gateway are on increase. Cash circulation gets reduced
in the system to the extent of the growth of these transactions.

7. Education. The Internet offers a wealth of educational material on any subject

with structures navigation and search facilities. Those who cannot attend
physical (face-to-face) class can take an online course where they get connected
to the teacher, in other part of the world.

8. Collaboration. Online chat tools like messenger, Skype and other video
conferencing tools help people to get connected 24/7 and have a hassle-free
business and personal discussion.
 MODULE IN TECHNICAL WRITING 5

9. Social Networking. Internet connects people online and enables them to form
social groups. Information, ideas, views and opinions on any social/political
issues are exchanged.

The Intranet

Whereas the Internet opens the entire world information to us, an intranet is more
limited. It is a contained network. An intranet might include several, linked local area
networks (LANs), and it might include connections to the Internet. Like the Internet, an
intranet uses TCP/IP, HTTP, and other Internet protocols. The difference, however, is
that an intranet belongs to a company. Its purpose is “to share company information and
computing resources among employees” (“Intranet”). Individuals outside the company
cannot access the intranet unless they have corporate authorization; a “firewall”
prevents access to an intranet’s private network.
How does a company benefits by using an intranet? Rather than printing
hundreds of copies of a document for employees who might be assigned in buildings
located around a city or around the world, a company can make this information
accessible to its employees through an intranet. Companies can place on their
corporate intranets.

 Web-based discussion forums. These allow employees to post, read,

respond to, and then archive corporate e-mail messages.
 Web-based multimedia and kiosks for instructional or informational
purposes.
 Online polls. Employees can respond to corporate polls. Then the results
can be tabulated, and employees around the company can view the
results.
 Company forms. These can be filled out and submitted electronically.
 Policy and procedure manuals. Whereas paper documents take up
space, gets dusty, and get lost, online intranet manuals save space and
are available instantly.
 Employee phone directories. Company employees come and go. Online
additions and deletions can be updated easily.
 Organizational charts. Company hierarchies change rapidly. Online, they
can be updated and conveyed to employees immediately.

Benefits of Intranet to Companies

 An intranet is paper-free. Company can lower mailing, binding and printing costs.
 Information can be updated easily.
 Data can be archived without taking space.
 Every corporate employee throughout a company—whether in the office or
offsite—can access corporate information online at the touch of a key.
 MODULE IN TECHNICAL WRITING 6

 Speed, efficiency and cost savings—are the benefits of a corporate intranet.

The Extranet
An extranet is a “collaborative network” that uses Internet protocols to “link
businesses with their suppliers, customers, or other businesses” that have common
goals. And extranet, thus, allows several companies to share information but also to
keep this information within the confines of their collaborative unit. Extranets can include
Web-based training programs of mutual benefit to the participating companies, product
catalogs, private newsgroups relating to a specific industry, and management
approaches for companies working on a shared project.
Additionally, Gartner defines extranets as “A collaborative, internet-based
network that facilitates inter-company relationships by linking an enterprise with its
suppliers, customers, or other external business partners. Extranets provide secured
extensions of internal business processes to external business partners.”

Types of Extranets

Extranets can fulfil a variety of purposes for enterprises and their collaborators
(Shearer, 2019). Some of the fundamental types of external networks are as follows.
1. Project extranets. Cross-organization collaboration is a mainstay for many
industries. Extranets are an easy way to ensure every collaborator remains
accountable for their share of work and prevents components of the project from
slipping through the cracks.
2. Logistic extranets. These platforms can connect suppliers to distributors to
couriers to customers and keep these pathways open when an exchange or
modification is needed.
3. Integration extranets. It keeps track of inventory and updates it instantly. This
data can be used for stock-taking purposes and ensures that information is easily
accessible by multiple relevant parties.
4. Employee information hub. The platform can host employee time sheets and
other worker-specific information as well as serving as a direct line to an
enterprise’s corporate office.
5. Financial data extranet. This can be utilized in a financial setting that involves
accounting firms during tax season.
6. Customer platform. A platform dedicated to consumer information can help
drive efficiency, improve accuracy, and put the customer in the front seat.
 MODULE IN TECHNICAL WRITING 7

Benefits of Extranet

Extranets can come with a host of benefits, regardless of the type of network an
organization utilizes.
1. Maximize knowledge sharing. An enterprise can take full advantage of the
ideas and expertise of everyone involved in the collaboration.
2. Keep information confidential and secure. Extranets can make it easy for
leaders to manage who can see what through customizable permissions options
and various authentication modes.
3. Receive real-time updates seamlessly. Extranets help organizations deliver
the kind if minute-by-minute notifications consumers have grown to expect
without taxing employee productivity levels.
4. Reduce silos. Modern extranets have high-functioning search capabilities that
can further drive efficiency and reduce the lag time.
5. Keep everyone accountable. Extranets provide a sophisticated digital solution
for stakeholders who are eager to ensure that everyone stays on task.

Comparison Between Internet, Intranet and Extranet

Source: https://superuser.com/questions/135164/whats-the-difference-between-intranet-extranet-and-internet

The Internet, extranets and intranets all rely on the same TCP/IP technologies.
However, they are different in terms of the levels of access they allow to various users
inside and outside the organization and the size of the network. An intranet allows for
restricted access to only members of an organization; an extranet expands that access
by allowing non-members such as suppliers and customers to use company resources.
The difference between the Internet and extranets is that while the extranet allows
limited access to non-members of an organization, the Internet generally allows
everyone to access all network resources (Beck, 2011).
Below is an infographics that discusses the comparisons of the three in terms of
different parameters.
 MODULE IN TECHNICAL WRITING 8

Source: https://visual.ly/community/Infographics/cpmputers/internet-intranet-and-extranet-difference
 MODULE IN TECHNICAL WRITING 9

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUIZ (SAQ)

Name: ___________________________________________ Date: __________________

Year/Section: _____________________________________ Score: _________________

A. Directions: Fill in the blank with the correct word or phrase to complete the
following sentences.

1. A network that provides, uses or makes accessible, either publicly or privately,

high-level services layered on the communications and related infrastructures is
called ______________.
2. The Internet is synonymous to _____________ that allows the user to access data
from your computer to information sites worldwide.
3. A resembling road atlas, along with Web browsers such as Netscape Navigator
and Microsoft’s Internet Explorer that will help you to find information on the Internet
pertains to __________________.
4. The creator of a website is called _______________.
5. A network that might include several, linked local area networks (LANs), and it
might include connections to the Internet is known as ___________.
6. A feature of intranet that allows employees to post, read, respond to, and then
archive corporate e-mail messages refers as __________.
7. Forms can be filled out and submitted electronically that is available in the intranet
is called _____________.
8. A “collaborative network” that uses Internet protocols to “link businesses with their
suppliers, customers, or other businesses” that have common goals pertains to
________.
9. A type of extranet that ensures every collaborator remains accountable for their
share of work and prevents components of the project from slipping through the
cracks is known as ____________.
10. A type of extranet that connects suppliers to distributors to couriers to customers
and keep these pathways open when an exchange or modification is needed refers
to ________.
11. A type of extranet that keeps track of inventory and updates it instantly is called
_________________.
12. A type of extranet that can host employee time sheets and other worker-specific
information as well as serving as a direct line to an enterprise’s corporate office is
known as __________.
 MODULE IN TECHNICAL WRITING 10

13. A type of extranet that can be utilized in a financial setting that involves
accounting firms during tax season is called ______________.
14. A platform in the extranet that is dedicated to consumer information can help
drive efficiency, improve accuracy, and put the customer in the front seat pertains to
______________.
15. A feature in the intranet that shows company hierarchy refers to
________________.

B. Enumerate the following.

1-3. Give the three definitions that the FNC uses when it comes to the word “Internet”.

4-8. Provide eight common web sites, internet abbreviations or acronyms.

9-17. List the nine uses of the Internet.
18-20. Enumerate three benefits of intranet in a company.
21-26. Give the six types of extranet.
27-30. Provide four benefits of extranet.

ACTIVITY 11
Directions: Write a 200-word essay that discusses the advantages of the Internet,
Intranet and Extranet and how it makes our communication and writing skills
improve, for 20 points. Use the rubric as a guide.

Criteria Equivalent points

4 3 2 1
Focus Sharp, distinct, Apparent point No apparent Minimal
controlling point made made about a point but evidence of the
about a single topic single topic with evidence of a topic
with evident sufficient specific topic
awareness of task awareness of
task
Content Substantial, specific, Sufficiently Limited content Superficial
and/or illustrative developed with inadequate and/or minimal
content demonstrating content with elaboration or content
strong development adequate explanation
and sophisticated elaboration or
ideas explanation
Organization Sophisticated Functional Confused or Minimal control
arrangement of content arrangement of inconsistent of content
 MODULE IN TECHNICAL WRITING 11

with evident and/or content that arrangement of arrangement

subtle transitions sustains a content with or
logical order with without attempts
some evidence at transition
of transitions
Style Precise, illustrative use Generic use of Limited word Minimal variety
of a variety of words variety of words choice and in word choice
and sentence structure and sentence control sentence and minimal
to create consistent structures that structures that control of
writer’s voice and tone may or may not inhibit voice and sentence
appropriate to create writer’s tone structures
audience voice and tone
appropriate to
audience
Conventions Evident control of Sufficient control Limited control Minimal control
grammar, mechanics, of grammar, of grammar, of grammar,
spelling, usage and mechanics, mechanics, mechanics,
sentence formation spelling, usage spelling, usage spelling, usage
and sentence and sentence and sentence
formation formation formation

References
Beck D. (2011). What’s the difference between intranet, extranet and internet?
Retrieved August 22, 2020 https://superuser.com/questions/135164/whats-the-
difference-between-intranet-extrabet-and-internet
Educba. (n.d.). Uses of Internet. Retrieved August 22, 2020 https://educba.com/uses-of-
internet
Shearer, N. (2019). Everything You Need To Know About Extranets. Retrieved August
22, 2020 from http://www.unily.com/insights/blogs/what-is-an-extranet