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The document provides an overview of the Internet, detailing its evolution from ARPANET in the 1960s to the multimedia-rich platform it is today. It explains basic Internet terms, applications, and the role of e-governance, highlighting the importance of understanding these concepts for effective use. Additionally, it discusses the necessary software and data components for Internet connectivity and interaction.

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15 views8 pages

Untitled Document

The document provides an overview of the Internet, detailing its evolution from ARPANET in the 1960s to the multimedia-rich platform it is today. It explains basic Internet terms, applications, and the role of e-governance, highlighting the importance of understanding these concepts for effective use. Additionally, it discusses the necessary software and data components for Internet connectivity and interaction.

Uploaded by

rudrapratapsinghdeora6
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction:

The word Internet is derived from two words: Interconnection and


Networks. Also referred to as “the
Net”, Internet is a worldwide system of computer networks, that is, a
network of networks, which
allows the participants (users) to share information on those linked
computers. It consists of
thousands of separately administered networks of various sizes and
types. Each of these networks
comprises tens of thousands of computers. Moreover, the total number
of users of the Internet is
known to be in millions. This high level of connectivity encourages an
unparalleled degree of
communication, resource sharing, and information access. It is probably
the most powerful and
important technological advancement since the introduction of the
desktop computer. In order to
benefit from what the net has to offer, a basic understanding of what
it is and how it works is helpful.

Internet Basics
1. Evolution of Internet
1960s: The Internet began as an experiment by the U.S. Department
of Defense to create a network that could withstand disasters like
nuclear war. This network, called ARPANET (Advanced Research
Projects Agency Network), linked scientific and academic researchers.
1970s: ARPA developed the TCP/IP (Transmission Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol), which became the foundation of the
Internet. TCP/IP allowed different networks to communicate with each
other.

1980s: The National Science Foundation (NSF) used ARPANET to


connect supercomputer centers, leading to the creation of NSFNET.
This decade also saw the introduction of Usenet newsgroups, email, and
tools like Archie and WAIS (Wide Area Information Server) for
indexing information on the Internet.

1990s: The World Wide Web (WWW) was developed by CERN


(European Organization for Nuclear Research). The web introduced
hypertext links and a Graphical User Interface (GUI), making the
Internet more accessible to non-experts. By 1993, there were only 130
websites, but this number grew exponentially in the following years.

Growth: The Internet evolved from a text-based system to a


multimedia-rich platform, offering images, videos, and interactive
content. Today, the Internet is a global repository of information,
accessible to millions of users worldwide.

2. Basic Internet Terms


Client: A computer or software that requests data or services from a
server. For example, a web browser (like Chrome or Firefox) is a client
that requests web pages from a web server.
Server: A computer or software that provides data or services to
clients. For example, a web server stores and delivers web pages to
browsers upon request.

MODEM (Modulator-Demodulator): A hardware device that converts


digital data from a computer into analog signals for transmission over
telephone lines and vice versa. Modems are essential for connecting to
the Internet via dial-up connections. Modem speeds are measured in
Kilobits per second (Kbps), with modern modems supporting speeds up
to 56K.

Internal Modem: A card installed inside the computer.

External Modem: A separate device connected to the computer via a


cable.

Web Page: An electronic document written in HTML (Hyper Text


Markup Language) that contains information and links to other
resources on the Internet. Web pages are accessed via a web browser.

Website: A collection of related web pages linked through hypertext


links, published by an individual or organization. Each website has a
unique address called a URL (Uniform Resource Locator).

Home Page: The main or starting page of a website. It provides an


overview of the website’s content and links to other pages. The home
page is also known as the index page.
Browser: A software application used to access and view web pages.
Popular browsers include Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape
Navigator, and modern browsers like Google Chrome and Mozilla
Firefox.

Graphical Browsers: Retrieve text, images, audio, and video (e.g.,


Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator).

Text Browsers: Provide access to the web in text-only mode (e.g.,


Lynx).

URL (Uniform Resource Locator): The unique address of a web page


on the Internet. A URL consists of:

Protocol: (e.g., http, ftp)

Host Computer Name: (e.g., www)

Domain Name: (e.g., xyz)

Domain Type: (e.g., .com, .org)

Path: The directory structure on the server.

File Name: The specific file being accessed.

ISP (Internet Service Provider): An organization that provides


Internet access to users. ISPs offer software, usernames, passwords,
and access numbers for connecting to the Internet. When choosing an
ISP, factors like speed, reliability, price, and additional services (e.g.,
free web space, email) should be considered.

Web Server: A computer that stores and serves web pages to clients
(browsers) upon request. It processes requests and sends the
appropriate HTML files to the user’s browser.

Download: The process of copying or moving data from the Internet or


a remote server to a user’s computer. For example, downloading a file
or a web page.

Upload: The process of copying or moving data from a user’s computer


to the Internet or a remote server. For example, uploading a file to a
website.

Online: Refers to being connected to the Internet or a network. Any


activity performed while connected is considered online.

Offline: Refers to not being connected to the Internet or a network.


Actions performed without an active connection are offline.

3. Internet Applications
E-mail (Electronic Mail): A fast, easy, and inexpensive way to
communicate with others over the Internet. It allows users to send
text, documents, images, audio, and video as attachments. Each user
has a unique email address, and emails can be accessed from anywhere
with an Internet connection.
Search Engines: Tools that help users find information on the
Internet by searching for keywords. Examples include Google, Bing, and
Yahoo. Search engines use algorithms to index and rank web pages
based on relevance to user queries.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol): A protocol used to transfer files


between computers over the Internet. FTP allows users to upload and
download files from remote servers. FTP is commonly used for sharing
large files or multiple files, as email attachments are not suitable for
large data transfers.

VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol): A technology that allows voice


communication over the Internet. Examples include Skype, Zoom, and
WhatsApp. VOIP converts voice signals into digital data packets, which
are transmitted over the Internet.

Video Conferencing: A technology that enables face-to-face


communication over the Internet using video and audio. It is used for
meetings, webinars, and online classes. Video conferencing systems
include cameras, microphones, speakers, and compression technologies
to transmit video and audio in real-time.

Audio-Video Streaming: The process of transmitting audio and video


content over the Internet in real-time. Examples include YouTube,
Netflix, and Spotify. Streaming services use technologies like HTTP
Live Streaming (HLS) or Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP
(DASH) to deliver content efficiently.
Chatting: Real-time text communication over the Internet. Chatting
can be done through Instant Messaging (e.g., WhatsApp, Facebook
Messenger) or IRC (Internet Relay Chat). Chatting allows users to
communicate instantly with others, regardless of their location.

4. Using E-Governance
E-Governance: The use of Internet technologies to provide
government services to citizens. It includes online portals for tax
filing, bill payments, and accessing public records.

Benefits:

Increased transparency and efficiency in government services.

Reduced paperwork and faster processing of requests.

Improved accessibility for citizens, especially in remote areas.

Examples:

India: The Digital India initiative provides online services like Aadhaar,
GST portal, and e-Filing of taxes.

USA: The USA.gov portal offers access to federal services, including


tax filing and social security.

Search Engines:
Search engines like Google and Bing use algorithms to index and rank
web pages based on relevance to user queries. They are essential for
navigating the vast amount of information on the Internet.

Audio-Video Streaming: Streaming services like YouTube and Netflix


use HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) or Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over
HTTP (DASH) to deliver content efficiently.

5. Internet Software
To connect to the Internet, a computer requires the following
software:

TCP/IP: The basic communication protocol of the Internet. It allows


programs on a user’s computer to communicate properly over the
Internet.

Dialer Software: Provided by the ISP, this software instructs the


modem to dial the phone number and connect to the Internet.

Browser: A web browser is essential for accessing and viewing


information on the World Wide Web.

6. Internet Data
Static Component: Information displayed on a web page that does not
interact with the user. For example, text paragraphs or images.

Dynamic Component: Information that allows user interaction with the


web server. For example, forms that users can fill out and submit.

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