Page 47 - Computer Genius Class 05
P. 47
As we know that the Internet is a computer network that connects hosts and end systems
throughout the world. In this chapter, we will learn about the Internet and e-mail service
of the Internet in detail.
The Internet
The seed of the Internet was planted in 1969 when the Advanced Research Projects
Agency (ARPA) of the United States Department of Defense began connecting computers at
different uni ersities and de ence contractors. The resulting net or as called Advanced
Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET).
In the beginning, ARPANET was a large network serving only a handful of users, but it
expanded rapidly. Initially, the network included four primary host computers. The Internet
acts as a carrier or se eral different ser ices each ith its o n distinct eatures and
purposes. The most commonly used Internet services are: World Wide Web, electronic
mail ne s file trans er protocol chat instant messaging online ser ices and peer to
peer services. January 1, 1983 is considered the o cial irthday o the nternet. e ore
this, the computer networks did not have a standard way to communicate with each other.
A new communications protocol was established named Transmission Control Protocol/
Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). The T allo s computers connected to different net or s
communicate with each other.
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web (WWW) is a large information system where you can surf and get
information. It consists of several public and private websites which may be interlinked and
accessible over the Internet worldwide. WWW is also known as Web. Many people believe
that the World Wide Web and the Internet are the same thing, but this is not correct. In fact,
these are t o different things. The Web is a service (a system for accessing information)
that is supported by the Internet, a system of interconnected networks.
Internet and E-mail 45

