Lesson 1

Introduction to the Internet

Overview
This unit provides an introduction to the Internet. We begin with an overview
of the Internet. Then, we will look at the evolution of the Internet and define
some of the important terminology of Internet. Finally we will look at the World
Wide Web and analyze the connection between the Internet and the World
Wide Web.

Lessons

1. Overview of the Internet

2. Evolution of the Internet.
3. Terminology of Internet
4. The World Wide Web

Lesson 1-1 – Overview of the Internet

Objectives:
At the end of this lesson you will be able to:
 Describe and define the Internet

The Internet is the most amazing technological development of the twentieth

century. The Internet, sometimes called simply "the Net," is a global network
of computer 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) via a TCP/IP protocol. The Internet links
millions of businesses, government agencies, educational institutions and
individuals. Each of the networks on the Internet provides resources that add
to the abundance of goods, services, and information accessible via the
Internet.

A formal definition of Internet, which was adopted in 1995 by the Federal

Networking Council (FNC) (http://www.fnc.gov/Internet_res.html) is as below:
RESOLUTION: The Federal Networking Council (FNC) agrees that the
following language reflects our definition of the term Internet. Internet refers to
the global information system that:
i. is logically linked together by a globally unique address space
based on the Internet Protocol (IP) or its subsequent
extensions/follow-ons:
ii. is able to support communications using the Transmission Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite or its subsequent
extensions/follow-ons, and/or other IP-compatible protocols; and
iii. provides, uses or makes accessible, either publicly or privately, high
level services layered on the communications and related
infrastructure described herein.

Today, the Internet is a public, cooperative, and self-sustaining facility

accessible to hundreds of millions of people worldwide. 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 TCP/IP (Transmission Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol).

Mainframes, personal computers, minicomputers, PDA and now the latest one
the mobile phone can all communicate over the Internet. Using the Internet
one can communicate with other people throughout the world. Today, all kind
of businesses provide information about their products and services on the
Internet. Many of these businesses use the Internet to market and sell their
products and services.

The part of the Internet known as the World Wide Web (often abbreviated
"WWW" or called "the Web") is a subset of the computers on the Internet that
are connected to each other. The Web has helped to make Internet resources
available to people who are not computer experts. 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 you select one of these words or phrases, you
will be transferred to the site or page that is relevant to this word or phrase.
Sometimes there are buttons, images, or portions of images that are
"clickable." If you move the pointer over a spot on a Web site and the pointer
changes into a hand, this indicates that you can click and be transferred to
another site.

Using the Web, you have access to millions of pages of information. Web
browsing is done with a Web browser. The most popular Web browser are
Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. The appearance of a
particular Web site may vary slightly depending on the browser you use. Also,
later versions of a particular browser are able to render more "bells and
whistles" such as animation, virtual reality, sound, and music files, than earlier
versions.

For many Internet users, electronic mail (e-mail) has practically replaced the
Postal Service for short written transactions. Electronic mail is the most widely
used application on the Net. You can also carry on live "conversations" with
other computer users, using Internet Relay Chat (IRC). More recently, Internet
telephony hardware and software allows real-time voice conversations.

Lesson 1-2 – Evolution of the Internet

Objectives:
At the end of this lesson you will be able to:
 Describe the early development of the Internet

The Internet has started a revolution in the way we communicate, work, shop
and much more.

1.2.1 Early Development of the Internet

In the early 1960s, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) became very
concerned about the possible effects of nuclear attack on its computing
facilities. As a result, it began to examine ways to connect its computers to
one another and to weapons installations that were distributed all over the
world. The DOD created the Defense Advance Research Projects Agency
(DARPA). DARPA research led to the creation of the worldwide network.
Intrigued by the military origins of the Internet, the Internet developed from the
activities of DARPA into the vast network of computers now available to
anyone.

1.2.2 ARPANET

The Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) was an

experimental WAN that consisted of four computers networked together by
DARPA researchers in 1969. These first four computers were located at the
University of California at Los Angeles, SRI International, the University of
California at Santa Barbara, and the University of Utah. By 1990, a global
network of networks, now known as the Internet, had grown from the four
computers on the ARPANET to more than 300,000 computers on many
interconnected networks.

The original aim ARPANET was to create a network that would allow users of
a research computer at one university to be able 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.

1.2.3 Protocols

As ARPANET grew to include more computers, researchers realized that

each connected computer needed to conform to the same set of rules. The
Network Control Protocol (NCP) was developed as the first collection of rules
for formatting, ordering, and error-checking data sent across a network. The
Father of the Internet, Vincent Cerf and his colleague Robert Kahn developed
the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and the Internet Protocol (IP)
referred to as TCP/IP. The TCP includes rules that computers on a network
use to establish and break connections. The Internet Protocol (IP) includes
rules for routing individual data packets (small chunks of data). The term
“Internet” was first used in 1974 in an article written by Cerf and Kahn about
TCP.

1.2.4 Open Architecture Philosophy

The open architecture philosophy ensured that each network connected to the
ARPANET could continue using its own protocols and data-transmission
methods internally. Four key points characterize the open architecture
philosophy:

 Independent networks should not require internal changes to

have a connection to the Internet.
 Data packets that do not arrive at their destinations must be
retransmitted from their source network.
 Computers that route data packets do not retain information
about the data packets they handle, which males the
transmission network-independent.
 No global control exists over the network. This feature is
perhaps one of the most amazing features of the Internet,
because the Internet began as a way for the military to maintain
control while under attack.

1.2.5 Interconnecting Networks

The Internet is a network of networks. These networks are connected via a

network backbone, the long-distance lines and supporting technology that
transport large amounts of data between major network connection points.
The early 1980s saw continued growth in the ARPANET and other networks.
The Joint Academic Network (Janet) was established in the United Kingdom
to link universities there. Traffic increased on all of these networks, and in
1984, the Department of Defense (DOD) split the ARPANET into two
specialized networks: ARPANET would continue its advanced research
activities, and MILNET (for Military Network) would be reserved for military
uses that required greater security. That year also saw a new addition to
CSNET, named the National Science Foundation Network (NSFnet). By 1987,
congestion on the ARPANET caused by a rapidly increasing number of users
on the limited-capacity leased telephone lines was becoming severe. To
reduce the government’s traffic load on the ARPANET, the NSFnet merged
with BITNET and CSNET to form one network. The resulting NSFnet awarded
a contract to Merit Network, Inc., IBM, Sprint, and the State of Michigan to
upgrade and operate the main NSFnet backbone. A network backbone
includes the long-distance lines and supporting technology that transports
large amounts of data between major network nodes. The NSFnet backbone
connected 13 regional WANs and six supercomputer centers. By the late
1980s, many other TCP/IP networks had merged or established
interconnections.
As shown in the Figure 1-1, many of the networks that developed in the wake
of ARPANET eventually joined together into the Internet we know today.
Table 1-1 describes some of the well known networks that eventually became
the Internet.
FIGURE 1-1: Network that became the Internet

Original
CSNET BITNE
Original NFSnet
ARPANET T

ARPANET NFSnet
Janet and
MILNET other non-
university
networks
INTERNET

Department of Defence (DOD)

National Science Foundation (NSF)

Other Funding Sources

Table 1-1: Interconnecting Networks

Network Descriptions
ARPANET (Advanced Research Specialized network used for
Projects Agency Network) advanced research studies that
originated in 1984 when the DOD split
the original ARPANET into ARPANET
and MILNET.
BITNET (Because It’s Time Network) Developed by City University of New
York to link IBM mainframes at
universities.
CSNET (Computer Science Network) Funded by the National Science
Foundation (NSF) for educational and
research institutions that did not have
access to the ARPANET.
Janet (Joint Academic Network) Developed in the United Kingdom to
link universities.
MILNET (Military Network) Specialized network reserved for high
security military uses that originated
in 1984 when the DOD split the
original ARPANET into ARPANET
and MILNET.
NSFnet (National Science Foundation Developed as an addition to CSNET.
Network)

1.2.6 Growth of the Internet

The Internet Growth Diagram (Figure 1-2) shows the dramatic growth of the
Internet (in only five years). According to an electronic survey taken in 2001,
the number of host computers connected to the Internet was approximately
110 million. The Internet Software Consortium Web site
(http://www.isc.org/ds/WWW-200101/index.html) provides the sources for
these numbers.

Despite the somewhat chaotic nature of the Internet, it functions and

continues to grow. This continued growth is directly attributable to a very
thorough, fair and open standards process and, of course, wide-spread,
voluntary compliance with the standards.

Figure 1-2: Internet Growth

The web and commercialization of the Internet is the reason behind the
growth of the internet. As more people obtain access to the Web, commercial
uses of the Web and a variety of non-business uses grew at an increasing
rate and this growth will be seen for the foreseeable future.

1.2.7 The Internet Today

Today’s Internet supports global e-mail systems that can transfer messages
and files in minutes and connect people around the planet with discussions
groups pr live chat environments. The Web allows access to a vast collection
of electronic information on nearly any subject, including:

 Electronic books
 Public domain software
  Technical papers and academic journals
 Newspapers,, magazines, and hourly news reports
 Personal creativity: songs, recipes, poetry, and ideas
 Government statistics, data and reports
 Interactive, multi-user games
Lesson 1- 3 –Terminology of the Internet

Objectives:
At the end of this lesson you will be able to:
 Define some of the Internet terminology

1.3.1 Internet, internet, Intranet and Extranet

As a result of the dynamic growth of the Internet, terminology is constantly

changing. One source of this confusion is the use of the terms Internet
(capitalized), internet (no capitalized), intranet and extranet.

Internet – by convention, “Internet” (capitalized) is generally considered to be

the global TCP/IP network. In other words,, the Internet connects the world.
The Internet is often depicted as a cloud, because the connections that make
up the Internet are numerous and transparent to the user.

internet – The term “internet” (not capitalized) refers to any internet-work,

without reference to the scope of the connections. This term is often used to
distinguish two or more networks connected using TCP/IP technology and
protocols, without being connected to the global Internet.

Intranet – think of an intranet as a “private Internet”. It is a network that uses

Internet applications, but is designed for use by company personnel. An
intranet enables a business to capitalize on the benefits of Internet
technologies, including:

 Consistent interfaces throughout the network

  Easy-to-use Web publishing tools and languages
 Rich assortment of presentation options, including multimedia
formats
 Centralized maintenance of shared resources

An intranet lets organizations deliver up-to-date information in a variety of

formats-from Web pages to streaming video – and transmit messages more
effectively at a low cost. Intranets can easily establish collaborative
environments ranging from simple e-mail and shared scheduling to interactive
video and whiteboard sessions. Because an intranet is based on the same
open standards created for the Internet, it also allows us to take advantage of
future Internet technologies as they become available, without the cost of
developing custom applications.

Extranets are a cross between Internet and intranet capabilities. Extranets are
Web servers that are shared between closely aligned organizations and are
not available to the general public. For example, a manufacturing company
might work closely with a parts supplier for a specific product. The parts
supplier might be allowed to log on to the extranet server to review part
inventories.

1.3.2 Uniform Resource Locators

Internet space consists of many points of content. A uniform Resource

Identifier (URI) identifies any point of content, whether it is a page of text, a
video or sound clip, an image, or a program. A URI describes the access
mechanism, the location of the resource, and the specific file name. The most
common form of URI is the Web page address, which is a subset of URI
called a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). Character strings that identify File
Transfer Protocol (FTP) addresses and e-mail addresses are also URIs.
The URL format is an Internet standard. HTML uses URLs to represent
hypermedia links and links to network services within documents. Documents
on the Web are referred to as URLs. The Following is an example
URL:http://www.mediu.com.my/
This address identifies a file that can be accessed using the Hypertext
Transfer Protocol (http://), that is housed on a computer name
www.mediu.com.my (which can be mapped to a unique Internet address).

Lesson 1-4 –The World Wide Web

Objectives:
At the end of this lesson you will be able to:
 Describe the World Wide Web and list down the difference
between Internet and World Wide Web

The World Wide Web or the Web is more a way of thinking about information
storage and retrieval than it is a technology. Because of this, its history goes
back many years. Two important innovations played key roles in making the
Internet easier to use and more accessible to people who were not research
scientists: hypertext and graphical user interfaces (GUIs).

The World Wide Web (WWW) or Web consists of a worldwide collection of

electronic documents. Each electronic document on the Web is called a Web
page, which can contain text, graphics, audio (sound) and video. Additionally,
Web page, which can contain text, graphics, audio (sound), and video.
Additionally, Web pages usually have built-in connections to other documents.

Some Web pages are static (fixed); others are dynamic (changing). Visitors to
a static Web page all see the same content. With a dynamic Web, by contrast,
visitors can customize some or all of the viewed content such as desired stock
quotes, weather for a region, or ticket availability for flights.

A Web site is a collection of related Web pages and associated items such as
documents and pictures, stored on a Web server. A Web server is a computer
that delivers requested Web pages to your computer. The same Web server
can store multiple Web sites. For example, many access providers grant their
subscribers free storage space on a Web server for personal or company
Web sites.

1.4.1 Enter the Web

The early Internet was not user-friendly system. Users first had to know what
information a host computer provided, then select a specific utility (e.g., file
transfer protocol [FTP], Telnet Gopher, etc.) to access the information.

HyperText Markup Language (HTML) was introduced in 1990 to solve the

above problem. HTML is a language that includes a set of codes (or tags)
attached to text. HTML is a plain text tagging system that added fort
formatting, color, and graphics to documents. The first World Wide Web
(Web) browser (NCSA Mosaic) was introduced in early 1990s and this has
made the Web to grow tremendously.

Web browser is software that reads HTML documents. Web browsers let you
read (or browse) HTML documents and move from one HTML document to
another document. A Web browser presents an HTML documents in an easy-
to-read format in its graphical user interface. A graphical user interface (GUI,
pronounced “gooey”) is a way of presenting program output using pictures,
icons, and other graphical elements instead of just displaying text.
Researchers have found that computer users – especially new users – learn
new programs more quickly when they have a GUI interface instead of a text
interface. Each Web page has its own set of controls (hyperlinks, buttons to
click, and blank text boxes in which you type text), thus every person who
visits a Web site for the first time becomes a “new user” of that site. Thus, the
GUI interface presented in Web browsers has been an important element in
the rapid growth of the Web.
Web browsers handle document access and file transfer, allowing users to
access Internet documents without having to remember particular services or
protocols. This simplified user interface, along with enhanced HTML features,
has added enormously to the Internet’s popularity, making it an entertainment
medium and an information resource.
Mosaic was the first Web browser that became widely available for PCs.

Links (also called hypertext links or hyperlinks) are text, graphics, or other
Web page elements that connect to additional data on the Web. On a Web
page, a text link is usually underlined, and the mouse pointer typically appears
as a pointing hand when positioned over a link. When you click a link, a new
Web document, such as a page of text and graphics, or an audio or video file
appears. This Web document could be part of the Web site you are currently
exploring or part of resources to the Web page you’re viewing.

1.4.2 The Web and Commercialization of the Internet

Programmers quickly realized that a functional system of pages connected by

hypertext links would provide many new Internet users with an easy way to
locate information on the Internet. Businesses quickly recognized the profit-
making potential offered by a worldwide network of easy-to-use computers. In
1994, Andreessen and other members of the University of Illinois Mosaic
team joined with James Clark of Silicon Graphics to found Netscape
Communications. Their first product, the Netscape Navigator Web browser
program based on Mosaic, was an instant success. Netscape became one of
the fastest growing software companies ever.
Microsoft created its Internet Explorer Web browser and entered the market
soon after Netscape’s success became apparent. Microsoft offered its
browser at no cost to computer owners that used its Windows operating
system. Within a few years, many users had switched to Internet Explorer and
Netscape was unable to earn enough money to continue in business.
Microsoft was accused of wielding its monopoly power to drive Netscape out
of business; these accusations led to the trial of Microsoft on charges that it
violated the U.S. anti trust laws. Parts of Netscape were sold to America
Online, but the Netscape Navigator browser became open-source software.
Open-source software is created and maintained by volunteer programmers,
often hundreds of them, who work together using the Internet to build and
refine a program. The program is made available to users at no charge. A few
other Web browsers exist but most people today use either Internet Explorer
or Netscape Navigator.
The number of Web sites which are computers connected to the Internet that
store HTML documents has grown even more rapidly than the Internet itself to
include more than 30 million sites. Each Web site might have hundreds or
even thousands of individual Web pages, so the amount of information on the
Web is astounding.
As more people obtain access to the Web, commercial uses of the Web and a
variety of non-business uses will continue to increase. Although the Web has
grown rapidly, many experts believe that it will grow at an increasing rate for
the foreseeable future.

1.4.3 Types of Web sites

There are eleven types of Web sites. They are as below:

• Portal
A portal is a Web site that offers a variety of Internet services from a
single, convenient location. Most portals offer the following free
services: search engines and/or subject directory; news; sports and
weather; free Web publishing services; reference tools such as yellow
pages, stock quotes, and maps; shopping malls and auctions; and e-
mail and other forms of online communications. Companies often
create their own portals for use by employees, vendors and customers.

• News
A news Web site contains newsworthy material including stories and
articles relating to current events, life, money, sports and the weather.
Many magazines and newspapers sponsor Web sites that provide
 summaries of printed versions. Newspapers and television and radio
stations are some of the media that maintain news Web sites.
• Informational
An informational Web site contains factual information. Many United
States government agencies have informational Web sites providing
information such as census data, tax codes and the congressional
budget. Other organizations provide information such as public
transportation schedules and published research findings.
• Business/Marketing
A business/marketing Web site contains content that promotes or sells
products or services. Nearly every business has a business/marketing
Web site. Dell Inc., Walt Disney Company and Microsoft Corporation all
have business/marketing Web sites. Many of these companies also
allow you to purchase their products or services online.
• Educational
An educational Web site offers exciting, challenging avenues for formal
and informal teaching and learning. On the Web, you can learn how
airplanes fly or how to cook a meal. For a more structured learning
experience, companies provide online training to employees; and
colleges offer online classes and degrees. Instructors often use the
Web to enhance classroom teaching by publishing course materials,
grades, and other pertinent class information.
• Entertainment
An entertainment Web site offers an interactive and engaging
environment. Popular entertainment Web sites offer music, videos,
sports, games, ongoing Web episodes, sweepstakes, chats, and more.
Sophisticated entertainment Web sites often partner with other
technologies. For example, you can cast your vote about a topic on a
television show.
• Advocacy
An advocacy Web site contains content that describes a cause, opinion
or idea. The purpose of an advocacy Web site is to convince the reader
of the validity of the cause, opinion or idea. These Web sites usually
 present views of a particular group or association. Sponsors of
advocacy Web sites include the Democratic National Committee, the
Republican National Committee, the Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals, and the Society to Protect Human Rights.
• BLOG
A BLOG, short for Weblog, is an informal Web site consisting of time-
stamped articles, or posts, in a diary or journal format, usually listed in
reverse chronological order. Blogs reflect the interests, opinions and
personalities of the author, called the blogger and sometimes site
visitors. Businesses use blogs to communicate with employees,
customers and vendors. Blogs at school provide a means for teachers
to collaborate with other teachers and students. Home users also use
blogs to share aspects of their personal life with family, friends and
others.
• WIKI
A wiki is a collaborative Web site that allows users to add to, modify or
delete the Web site content via their Web browser. Most wikis are open
to modification by the general public. Wikis usually collect recent edits
on a Web page so someone can review them for accuracy. The
difference between a wiki and a blog is that users cannot modify
original posts made by the blogger. A popular wiki is Wikipedia, a free
Web encyclopedia.
• Content Aggregator
A content aggregator is a business that gathers and organizes Web
content and then distributes or feeds the content to subscribers for free
or a fee. Examples of distributed content include news, music, video
and pictures. Subscribers select content in which they are interested.
Whenever this content changes, it is downloaded automatically to the
subscriber’s computer or mobile device.
• Personal
A private individual or family not usually associated with any
organizations may maintain a personal Web site or just single Web
page. People publish personal Web pages for a variety of reasons.
 Some are job hunting. Others simply want to share life experiences
with the world.

1.4.4 What is the difference between the Internet and the World Wide
Web?

The terms “Internet” and “World Wide Web” are often used interchangeably to
refer to the many electronic resources you can access from a computer
connected to the global network of computers. However, the Internet is the
entire system of networked computers, and the World Wide Web is a method
used to access information contained on a subset of those networked
computers. Think of the difference this way: You connect to the Internet, and
then use the World Wide Web to access information.

References:
1. Westnet Learning Technologies (2002).Internet Technologies. Singapore:
Thomson Course Technology
2. Gary P.Schneider and Jessica Evans (2002). The Internet Comprehensive (3rd
Ed) United States: Thomson Course Technology.
3. Gary B.Shelly, Thomas J.Cashman & Misty E.Vermaat (2007) Discovering
Computers 2007: A Gateway to Information, Web Enhanced Complete. USA:
Thomson Course Technology
4. Internet Systems Consortium www.isoc.org
5. Federal Networking Council (FNC) (http://www.fnc.gov/Internet_res.html)