The Internet
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What is the Internet?
A network of computer networks that enables information to be exchanged
and shared.
How do I connect my PC to the Internet?
1. Purchase a modem to connect your PC to the telephone network.
2. Pay an internet provider an annual or monthly fee. ( Many internet providers now often this service for free ) e.g. AOL, virgin, demon, CompuServe You will usually be issued with a an email address b web space
3. You will then have to pay telephone charges when you use the system. These are charged at local rate.
What can I use the Internet for?
1. Electronic mail ( advantages & disadvantages )
2. Searching for information using a search engine such as 'Yahoo'. These are like an Index ( Yellow Pages ) to help you find useful web sites.
3. Viewing web pages to find specific information. E.g. Liverpool University & Chester City have their own Web Site. There are GCSE revision sites!
4. Joining specialist user groups e.g. Archaeology. There is a homework user group. Leaving messages on bulletin boards
5. Downloading software. e.g. You can download printer drivers from Epson and Hewlett Packard
6. Researching & downloading information e.g. Guardian & Times newspapers.
7. On-line shopping & banking e.g. Interactive search for and order a book from a bookshop Advantages & disadvantages of shopping on the internet?
8. Teleconferencing Only possible if you have a digital camera and a voice/fax Modem. You may also need specialised hardware to compress the data for transmission.
9. The Internet can be used as a wide area network for electronic data- interchange ( EDI ).
Disadvantages of the Internet
1. Security Credit card number & details ( encryption ) Secure sites
2. Unsuitable material Pornography, How to make a firework or bomb
3. Computer viruses These downloaded and spread across machines and have detrimental effects.
Advantages of the Internet
1. Greater access to information reduces research times.
2. Useful communication links e.g. foreign language teaching in schools
Network Protocols ( Standards )
If a computer network is going to connect to the Internet then it must conform
to a number of protocols. ( standards )
1. Data transmission rates ( Baud Rate / Bits Per Second ) must be the same. e.g. modem should be 14K or 28K or 56K
2. Data representation e.g. use ASCII code. A = 65
What is an Intranet?
Large multinational companies set up corporate networks which link into and run ever the Internet network.
The school could set up its own intranet to include information about the school.
Each pupil could have their own web page.
Security is a particular problem if companies link into the internet in this way.
They need protection from a system known as a firewall.
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by: Admin
Total views: 1186
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Date: Wed, 2 Aug 2006 Time: 12:00 AM
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