Welcome ~ Introduction ~ Internet ~ Web ~ Downloads ~ E-mail ~ Newsgroups ~ Glossary ~ Bibliography

Internet Basics: The Internet

What Is the Internet and why should I become a part of it?

The Internet is revolutionizing and enhancing the way we as humans communicate, both locally and around the globe. Simply put, the Internet is a network of linked computers allowing participants to share information on those computers. You should want to be a part of it because the Internet literally puts a world of information and a potential worldwide audience at your fingertips.

Internet History: The Internet's roots can be traced to the 1950s with the launch of Sputnik, the ensuing space race, the Cold War and the development of ARPAnet (Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), but it really took off in the 1980s when the National Science Foundation used ARPAnet to link its five regional supercomputer centers. From there evolved a high-speed backbone of Internet access for many other types of networks, universities, institutions, bulletin board systems and commercial online services. The end of the decade saw the emergence of the World Wide Web, which heralded a platform-independent means of communication enhanced with a pleasant and relatively easy-to-use graphical interface. Here is a link to an excellent Internet timeline at PBS Online.

Internet Activity: The information superhighway is literally buzzing with activity as Internet pipelines pump out all manner of files, movies, sounds, programs, video, e-mail, live chat, you name it. Yet amid all this activity there are always two key players in every transaction: a server and a client.

  • Servers are computers with a 24-hour Internet connection that provide access to their files and programs. These can be but are not limited to educational institutions, commercial companies, organizations, government or military organizations, Internet access providers and various other computer networks of all sizes.
  • Clients are software programs (and the people on remote computers using the software!) used to access files on a server (typically, a Web browsing program such as Netscape Navigator or an e-mail program such as Eudora).

Servers are typically located and organized by IP address and domain.

  • An IP address (IP stands for Internet Protocol) is a specific set of numbers referring to a server's exact location on a network. Most domains have their own IP address, for instance, 192.41.20.33 is the IP address of my server at webcurrent.com. You can type those numbers in to get there, but the domain is easier to remember. An IP address also leaves your fingerprints wherever you "surf" on the net. Each modem connection typically is designated a specific IP address at Internet providers (this number typically changes dynamically as users log in), so you never really surf the net anonymously. You can be traced to a point.
  • A domain is part of the server's official name on the network, an alias for the less descriptive IP numbers. Domains are organized by type of organization (a three-letter suffix) and by country (a two-letter suffix which defaults to the U.S. if no suffix is specified). You can tell a lot about a server by looking at its domain name.
    • Here are some typical organizational suffixes: com=commercial, edu=educational, gov=government, int=international, mil=military, net=network, org=organization.
    • Here are some country codes: au=Australia, at=Austria, be=Belgium, br=-Brazil, dk=Denmark, jp=Japan, nz=New Zealand, ru=Russian Federation, uk=United Kingdom, ch=Switzerland.

Internet Equipment: Computer System Requirements

To access the Internet, you need the following minimum configuration (as of spring '97). You can sometimes make do with less but you'll notice shortcomings.

  • A computer with at least 16 megabytes (32 or more is even better) of RAM. Your computer will need to run several large programs at once, so it needs all the brain power (RAM) it can muster. RAM is the best performance-booster you can add to your computer.
  • A color monitor that displays at least 16-bit or thousands of colors. Better: 24-bit or millions of colors. This will be a factor of the VRAM in your system. In most cases you'll need at least 2-4 megs of VRAM for millions of colors on a larger monitor. Also, the higher your monitor resolution, the more web "real estate" will fit on your screen. I have never regretted the day I splurged on a 17-inch monitor at 1024 x 768 pixels in millions of colors. I wonder why I waited so long! Now I have much less eye strain and can easily "surf" two full web pages side by side.
  • A modem with a speed of at least 28.8 bps ( although 56k technology is now standard). You're even luckier is your area has affordable access to ISDN lines or cable modems. Another fairly option is DirecPC, which offers incredibly high download speeds (albeit at a price) via satellite, although uploads are limited to your home modem speed. Access just keeps getting better and better.
  • A hard disk with plenty of storage space (think of your hard disk as a big filing cabinet) for the software you will use and all those files you'll be downloading. If you're getting a new machine, get at least 6 gigabytes for your hard disk. and I am now finding space to be cramped on an 8-gig drive. I guess such is the case, the more you have the more you need (or think you need). The latest browser downloads are about 12 megabytes.
  • Sound capabilities, stereo speakers. Since the World Wide Web is also a multimedia medium (that's a mouthful!), you'll also enjoy having sound on your system. Mine are built in to the monitor, which is great if you don't have a lot of desk space.
  • Also nice is a separate telephone line so your phone won't be busy every time you're online. I use mine for both Internet access and my computer fax.
  • Another necessity these days is a CD-ROM drive (standard now on most PCs) because there is so much software available on CD-ROM and installations from high-capacity CDs are much easier and faster. You're really in for a treat if your computer's CD-ROM is actually a DVD drive. I was amazed and left hungry for the Apple Macintosh G3 PowerBook I spied at a computer store last Christmas with Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation" playing its the huge (for a laptop) 14-inch screen. In my opinion, these drives are still too expensive although my next computer will definitely have one!
  • This may be obvious, but a printer is handy. I like color inkjets. Mine is an Epson Stylus Photo 1200, which I love for its photorealistic and oversize capabilities. But there's no beating the speed of a Laser printer. Nice for printing out e-mail and Web pages.
  • For the curious, I run my business with a Macintosh OS/Power Computing PowerTowerPro with 400-MHz G3 PowerLogix daughter card processor (this machine has been upgradable for almost three years and was a great buy), 4-gig and 2-gig hard disks with 8 megs of VRAM, 368 megs of RAM, a 24x CD-ROM and a built-in Iomega Zip drive that I installed myself. I also run Windows 98 via SoftWindows on my spare hard disk. My mobile office consists of PowerBook G3 laptop running along at 300 MHz.

  • This may be obvious, but Before you buy a computer, be sure to check around. Prices vary greatly. You may decide to pay a little more for a system from your local dealer if you feel more comfortable with their support. Many systems that were totally out of reach only months ago are more affordable than ever. Most multimedia computer packages now include massive hard drives (10+ gigabytes), tons of RAM (64 megs or more) and a super-quick (24x or faster) CD-ROM drive or DVD drive. Processors of 400 MHz and faster are fast becoming the norm. (every few months, it seems, I go through this paragraph and increase all the numbers!). Faster processing speeds will improve performance, especially when you are trying to listen to RealAudio streams or play video files. While you're at it, you may be interested in my favorite add-on, the little Iomega Zip drive that holds 100-megabyte floppy disks-- it's affordable and great for backups. Also, look for computers that will accept processor upgrades or dual processors. But don't be discouraged if you don't have a lightning-fast model. My old 33MHz Performa could cruise the Web quite nicely by and large (especially since it had lots of RAM). But if you're buying a new model, get as fast a processor and as big a hard disk as you can possibly afford. Then put twice as much RAM in it as you think you need. You won't be sorry.

Internet Issues: Emerging technologies and especially this communications revolution we are witnessing also bring with them new issues relevant to safety, privacy, security, decency and netiquette. Please familiarize yourself with these issues and your responsibilities as you become a member of the Internet society at large.

  • Safety. I cannot stress this section enough. Please visit these links and educate yourself and you children before you allow them to go online. Be wary of giving out your name, address or telephone number and tell them never to release this information to strangers! Above all, supervise your children while they surf! Don't assume public access Internet stations at public libraries are child-safe. Some are. Many are not. Seek out filtering and blocking software options. Some Internet service providers offer filtered access, with national providers such as MayberryUSA growing in number. These sites have good advice for parents:
  • Privacy. Don't post or write anything you wouldn't mind anyone else seeing. Remember your information is not secure nor is your e-mail necessarily private. It's supposed to be, but that isn't always the case. Also, never EVER send your credit card number via email. If you're ordering something online, be sure the web page you are entering data into is served from a secure server (https://... more on this in the next section). Helpful links:
  • Security. To enhance security, many networks have encrypted, secure transmission methods that include site certificates. Be sure you are using one of these methods if you are entering secure information, such as a credit card number at a mail-order catalog's website. Better yet, call them with this information if you are at all wary of security. There are also virtual banks, online escrow and checking systems and other Web developments emerging to deal with this issue.
  • Decency, Filters, Censorship. Unfortunately this revolution in accessing information means that not all information on the Internet is suitable for everyone. While many servers maintain standards of decency and refuse to allow any indecent material on their computer network, still many others do not, or worse, some exist solely for this purpose of allowing such material. Others oppose the material but not the principle of free speech. Look for this to be a hotly contested issue for some time. More and more, though, the loudest voices are those seeking protection for the innocent against Internet crime, including protection of children from access to pornography.

    Computerized search engines that enhance our ability to find information also unfortunately make it all the more easy for children and adolescents to find information you may not want them to find. There are software programs available designed to filter out unwanted or indecent information from your computer. These programs include Surf-Watch, Net Nanny and Cyber Patrol. Please visit their Web sites for more information. In addition, Web designers and content providers are seeking ways to self-regulate themselves and rate sites with regard to appropriate content as a means of circumventing the need for censorship laws.
  • Netiquette: All cultures and societies have standards of conduct and customs. There are many good resources for you to read online. The important thing is to take some time and read up on network etiquette so you can be a responsible, well-informed member of cyber-society. Here is a very good source of netiquette information (there are many others):

Typically, if you remember to be courteous and respectful of others on the network, you'll be fine. General do's and don'ts typically include but are not limited to:

    • Do become familiar with and obey all the rules/use policies of your local network.
    • Don't send someone large files they didn't request; don't send e-mail en masse (spamming).
    • Don't SHOUT (as anything typed in all capital letters appears),
    • Don't visit an FTP site as an anonymous user during that site's busy time or main business hours.
    • Do read any readily available FAQ (frequently asked questions) sheets for newsgroups and websites before posting a question that may have already been answered.
    • Do use your e-mail address to identify yourself at anonymous FTP sites.
    • Don't use vulgar, rude or disrespectful language at any time.
    • Do be aware of potential differences in cultures internationally.
    • Don't camp out - this means don't log in and just leave your connection idle if you're not using it. Sign off and free up one of your provider's modems for someone else to use. While many Internet services provide users with "unlimited" Internet access, this generally means unlimited "use" not idle access.

Internet Access: The best news of all with the explosive growth of the Internet and its accompanying revolution in human communications is this: Most anyone anywhere can access the Internet and thus any Internet file in the world via a simple local telephone connection with no long-distance fees. We are no longer separated by distance. Period.

To assist those who do not have their own Internet-ready computer system is a growing list of places that provide the general public with Internet access. In Poplar Bluff, there is the Telecommunication Community Resource Center at Three Rivers Community College and the Poplar Bluff Public Library. Another emerging trend, cyber cafes where you can surf and sip espresso are also increasing in number.

The Poplar Bluff area has several Internet access providers and there are also national access providers you can use from here. Specific Internet access is beyond the scope of this course, but be assured you have many options.

c. 1996-99 Julie Wolpers, Poplar Bluff, Mo. Made with Macintosh