Welcome ~ Introduction ~ Internet ~ Web ~ Downloads ~ E-Mail ~ Newsgroups ~ Glossary ~ Bibliography Who Knew? By Dan Duvall Twenty years ago, who would've thought the personal computer would have such a significant role in our everyday lives? Just 10 years ago the fax machine was getting a foothold in reshaping communication. Unless you've been stuck on a life raft on the ocean or meditating on a mountaintop for the past couple of years, you've at least heard about the Internet. News coverage about this phenomenon can be found anywhere. Articles have been written in hundreds of publications and there are even television shows and movies about it. However, to the vast majority of us the Internet is some cryptic computer gizmo only for experts and has something to do with games, pornography or generally nothing of any real value to us beyond entertainment. This couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, most people don't know what it is, let alone how it works, and more importantly how to apply it to your own interests. What is the Internet? In a nutshell, the Internet is probably the most powerful and important technological advancement for us regular folks since the introduction of the desktop computer, some say since the invention of movable type. In order to benefit from what it has to offer, a basic understanding of what it is and how it works is helpful. Quite simply, it's the world's largest network of computer networks that can talk to each other using a common language. How large is LARGE? Estimates range from 10 to 15 million computers, with 24 to 40 million users worldwide, with the majority of them right here in the United States and Canada. All it takes is a computer and a modem for you to add your own knowledge to the Internet. Having these basic tools you can link your ideas with trillions of other electronically connected ideas. They are contained in a growing web of data that has no visible structural support. A recent, and probably outdated estimate, quoted an approximate figure of 900 Terabytes of information available. How big is a Terabyte? It equals about 1 million Megabytes, or about 405,000,000,000,000 pages in total! That's a tremendous amount of information at your fingertips and it's growing even while you're reading this. You might think: "Okay, Big Deal! It's got all kinds of information, but I'm not a computer expert. Do I have to become one in order to use it?" Not so! Software and technological assistance today gives you the ability to access the proverbial "information superhighway." Once a connection is made through your telephone modem, virtually everything is "point-and-click." The biggest stumbling block for most of us is the apprehension of pushing a button or trying something new. But keep one thing in mind: You Can't Break The Net! The worst thing that can happen is you get lost or stuck. Don't fret, just disconnect and try again. How does it benefit you? A complete understanding of Internet benefits can only be realized by learning more about the Internet itself and its different components. That's why you're here, right? It's safe to say that everyone can derive some positive result from engaging this new form of communication. What advantages the Internet holds for you is limited only by your imagination and willingness to explore something new. Now, close your eyes, forget your fears, open your mind and jump in with both feet! You won't regret it! Dan Duvall, idealmed@ims-1.com, Poplar Bluff, Mo. October 1996