Information and Communication
INTERNET AND E-MAIL
Why Study about the Internet?
√ To understand what the Internet is, the services that it offers, what is required in order to get
connected, as well as to establish a connection and log out of the Internet.
What is the Internet?
It is a large no. of connected computers (or a large set of computer networks) linked together
that communicate with each other, over telephone lines.
It is a worldwide computer network connecting thousands of computer networks, through a
mixture of private & public data using the telephone lines.
It is a worldwide (global or an international) network of computers that provide a variety of
resources and data to the people that use it.
Internet refers to a global inter-connection of computers and computer networks to facilitate
global information transfer. It is an interconnection of computers throughout the world,
using ordinary telecommunication lines and modems.
The Internet uses VSATS (Very Small Aperture Telecommunication Systems) such as
Telephone lines, Satellite.
The other names for the Internet are:
- The Net.
- Information Superhighway.
- Cyber space.
Internet is a facility that links the Internet users to the actual Internet documents. Therefore, it is
a system that links together many kinds of information all over the world. This technology
allows computers equipped with telecommunication links to exchange information freely, and as
such, the Internet has enhanced what is being referred to as a global village.
Internet enables companies, organizations, individuals, schools and governments to share
information across the world.
A computer on the Internet can be located anywhere in the world. The Internet enables the
computer to communicate with any other computer.
HISTORY (DEVELOPMENT) OF THE INTERNET.
The Internet was started by the U.S Department of Defence in 1969 as a network of 4 computers
called ARPANET. Its aim was to connect a set of computers operated by several Universities
and Scientists doing military research so as to enable them share research data.
The original network grew as more computers were added to it. By 1974, 62 computers were
already attached.
In 1983, the Internet split into 2 parts; one dedicated exclusively (solely/only) to military
installations (called Milnet), and the other dedicated to university research (called the Internet),
with around 1,000 host computers.
In 1985, the Canadian government developed the BITNET to link all the Canadian Universities,
and also provided connections into the U.S Internet.
In 1986, the U.S National Service Foundation created NSFNET to connect leading U.S
universities. By the end of 1987, there were 10,000 host computers on the Internet and 1,000 on
BITNET.
In 1987, the National Science Foundation leased (acquired/rent) high-speed circuits to build a
new high-speed backbone for NSFNET. In 1988, it connected 13 regional internal networks
containing 170 LAN’s and 56,000 host computers.
-1-
, Information and Communication
The Canadian Research Council followed in 1989, replacing BITNET with a high-speed network
called CA*net that used the Internet protocols. By the end of 1989, there were almost 200,000
host computers on the combined U.S and Canadian Internet.
Similar initiatives (plans/projects) were undertaken by other countries in the world, such that by
the early 1990s, most of the individual country networks were linked together into one
worldwide network of networks.
Each of these individual country networks was different (i.e., each had its own name, access
rules, and fees structure), but all the networks used the same standard as the U.S Internet
network. So, users could easily exchange messages with each other.
By 1990s, the differences among the networks in each of the countries had disappeared, and the
U.S name; Internet began to be used to mean the entire worldwide system of networks that used
the Internet TCP/IP protocols.
A Protocol - a set of rules and standards that computers use to communicate with each other
over a Network.
Features of the Internet.
(i). The Internet is a collection of networks; it is not owned or controlled by any single
organization, and it has no formal management organization. However, there is an Internet
Society that co-ordinates and sets standards for its use.
In addition, Networks have no political boundaries on the exchange of information.
(ii). Networks are connected by Gateways that effectively remove barriers so that one type of
network can “talk” to a different type of network.
(iii). To join the Internet, an existing network will only be required to pay a small registration fee
and agree to certain standards based on TCP/IP.
The costs are low, because the Internet owns nothing, and so it has no real costs to offset.
Each organization pays for its own network & its own telephone bills, but these costs
usually exist independent of the Internet.
(iv). Networks that join the Internet must agree to move each other’s traffic (data) at no charge to
the others, just as it is the case with mail delivered through the International Postal system.
This is why all the data appear to move at the cost of a local telephone call, making the Net
a very cheap communication media.
FUNCTIONS OF THE INTERNET.
The Internet carries many kinds of traffic, and provides users with several functions. Some of
the most important functions are:
1. Communication.
Many people all over the world use the Internet to communicate with each other.
Internet communication capabilities include; E-mail, Usenet Newsgroups, Chatting and
Telnet. You can send e-mails to your friends anywhere in the world, chat with your friends,
send instant messages, etc.
2. Information retrieval.
The Internet is a library. Thousands of books, magazines, newspapers and encyclopedias can
be read on the Internet.
3. Easy-to-use offerings of information and products.
You can find information for your school assignments, buy books online, check what the
weather is like anywhere in the world, and much more.
-2-
, Information and Communication
INTERNET SERVICES.
The following are some of the services offered by Internet:
(i). Electronic mail (e-mail).
(ii). Fax services.
(iii). Conference services.
(iv). Online chatting.
(v). Downloading of programs.
(vi). Online shopping.
(vii). File transfer.
(viii). Entertainment (Games, Music and Movies).
(ix). Free information retrieval (e.g., Educational information).
(x). Formation of Discussion groups, e.g. Usenet Newsgroups.
(xi). Video Conferencing.
(xii). Access & Use of other computers.
Electronic Mail (E-mail).
An E-mail is a system that enables sending & receiving of messages electronically through
computers. It is used for communication between organizations or departments in the same
organization.
E-mail is a quick, cheap, efficient & convenient means of communication with both individuals
and groups. It is faster than ordinary mail, easy to manage, inexpensive and saves paper.
With Internet mail, it is possible to send and receive messages quickly from businesses, friends
or family in another part of the world. An E-mail message can travel around the world in
minutes.
Fax services.
Fax services enable individuals & businesses to send faxes through e-mail at a lower cost
compared to the usual international Fax charges.
Conference services.
Conferencing on the Web can be defined as the dynamic exchange of all kinds of information –
text, graphics, audio, video, etc – in a situation whereby the conversations are organized by item
and allows a participant to contribute spontaneous responses to any item in the conversation.
Application of Conferencing on the Web.
The conversation can:
Provide important information that can assist in decision-making.
Provide any required technical support.
Help in community-building, project management & distance learning.
Help to organize electronic meetings, etc.
The Internet also allows you to have access to various types of information you might require to
make accurate and informed decisions, E.g., it provides information on business, education,
sports, politics, etc.
Chatting.
Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is a chatting system on the Internet that allows a large no. of people
from various locations of the world who are on the computer to chat (i.e., simultaneously hold
live and interactive electronic conversations) among themselves.
You can join discussion groups on the Internet and meet people around the world with similar
interests. You can ask questions, discuss problems and read interesting stories.
-3-
, Information and Communication
Anyone interested in chatting can join a discussion forum on one of the listed topics. Only
people who happen to be signed on at the same time are able to talk because messages are not
stored.
This discussion can be an effective business tool if people who can benefit from interactive
conversation set a specific appointment to meet and talk on a particular topic.
Disadvantage.
(i). Usually, the topic is open to all without security; so intruders can participate.
Information retrieval.
The Internet is a voluntarily decentralized network with no central listing of participants or sites.
Therefore, End-users, usually working from PCs are able to search & find information of interest
located in different sites assisted by special software and data stored in readily usable formats.
The Internet gives you information on almost any subject. This is because of the Worldwide
Web (www).
The World Wide Web is a global (an international) system of connected Web pages containing
information such as, text, pictures, sound and video. The WWW is hypertext based (i.e., it is
able to access text and graphical data formatted for easy search, retrieval and display).
With the WWW, you can review Newspapers, magazines, academic papers, etc. In addition,
Governments, colleges, universities, companies and individuals offer free information on the
Internet. E.g., you can inquire (find out) about universities in Britain or America.
Note. Its major problem is finding what you need from among the many storehouses of data
found in databases and libraries all over the world.
Dowloading of Programs.
There are thousands of programs available on the Internet. These programs include; Word
processors, Spreadsheets, Electronic cards, etc.
You can therefore, look for the latest software over the Internet, e.g., you can get the latest Anti-
virus software, and in addition, retrieve a free trial issue.
Entertainment.
There are hundreds of simple games available on the Internet. These include; Chess, Football,
etc. The Internet also allows you review current Movies and hear Television theme songs.
Online Shopping.
You can order goods and services on the Internet without leaving your desk. E.g., you can view
a catalogue of a certain clothes shop over the Internet and fill in an online Order form.
Commercial enterprises use the Web to provide information on demand for purposes of customer
support, marketing and sales.
File Transfer.
Data in the form of files can be transferred across the Internet from one site to another using the
File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP software is needed at both ends to handle the transfer. It is
through FTP that the two pieces of software manage to ‘understand’ each other.
Discussion Groups.
A Discussion group is a collection of users who have joined together to discuss some topic.
There are many discussions on different topics including Cooking, Skydiving, Politics,
Education, recreational, scientific research, etc.
Two of the commonly used discussion groups for business are;
Usenet newsgroups.
-4-
INTERNET AND E-MAIL
Why Study about the Internet?
√ To understand what the Internet is, the services that it offers, what is required in order to get
connected, as well as to establish a connection and log out of the Internet.
What is the Internet?
It is a large no. of connected computers (or a large set of computer networks) linked together
that communicate with each other, over telephone lines.
It is a worldwide computer network connecting thousands of computer networks, through a
mixture of private & public data using the telephone lines.
It is a worldwide (global or an international) network of computers that provide a variety of
resources and data to the people that use it.
Internet refers to a global inter-connection of computers and computer networks to facilitate
global information transfer. It is an interconnection of computers throughout the world,
using ordinary telecommunication lines and modems.
The Internet uses VSATS (Very Small Aperture Telecommunication Systems) such as
Telephone lines, Satellite.
The other names for the Internet are:
- The Net.
- Information Superhighway.
- Cyber space.
Internet is a facility that links the Internet users to the actual Internet documents. Therefore, it is
a system that links together many kinds of information all over the world. This technology
allows computers equipped with telecommunication links to exchange information freely, and as
such, the Internet has enhanced what is being referred to as a global village.
Internet enables companies, organizations, individuals, schools and governments to share
information across the world.
A computer on the Internet can be located anywhere in the world. The Internet enables the
computer to communicate with any other computer.
HISTORY (DEVELOPMENT) OF THE INTERNET.
The Internet was started by the U.S Department of Defence in 1969 as a network of 4 computers
called ARPANET. Its aim was to connect a set of computers operated by several Universities
and Scientists doing military research so as to enable them share research data.
The original network grew as more computers were added to it. By 1974, 62 computers were
already attached.
In 1983, the Internet split into 2 parts; one dedicated exclusively (solely/only) to military
installations (called Milnet), and the other dedicated to university research (called the Internet),
with around 1,000 host computers.
In 1985, the Canadian government developed the BITNET to link all the Canadian Universities,
and also provided connections into the U.S Internet.
In 1986, the U.S National Service Foundation created NSFNET to connect leading U.S
universities. By the end of 1987, there were 10,000 host computers on the Internet and 1,000 on
BITNET.
In 1987, the National Science Foundation leased (acquired/rent) high-speed circuits to build a
new high-speed backbone for NSFNET. In 1988, it connected 13 regional internal networks
containing 170 LAN’s and 56,000 host computers.
-1-
, Information and Communication
The Canadian Research Council followed in 1989, replacing BITNET with a high-speed network
called CA*net that used the Internet protocols. By the end of 1989, there were almost 200,000
host computers on the combined U.S and Canadian Internet.
Similar initiatives (plans/projects) were undertaken by other countries in the world, such that by
the early 1990s, most of the individual country networks were linked together into one
worldwide network of networks.
Each of these individual country networks was different (i.e., each had its own name, access
rules, and fees structure), but all the networks used the same standard as the U.S Internet
network. So, users could easily exchange messages with each other.
By 1990s, the differences among the networks in each of the countries had disappeared, and the
U.S name; Internet began to be used to mean the entire worldwide system of networks that used
the Internet TCP/IP protocols.
A Protocol - a set of rules and standards that computers use to communicate with each other
over a Network.
Features of the Internet.
(i). The Internet is a collection of networks; it is not owned or controlled by any single
organization, and it has no formal management organization. However, there is an Internet
Society that co-ordinates and sets standards for its use.
In addition, Networks have no political boundaries on the exchange of information.
(ii). Networks are connected by Gateways that effectively remove barriers so that one type of
network can “talk” to a different type of network.
(iii). To join the Internet, an existing network will only be required to pay a small registration fee
and agree to certain standards based on TCP/IP.
The costs are low, because the Internet owns nothing, and so it has no real costs to offset.
Each organization pays for its own network & its own telephone bills, but these costs
usually exist independent of the Internet.
(iv). Networks that join the Internet must agree to move each other’s traffic (data) at no charge to
the others, just as it is the case with mail delivered through the International Postal system.
This is why all the data appear to move at the cost of a local telephone call, making the Net
a very cheap communication media.
FUNCTIONS OF THE INTERNET.
The Internet carries many kinds of traffic, and provides users with several functions. Some of
the most important functions are:
1. Communication.
Many people all over the world use the Internet to communicate with each other.
Internet communication capabilities include; E-mail, Usenet Newsgroups, Chatting and
Telnet. You can send e-mails to your friends anywhere in the world, chat with your friends,
send instant messages, etc.
2. Information retrieval.
The Internet is a library. Thousands of books, magazines, newspapers and encyclopedias can
be read on the Internet.
3. Easy-to-use offerings of information and products.
You can find information for your school assignments, buy books online, check what the
weather is like anywhere in the world, and much more.
-2-
, Information and Communication
INTERNET SERVICES.
The following are some of the services offered by Internet:
(i). Electronic mail (e-mail).
(ii). Fax services.
(iii). Conference services.
(iv). Online chatting.
(v). Downloading of programs.
(vi). Online shopping.
(vii). File transfer.
(viii). Entertainment (Games, Music and Movies).
(ix). Free information retrieval (e.g., Educational information).
(x). Formation of Discussion groups, e.g. Usenet Newsgroups.
(xi). Video Conferencing.
(xii). Access & Use of other computers.
Electronic Mail (E-mail).
An E-mail is a system that enables sending & receiving of messages electronically through
computers. It is used for communication between organizations or departments in the same
organization.
E-mail is a quick, cheap, efficient & convenient means of communication with both individuals
and groups. It is faster than ordinary mail, easy to manage, inexpensive and saves paper.
With Internet mail, it is possible to send and receive messages quickly from businesses, friends
or family in another part of the world. An E-mail message can travel around the world in
minutes.
Fax services.
Fax services enable individuals & businesses to send faxes through e-mail at a lower cost
compared to the usual international Fax charges.
Conference services.
Conferencing on the Web can be defined as the dynamic exchange of all kinds of information –
text, graphics, audio, video, etc – in a situation whereby the conversations are organized by item
and allows a participant to contribute spontaneous responses to any item in the conversation.
Application of Conferencing on the Web.
The conversation can:
Provide important information that can assist in decision-making.
Provide any required technical support.
Help in community-building, project management & distance learning.
Help to organize electronic meetings, etc.
The Internet also allows you to have access to various types of information you might require to
make accurate and informed decisions, E.g., it provides information on business, education,
sports, politics, etc.
Chatting.
Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is a chatting system on the Internet that allows a large no. of people
from various locations of the world who are on the computer to chat (i.e., simultaneously hold
live and interactive electronic conversations) among themselves.
You can join discussion groups on the Internet and meet people around the world with similar
interests. You can ask questions, discuss problems and read interesting stories.
-3-
, Information and Communication
Anyone interested in chatting can join a discussion forum on one of the listed topics. Only
people who happen to be signed on at the same time are able to talk because messages are not
stored.
This discussion can be an effective business tool if people who can benefit from interactive
conversation set a specific appointment to meet and talk on a particular topic.
Disadvantage.
(i). Usually, the topic is open to all without security; so intruders can participate.
Information retrieval.
The Internet is a voluntarily decentralized network with no central listing of participants or sites.
Therefore, End-users, usually working from PCs are able to search & find information of interest
located in different sites assisted by special software and data stored in readily usable formats.
The Internet gives you information on almost any subject. This is because of the Worldwide
Web (www).
The World Wide Web is a global (an international) system of connected Web pages containing
information such as, text, pictures, sound and video. The WWW is hypertext based (i.e., it is
able to access text and graphical data formatted for easy search, retrieval and display).
With the WWW, you can review Newspapers, magazines, academic papers, etc. In addition,
Governments, colleges, universities, companies and individuals offer free information on the
Internet. E.g., you can inquire (find out) about universities in Britain or America.
Note. Its major problem is finding what you need from among the many storehouses of data
found in databases and libraries all over the world.
Dowloading of Programs.
There are thousands of programs available on the Internet. These programs include; Word
processors, Spreadsheets, Electronic cards, etc.
You can therefore, look for the latest software over the Internet, e.g., you can get the latest Anti-
virus software, and in addition, retrieve a free trial issue.
Entertainment.
There are hundreds of simple games available on the Internet. These include; Chess, Football,
etc. The Internet also allows you review current Movies and hear Television theme songs.
Online Shopping.
You can order goods and services on the Internet without leaving your desk. E.g., you can view
a catalogue of a certain clothes shop over the Internet and fill in an online Order form.
Commercial enterprises use the Web to provide information on demand for purposes of customer
support, marketing and sales.
File Transfer.
Data in the form of files can be transferred across the Internet from one site to another using the
File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP software is needed at both ends to handle the transfer. It is
through FTP that the two pieces of software manage to ‘understand’ each other.
Discussion Groups.
A Discussion group is a collection of users who have joined together to discuss some topic.
There are many discussions on different topics including Cooking, Skydiving, Politics,
Education, recreational, scientific research, etc.
Two of the commonly used discussion groups for business are;
Usenet newsgroups.
-4-
