Know; on World Internet Day!
Madhavi Gokhlay, Oct 29, 2007 1630 hrs IST
It's a common misconception that the Internet and the World Wide Web are one and the same thing. However, the two are not synonymous.
Today, October 29th, happens to be 'World Internet Day'. We thought a few facts about the Internet would make an interesting read:
Definition of the Internet
The Internet is typically defined by Wikipedia as a "worldwide, publicly accessible series of interconnected computer networks that transmit data by packet switching, using standard Internet Protocol (IP)."
It is also defined as a 'network of networks' that consists of millions of smaller- domestic, academic, business, and government networks, which together carry various information and services such as: electronic mail, online chat, file transfer, and interlinked Web pages and other documents of the World Wide Web.
Snapshot history
One of the 'eve' networks of today's Internet is the ARPANET.
After the demonstration that packet-switching worked on the ARPANET, the British Post Office, Telenet, DataPac, and Transpac collaborated to create the first international packet-switched network service.
The first TCP/IP-wide area network was made operational by January 1, 1983, when all hosts on the ARPANET were switched over from the older NCP protocols to TCP/IP.
The network was opened to commercial interests beginning 1988. Also, three commercial Internet Service Providers were created: UUNET, PSINET, and CERFNET.
Separate networks that offered gateways into like Usenet and Bitnet were later merged with the Internet. Other commercial- and educational- networks such as Telenet, Tymnet, Compuserve, and Janet were interconnected with the growing Internet. The Internet gained a public face in the 1990s.
On August 6, 1991, CERN, which straddles the border between France and Switzerland, publicized the new World Wide Web project, two years after British scientist, Tim Berners-Lee, began creating HTML, HTTP, and the first few Web pages at CERN.
By 1996, use of the word, 'Internet' had become commonplace, and so had its mis-use as World Wide Web.
Internet and the World Wide Web
It's a common misconception that the Internet and the World Wide Web are one and the same thing. However, the two are not synonymous.
The Internet is a collection of interconnected computer networks, linked by copper wires, fiber-optic cables, wireless connections, etc.
In contrast, the World Wide Web or the Web is a collection of interconnected documents, images, and other resources, linked by hyperlinks and URLs.
Meaning, the World Wide Web is just one of the services accessible via the Internet, along with many others including e-mail, file sharing, and others.
Is it Internet or is it internet
Historically, the two have distinct meanings. While 'Internet' refers to the worldwide, publicly-available IP internet; 'internet' refers to any interconnected set of distinct networks.
Under this distinction, the 'Internet' is the familiar network via which Web sites exist while 'internet' can exist between any two remote locations.
Internet Protocol
Internet Protocol or IP is a collection of standards and protocols organized into layers, so that each layer provides the foundation and services required by the layer above.
There are three layers of Internet Protocols: OSI layer 3 at the lower level is IP or Internet Protocol that defines the datagrams or packets that carry blocks of data from one node to another; the next layer or OSI layer 4 is constituted by TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol) whereby data is transmitted; and application protocols sit on top of TCP and UDP, occupying layers 5, 6, and 7 of the OSI model. Application Protocols define specific messages and data formats send and understood by applications running at each end of the communication. Examples of Application Protocols are HTTP, FTP, and SMTP.
Internet today
Apart from complex physical connections making up its infrastructure, the Internet is largely facilitated by bi- or multi-lateral commercial contracts, and by technical specifications or protocols that describe how to exchange data over the network.
As of September 30, 2007, a record 1.244 billion people are using the Internet -- according to Internet World Statistics.
Internet Service Provider
An Internet service provider is a business or organization that provides consumers or businesses access to the Internet and related services.
In the past, most ISPs were run by phone companies. Now, ISPs can be started by just about any individual or group with sufficient money and expertise.
Lingua franca of the Internet
While English (30 percent Web visitors) is the prevalent language of communication on the Internet, after English, the most requested languages are: Chinese 14 percent, Spanish 8 percent, Japanese 8 percent, German 5 percent, French 5 percent, Portuguese 3.5 percent, Korean 3 percent, Italian 3 percent, and Arabic 2.5 percent (as per Internet World Statistics updated January 11, 2007)
There's also the growing phenomenon of 'Internet slang', or the language that Internet users have coined and promulgated.
Internet meme
The term Internet meme (IPA: /in-t r- net mi:m/) is a neologism used to describe a catchphrase or concept that spreads in a faddish way from person to person via the Internet.
Internet troll
An Internet troll, or simply troll in Internet slang, is someone who intentionally posts controversial or contrary messages on an online community such as an online discussion forum with the intention of sparking off argument amongst users.
Internet forum
An Internet forum is a Web application for holding discussions, and posting user-generated content.
Internet forums are also commonly referred to as Web forums, message boards, discussion boards, (electronic) discussion groups, discussion forums, bulletin boards, or simply forums.
Internet Archive
Internet Archive is a non-profit organization dedicated to maintaining an on-line library and archive of the Web and multimedia resources.
Located at the Presidio in San Francisco, California, this archive includes 'snapshots of the World Wide Web'. It was founded by Brewster Kahle in 1996.
ICANN
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is the authority that coordinates the assignment of unique identifiers on the Internet, including domain names, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, and protocol port and parameter numbers.
While ICANN is headquartered out of Marina del Rey, California, it is largely overseen by an international board of directors drawn from across the Internet, technical, business, academic, and non-commercial communities.
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by giri, mum, on Oct 29, 2007 09:41 PM, Report abuse Reply
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Can you give a slice of info abt Domain related concepts
by Sirajudeen, Bengaluru, on Nov 27, 2007 11:56 AM, Report abuse Reply