What is the Internet?

The Internet is a global network of interconnected computers that allow hundreds of millions of people to communicate with each other. The Internet has applications in every aspect of life, from medicine to entertainment and commerce. It is said that a quarter of the world's population now uses the Internet.

Origins

The Internet began as ARPANET in the 1960s as a Government project to develop a fault-tolerant computer network. Funding came from sources like the military and the National Science Foundation. The Internet began to flourish when the World Wide Web came into existence in the early 1990s.

Inner Workings

The Internet is based on the use of the TCP/IP protocol, which is a method of routing packets around the world, from one computer or network to another. A computer transmits data through a router, which acts like a post office that communicates with other routers to relay the data to its final destination.

Evolution

The ability of the TCP/IP protocol to connect with the existing but isolated computer networks, allowed computers around the world to join the Internet ad-hoc. The growth of the Internet developed without much central planning, allowing for people to connect freely. Originally access to the network was restricted to research and educational institutions; but over time commercial access became available, opening the way for large scale expansion around the world. The World Wide Web, which started in the 1990s, has evolved to become the face of the Internet.

Uses

The Internet is ubiquitous in first world countries and has reached millions in developing nations. Desktop computers, laptops and cell phones can access the Internet. The Internet has enabled online gaming, online buying and selling (e-commerce) and even the online digital distribution of entertainment. Future uses for the Internet include interplanetary communication and remote surgery.