Article 2 - The Internet

The Internet

The Internet is a network of computers linked together by telephone lines using data communication protocols. These data communications protocols set out the rules required to enable computers to "talk" to each other. We must not lose track of the fact that computers are basically very stupid things which do exactly what they are told to do. Problems arise when what they are told varies from what was intended. The rules for data communications have to include:

When has a computer stopped ‘talking’ so that the other can start to reply.
A way to check that the receiver has received exactly what was sent, no more and no less.
Rules to establish the address to which any reply can be sent.

Just think of the way people talk to each other, both face to face and using the telephone, and you will get the idea as to what is required here.

People in the IT industry talk about ‘servers’ and ‘clients’ when discussing the Internet. Simply stated, the ‘servers’ are computers which provide a service, and the ‘clients’ are the (usually smaller) computers accessing the Internet and asking questions etc.. In this way, your PC at home can be seen as a ‘client’ which uses a ‘server’ provided by BT, TalkTalk, Orange or one of the other service providers.

The other essential requirement for access to the Internet is a ‘modem’, whether this be a dial-up modem or a broadband modem. A broadband modem is usually built in to the (wireless) router supplied by your internet service provider. Broadband is much faster than using the older dial-up modem, and has the added advantage of not blocking your phone line while using the Internet. A large majority of people in England have access to Broadband services, but there are still some areas where technical difficulties mean that broadband is not available (for example, if you are too far from the local telephone exchange).

In addition to dial-up and broadband internet access, there is also mobile broadband and fiberoptic broadband (fiberoptic should be available in pasts of the area from mid-2012). Mobile broadband uses the mobile phone network to connect to the internet, and unless you are in a large city, is usually slower than broadband through your telephone line.

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