Internet is a system that interconnects the different computer systems across the world. In other words, The Internet is a vast network that connects computers all over the world.
Through the Internet, people can share information and communicate from anywhere with an Internet connection. It uses the Internet protocol suite to link devices located in different corners of the world.
The first development of the Internet came in the late 1960s with the creation of ARPANET, or the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network. Originally funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, ARPANET was on of the first general usage of computer networks.
On October 29, 1969, ARPAnet delivered its first message: a “node-to-node” communication from one computer to another. The technology continued to grow in the 1970s after scientists Robert Kahn and Vinton Cerf developed Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol, or TCP/IP, a communications model that set standards for how data could be transmitted between multiple networks.
ARPANET adopted TCP/IP on January 1, 1983, and from there researchers began to assemble the “network of networks” that became the modern Internet. In 1990 computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web.
With the Introduction of personal computers, the demand for commercial Internet usages increased. This was the time when Ethernet and other Local Area Networks cam in the foreground. In 1993, the web browser was introduced.
Internet is a system that interconnects the different computer system across the world. It uses the Internet protocol suit to link devices located in different conrers of the world. In Internet, the following services are instantly available:
1. Email
2. Web-enabled audio/video conferencing services.
3. Online movies and gaming
4. Data transfer/file sharing, often through File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
5. Instant messaging
6. Internet forums
7. Social networking
8. Online Shopping
9. Financial services
1. Dial-Up : In such connection, users are required to link their phone line to a computer to
access the internet
2. Broadband : It is provided either through cable or phone companies. It is a high-speed
internet connection which is widely used today.
3. Wireless Connections : Wifi and Mobile service providers fall under this category. Internet
connectivity is made via radio waves and the internet can be connected anywhere, irrespective of
the location. Examples are :
Wifi
Mobile Phones
Satellite
Integrated Services Digital Network(ISDN)
Major features of the Internet are listed below:
1. Easy to Use
The software that is used to access the Internet or web browser is designed in such a way that
is very simple and can be easily learned and used. Also, it is easy to develop.
2. Flexibility
Flexibility in terms of transfer of data. Basically, the internet network carries information in
digital form in a majority of cases.
3. Accessibility
Internet service is a worldwide service and access to all. People located in remote or anywhere
interior can also use the Internet. Therefore, information through the internet flows across the
networks in a standardised manner.
4. Interaction with Other Media
Businesses are expanding with the help of the Internet. Internet service has a high degree of interaction with other media. For example, News and other magazine, publishing houses have extended their business with the help of Internet services.
5. Low Cost
The maintenance and development costs of Internet service are comparatively low.
6. Security
Internet service helped the security system both at an individual and national levels. For
example CCTV cameras, etc.
The Internet is like a double-edged sword. On one hand, the internet offers users endless opportunities for knowledge, entertainment, and research.
However, this same tool can also be misused for negative purposes such as sharing offensive content or sending hateful messages anonymously.
Pros of Internet
1. Instant access to almost any information
The internet is the best source of information around. It offers a huge amount of information on almost any topic imaginable, from how to change a tire to the history of the world. Whatever you want to learn, you can do it quickly and easily online.
2. Easy communication with friends and family
The internet makes communication easier than ever before. Whether you are meeting up with friends or family members, or keeping in touch with loved ones who live far away, going online means you don’t have to leave home. You can also use social media platforms to stay connected to people all over the world.
3. Online Services and E-commerce
Many services of email, online banking, online shopping, etc are there. Free mail to anyone is definitely accessible all around the world. E-commerce enables one in America to shop for things in Asia, Africa, or other areas of the world through some simple clicks of the mouse.
4. Social Network
The Internet has given a massive gain in these social networking sites as it connects people who are far away in just a few seconds.
5. Learning
The web has now become a neighborhood of education. Education like homeschooling is definitely administered using the web. Teachers can upload their teaching videos on the web and nowadays many more platforms have come to teach students because of the accessibility of the Internet.
Cons of Internet
1. Wastage of time
Considering today’s lifestyle, one prominent advantage of the Internet is addiction. People are getting addicted to the internet, watching videos and reels without realizing they are wasting so much of their time.
2. Cybercrime
It is increasing rapidly as more information is shared and getting leaked.
3. Risk of identity theft
Online scammers are constantly looking for ways to access your information and steal your identity, which can lead to serious problems like having your bank account emptied.
4. Increased risk of depression among teens
A recent study found that teenagers who spend more than five hours a day online are more likely to develop depression. This is thought to be because online users are often surrounded by negative content such as cyberbullying, offensive messages, and other upsetting content.