The InternetBy Rory Gallagher

What is The Internet?

The internet is a worldwide, publicly accessible network of interconnected computer networks.

The internet carries lots of superinformation and services such as e-mail, online chat, file transfer and lots more!!

But how can we connect to the internet?

What additional hardware, software and other services are required to

access this tool??

You will need…

A modem A computer An internet browser Possibly a phone line… An account with an ISP

Hardware

To connect to the internet the hardware you

will require is a;

Computer Modem

Connecting To The Internet

You need a computer to communicate with another computer by using a telephone line. The problem is that computers use digital signals (i.e. 0 and

1’s)whilst telephones use an analogue signal.

And Therefore a modem is required to convert these signals…

What’s a Modem?!

The modem will usually be connected to a

Computer and its function is to modulate & demodulate.

In other words to convert the digital signal

from the computer to a analogue signal to be

sent over a phone line and vice versa.

Types of Modems…

There is many different types of modems available depending on

how you are connecting to the internet…

For example:

Types of Modems…- An analogue Modem To use with an ordinary phone line. This modem links your computer to the phone and converts computer signals to analogue phone line signals – and back again. The most common speed is 56kbps – very slow.

- An ISDN line & terminal adaptorIs a digital connection and slightly faster than analogue – 128kbps – still very slow.

- An ADSL or cable telephone line and broadband modemThis method is the most popular and is very fast – Up to 24mb Or 24000kbps.

- Radio/Wireless ModemsA modem which provides a Wireless Connection for connection to pc’s

and laptops etc. without wires. It normally includes a broadband modem to connect.

Example ModemADSL Wireless Router Modem

ISP’s

With a modem you are now able to send signals along the

telephone line to the telephone exchange

but where do they go after that?

You need to decide who is going to handle the link fromthe telephone exchange to the Internet for you.

There are companies called Internet Service Providersor ISP for short that do this for you.

What is an ISP?

Definition ISPs or Internet Service Providers are

the companies who provide you with access to the internet. Commonly used ISPs include BT, Orange, AOL, and Virgin. Most offer the same basic package of Internet access, email addresses, web space for your own pages and local rate call charges.  

Examples of an ISP

Software

To browse the internet you will require an

Internet Browser

What’s an Internet Browser?

A web browser is a software application is

that enables a user to display and interact

with text, images and other information typically located on a webpage on at a website on the world wide web or a local

area network.

Features of an Internet BrowserAll browsers will have a number of similar

features to help you use the Web:   Forward and back buttons to move between

pages A history folder which stores details of

recently visited web pages A stop button if a page is taking too long to

load Favourites and bookmark options to store

often visited pages Options to cut, copy, save and print the

information viewed

Examples of Internet Browser

Opera Browser

Examples of Internet Browser

Mozilla Firefox

Examples of Internet Browser

Internet Explorer

The Internet

So basically this is how you are connected to the internet;

PC (with internet browser) Modem + ISP

Homework!

For your homework you will give a full definition of;

- Modem- ISP- Internet Browser

Hint : Use your Textbook! The End