The internet is a worldwide public network of computers on which people can join and use

multiple services such as sharing of information.

OR

The Internet, sometimes called simply "the Net," is a worldwide system of computer networks - a network of networks in which users at any one computer can,

if they have permission, get information from any other computer (and sometimes talk directly to users

at other computers).

1957(Potential Origin and Beginning )

The USSR launches Sputnik, the first artificial earth satellite. In response, the United States forms the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) within the Department of Defense (DoD) to establish US lead in science and technology applicable to the military.

(January 1, 1983) is considered the official birthday of the Internet. Prior to this, the various computer networks did not have a standard way to communicate with each other. A new communications protocol was established called Transfer Control Protocol/Internetwork Protocol (TCP/IP). This allowed different kinds of computers on different networks to "talk" to each other. ARPANET and the Defense Data Network officially changed to the TCP/IP standard on January 1, 1983, hence the birth of the Internet.

TCP/IP stands for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, which is a set of networking protocols that allows two or more computers to communicate. The Defense Data Network, part of the Department of Defense, developed TCP/IP, and it has been widely adopted as a networking standard.

1. SEARCH ENGINES 2. COMMUNICATION – MSN, SKYPE,

YAHOO .3. CHAT ROOMS – THE MIRC 4. ELECTRONIC MAIL (E-MAIL)5. SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES

•Search engines such as Google, Yahoo, MSN and Lycos are used for searching the internet for information or pictures. For example, you may need to find information about surfing the internet safely. All you need to do is to go to the engine and give a keyword of the topic you are interested in finding information for. In our example you could type in the search bar “internet safety” and the engine would come up with all the information available for this topic.

Messenger services provide a real breakthrough in communication today. Their use has managed to minimize distances and offer the chance to people who have friends and families living far away from them communicate easily and cheap.

• Chat rooms are being used from people for communicating with individuals from all over the world.

Electronic mails are another form of communication which nowadays has replaced our traditional hand written letter. E-mails are letters that can be sent through the internet and can arrive almost instantly and without cost.

Social Networking Sites are websites through which people can create a personal profile of themselves so that other members of this website can contact them should they like their profile. Social Networking sites are offered for creating friendships, relationships and acquaintanceships (a person known to one, but usually not a close friend).

• sometimes referred to as Microsoft Internet Explorer (MSIE) -- is the most widely used World Wide Web browser. It is bundled with the Microsoft Windows operating system and can also be downloaded from Microsoft's Web site.

• A browser is an application program that provides a way to look at and interact with all the information on the World Wide Web.

1. The Menu Bar is just below the Title bar. Just as in any Windows-based program, the Menu bar contains some menus that are familiar such as File, Edit, View and Help. Tools and Favorites provide features that are unique to Internet Explorer.

2. The Toolbar contains shortcut buttons that allow for easy navigation between Web sites. Some tools are used to perform certain tasks such as printing and searching. As you drag your mouse pointer across the top of the toolbar, a bubble will appear to give you the purpose of each button.

3. The Address Box displays the Internet address (URL) of the page currently being displayed. You can access a new site by typing its’ URL into the Address Box and clicking on Go. Click the down arrow to the right of the Address Box to view site addresses that you have previously entered here.

4. The Links Menu contains favorite Internet locations that you can access with just a click of the mouse.