Internet Basics
The Internet City Analogy
Internet Service Providers (ISP)

The Internet, at its root, is an international collection of networks. A network is a collection of two or more computers (usually dozens or hunderds) connected via special cables so they can share stuff like files and printers. Large organizations such as universities, research labs, and corporations typically own these networks. The Internet's job, in a nutshell,  is to connect these networks together using high-speed phone lines, fiber optic cables, or, occasionally, satellite links.

The Internet has literally millions of computers that are jammed to the hilt with documents, books, pictures, and other information resources. But organization? That's a whole 'nother story. Fortunately some geek types put their heads together and came up with an engenious little program called a Search Engine. (Some famous ones are Yahoo, Excite, Mama, Infoseek, and many others. To access one, you simply need to type in their full URL, such as: ( http://www.google.com) Basically, you type in a topic or some key words, hit Enter, and then sit back and let the little engine that could go to work. Depending on several factors like the topic, how narrow the key search words were, etc, in fairly short order you are presented with a list of possible web sites to go visit that (presumably) contain the information that you are looking for.

But it won't take you long to figure out that more then a few knuckleheads are having a good laugh on your behalf. For instance, whitehouse.com will not get you a tour of it's famous namesake. Instead, you will find yourself on one of about a gozillion porn sites that seem to be everywhere. So be careful! But have fun too. I can find out basically anything about anything anytime I want. My daughter's homework is surely benefitting from this personal world wide library that is now at our finger tips.

Behind everything you see on the Internet - the messages, the documents, the software - stands the person (or persons) who created it. Untold numbers of Net enthusiasts have spent countless hours assembling information, writing software, and answering questions. (You're welcome!) Amazingly, all this toiling in obscurity somehow managed to create a massive structure that works (most of the time) without the need for any semblance of central authority or governing body. However, any endeavor that boasts millions of participants is bound to attract its fair share of bozos, buttheads, and bellyachers. Hey, that's life. Overall, though, the Net denizens you'll encounter will be surprisingly helpful and generous and only too willing to engage in random acts of senseless kindness.

The Internet City Analogy (Top)

If an analogy would help, think of the Net as a giant city where the houses are computers. A neighborhood where the houses are connected with side streets is like an individual network connected via cables. In turn, each neighborhood  is connected to other neighborhoods via larget roads and avenues or, for longer trips, by highways and expressways.

The point is that in any city, you can get from your house to any other house by traveling along a particular set of streets, roads, and highways. The Internet works the same way. You can "travel" to other computers on the Net by "following" various communications lines that make up the Net's infrastructure. You just tell the Browser where to go, and it picks the best route automatically behind the scenes.

Once it "arrives", it will present you with the contents of the requested web site.

Internet Service Providers (ISP) (Top)

Internet Service Providers are businesses that set up an Internet connection and the sell access to anybody who wants it. You pay a fee, dial in with your modem (or connect directly with a Cable modem or DSL), and start surfing. ISPs also generally offer you e-mail, and many provide you with space on their servers to post your own web site.