Internet and the World Wide Web

Internet and the World Wide Web

1. Typical services provided by an ISP

   • An Internet Service Provider (ISP) sells internet access to companies or individuals
     • Services:
       • Bandwidth options
       • Email Service
       • Web servers
       • Website filtering
       • Web hosting service
       • Security package (to fight hacking/viruses etc.)
       • Junk Email and Pop-up blocker
       • Customer Service

2. Features of pages on the W.W.W.

   • Protocols/Languages
     • Webpages written using HyperText Markup Language (HTML)
     • Hypertext Transfer Protocol sends webpages across internet.
     • The Uniform Resource Locator (URL)/ Web Address usually begins with "http://" indicating the page uses HTTP
   • Webpages
     • Webpages can contain sound, video, animation, graphics and hypertext as well as simple text
     • Webpages are viewed using a web browser.
     • Hypertext provides the user with clickable links to other pages on the web

3. Differences between...

   • Internet
     • Does not contain Information
     • Provides transport links for information to pass between computers
     • Is a network of networks
   • W.W.W.
     • An application that runs on the internet
     • Is the largest and most used service on the internet
     • Can be described as a multimedia service

4. Hardware and Software Required for Online Access

   • PC/Mac
   • An ISP
   • Browser Software
   • A Telecommunications Line (dialup, ISDN, ADSL). The physical connection to the internet.
   • A device that allows the computer to communicate with the internet: a cable/ an ADSL broadband/ standard modem or an ADSL wireless router
     • An ADSL...
       • ... transfers data...
         • ...to the internet (uploading)
         • ...from the internet (downloading)
       • ...allows the user to have access to the internet and make phone calls simultaneously
       • ...expands the data available for data transfer

5. Comparison between the internet and an intranet

   • The advantages of an Intranet
     • Information, once uploaded can be viewed by the entire organization at any time
     • Users can: communicate using email, bulletin boards and messaging facilities;share resources; find out general information about the organization
     • Can improve communications within an organization
   • What is an Intranet?
     • Private network website used within an organization
     • Uses the same protocol as the web, i.e. TCP/IP
     • Not accessible by the public and can be protected by a firewall