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Connecting to the World
The Internet and Other Fascinating Places
194
Exploring the World of the Internet
This section contains only a brief overview of the Internet. For
more information, look through the books on the Internet that
are available at your local book or computer store.
The Internet is a network of computers located all around the
world. Information available on the Internet is actually contained
on one or more of the member networks. The Internet’s origins
trace back to the ARPANET, a system created by the U.S. Defense
Department. The National Science Foundation (NSF) greatly
expanded the system, providing researchers at various sites, such
as universities, access to one large body of information.
An on-line service, such as CompuServe or AOL, is operated by a
governing corporate body. The Internet, on the other hand, is much
more random. No governing body controls who may access its
resources or what information may be published on it. Every user
is free to contribute and participate without restriction. As more
users log on, contributing their own personal styles, the Internet
continues to change. The open, international nature of the Internet
makes it impossible to regulate or control effectively.
Here are some of the things you can do on the Internet:
❖
Search for information on any topic.
❖
Send and receive electronic mail (e-mail).
❖
Join a written conversation in progress with one or more other
people.
❖
Shop and do your banking.
❖
Get computer programs and other information files.
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Listen to the radio.
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Play games with people from around the world.
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Watch live concerts and interviews.
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Publish your own articles, books and multimedia works.