Introduction 

What is the Internet?

Global network of computer networks

Internet works because these networks are connected to each other and speak the same language. The language is called the TCP/IP protocol.

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol or TCP/IP is a group of protocols for sending and receiving packets of data between networks. A protocol is a set of rules.

Client-server applications form the basis for almost all Internet activity. These applications are platform independent which means that information stored on a UNIX machine can be accessed from not only other UNIX machines but also PCs, Macs and other computers.

Collection of shared services and resources

Few users are attracted to the Internet because of its TCP/IP protocols. They come to use e-mail, exchange files, search library catalogs, buy records and t-shirts, practice their language skills, find a new recipe, etc. E-mail is the most popular and easiest to use Internet service.

With the introduction of each new Internet service, a new and larger group of users was brought to the Net. For example, the Gopher's easy menus attracted a large group of people who found telnet and ftp too complicated to use. World Wide Web supplanted Gopher and attracted a huge audience because it's simple to navigate and includes multi-media capabilities.

Community of information providers and users

From the beginning the Internet "ethic" encouraged organizations and individuals to share their ideas and resources on the Net. This unstated, but widely shared belief, led to a vast array of information and misinformation on the network.

What is an Intranet?

The key difference between the "Internet" and an "intranet" is who can access the information. Companies and other organizations create internal intranets by adapting the TCP/IP protocols to serve internal business needs. Firewalls are employed to limit access to company computers and selected outsiders. The typical Internet services (e-mail, ftp, www) are used extensively and link to internal and external sources of information.

Who controls the Internet?

Short answer: Nobody.
Longer answer: A set of voluntary international groups agree on various standards that regulate the transmission of data via the Internet. The individual networks that are connected to the Internet have their own internal control mechanisms and authorities.