Bandwidth is key when connecting to the Internet.
The Internet is a network of networks that allows the decentralized interconnection of computers through a set of protocols called TCP/IP .
Using a browser , users can connect to the server that hosts a website and access its content.
To visit a specific web page, you can type the URL into the navigation bar. Another option is to use a search engine and enter the corresponding link.
History of the Internet
The Internet had its origins in 1969 , when an agency of the United States Department of Defense began looking for alternatives to a possible atomic war that could cut people off from communication.
Three years later, the first public demonstration of the system was carried out, thanks to the fact that three universities in California and one in Utah managed to establish a connection known as ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network) .
Differences with the World Wide Web
Contrary to popular belief, the Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW) are not synonymous. The WWW is an information system developed in 1989 by Tim Berners Lee and Robert Cailliau . This service allows access to information linked via the HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) protocol.
Other services and protocols available on the network of networks are remote access to computers known as Telnet ; the FTP (File Transfer Protocol) file transfer system; email , both POP and SMTP ; P2P file sharing; and online conversations or chats .
A modem and a router are basic tools for connecting to the Internet.
The Internet, a revolution on a global scale
The development of the Internet has far exceeded all expectations and has constituted a true revolution in modern society . The system has become a pillar of communications, entertainment and commerce in every corner of the planet.
Statistics indicate that in 2006 , the number of Internet users (known as netizens ) exceeded 1.1 billion people . That number was expected to double in the following decade, driven by the widespread use of high -speed ( broadband ) access, but the results exceeded expectations: in 2020 , the number of Internet users exceeded 4.54 billion, almost 60 percent of the world's population and more than double what had been anticipated.
One of the reasons why the Internet has become so widespread is the creation of smartphones , which today we simply call mobile phones or cell phones because they are the norm, but which at the time represented a technological and social revolution. While the first mobile phones simply allowed us to make calls and send short text messages, little by little companies added features that expanded them to become small computers, with spectacular screens and incredible sound quality for their size.
Today, wireless connectivity allows you to access any online service or digital platform regardless of your physical location. With a WiFi connection or other technology, you can enjoy the countless offerings available on the Internet via a phone or laptop.
Thanks to the Internet, the online advertising business emerged.
The growth
At first, the Internet seemed overwhelming to people outside the world of computing, and that is why it aroused the interest almost exclusively of technology lovers. Like all changes, it did not happen overnight, but it was thanks to the first to adopt this tool for communicating remotely that the Internet was gradually promoted, showing more and more attractive features for skeptics.
Chat was undoubtedly one of its fundamental pillars, to the point that many of today's users turned to the Internet exclusively to take advantage of it. Although chat rooms are not so popular today, during the 90s they enjoyed great success. It should be noted that the possibilities they offer are not entirely comparable to those of current instant messaging systems, since they allow people to meet spontaneously while being organized by location, interests, ages and more categories.
In short, we can say that the Internet began as a curiosity for those who wanted to expand the possibilities of their computers, but in a matter of years it became the most used tool in everyday life to carry out or complement almost all of our activities, from communications to work, including entertainment.
Advantages of the Internet
The advantages offered by the Internet are numerous compared to other communication tools. It is impossible today not to mention the concept of social network , a type of platform or service that allows establishing contacts and sharing all kinds of information.
Access to music and movies via streaming (without having to download content), the possibility of storing data in the cloud , purchasing products through e-commerce and e-learning are other alternatives available to Internet users.
It is important to note that, in order to minimize risks, it is necessary to take cybersecurity measures. Using a firewall and antivirus is an essential action to avoid infecting devices with malware or spyware and to avoid being a victim of phishing .