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New Internet User's Guide

The following provides definition to commonly used terms you'll encounter on the Internet along with answers to common questions.

Acronyms
Protocols
Why is it called the World Wide Web?
What is the Internet?
What is Telecommunications?
What is a Modem and what does it do?
Uses of the Internet
Cost to gain access to the Internet
How to access the Internet

What is a Protocol?

"...earliest protocol...Latin/Greek protocol;
first sheet of papyrus roll bearing the authentication and
date of manufacture of the papyrus;"

...applied to computer science,

"...an original draft, minute, or record
kept by a notary of documents or
transactions from which he/she certifies copies..."

The notary being the operating systems and logical control devices configured to support a given "protocol" facilitating interactive transactions between two or more computers. The record being the control information that accompanies the transceived (transmitted and received) blocks of data; the object of the transactions.

In the computer world facilitating inter connectivity between computer services protocols are established as a means of standardizing authentication/certification of computer information exchanges. The "protocols" mentioned, on the Acronyms & Terms page, lists a handful of the many established protocols used throughout the computer industry.

The computer system configuration you are currently using while connected to the Internet is utilizing more than a half a dozen protocols; and, very likely two or three times that many depending upon your actual connection of your ISP's link to the Internet. One that you may already recognize is "HTTP." These "protocols" have been and continue to be established and refined providing what is intended to be seamless telecommunication connection between computers and other devices.

Question:	Why is the World Wide Web (WWW) called the "World Wide Web?"
Answer:	The term "Web" reflects the inter-networking of the vast number of computers connected to a "World Wide" network via the Internet.
Question:	What is the Internet?
Answer:	Established in the early 1960's, to provide improved communications between government agencies, academic institutions and contractors, the Internet consists of a set of "protocols" (a set of rules) used by remotely connected computers via telecommunication lines (telephone lines) allowing them to communicate with one another; providing electronic mail, electronic file transfers, and remote access connection capabilities.
Question:	How do computers communicate with one another?
Answer:	Computers communicate using protocols to send and receive information. Information is sent by one computer to another computer using an established protocol common to both computers. The sending computer is notified by the receiving protocol that the data has been received. The process is repeated each time information is communicated from one computer to the other in a series of requests and responses.
Question:	What is a modem?
Answer:	A modem is a device that permits computers to communicate over telephone lines. It "Mo"dulates and "Dem"odulates an electronic signal from digital to an analog signal, and back again. Computer information is stored and processed in digital format. Standard telephone line signals are transmitted using analog signals (but, this is changing with Optical cabling). So, in order for computer data to be sent over analog transmission lines the digital information must first be translated into analog, then on the receiving end it must be translated back to digital.
Question:	What good is the Internet?
Answer:	The Internet is a communication medium that is available to use to communicate; just like a letter, a postcard, a telephone, a telegram, a television, a newspaper, a magazine, a book, a movie, a video tape, a phonograph record, an audio tape, a photograph, the list goes on and on and on. It's how it is used that determines what good it is. The Internet used to be a pretty boring place, used pretty much by business, academia, and government. With the establishment of the HTTP standard the World Wide Web was born, and the Internet started to become much less boring. If you think of the Internet as being all of those things listed in the paragraph above, plus a whole lot more, then add all of the uses that haven't been brought to market yet, then couple that with all of the things that haven't even been thought of yet, the uses of the Internet becomes almost boundless.
Question:	How expensive is it to use the Internet?
Answer:	The answer to this question changes each and every day. You can access the Internet through various service providers. Costs range from nothing to many dollars. It all depends on the kind of access you use and how often you use it. There is "Limited" access, meaning a set number of hours allowed each day, week or month. And, "Unlimited" access. Some local and long distance telephone carriers and online services such as America Online and CompuServe provided limited access including with some of their service packages. Again, these prices varying and change often, but you can find limited service for under $5.00 per month and unlimited for as little as $18.00 per month; often less. Cable access and ISDN high speed access starts at around $20 per month for a single connection and goes up with higher access speeds.
Question:	What's needed to access the Internet?
Answer:	You need: a computer a modem communications software a telephone line or Internet supportive cable service (note: cellular wireless and broadcast wireless connections are also available is some areas) an account with either a direct access provider or an online service that provides gateway access to the Internet. The faster your computer's processor and your modem's throughput rate the better. You can limp along with as little as an IBM® compatible 386 or an Apple Macintosh® 68000 computer, and a 14.4 baud rate (absolute minimum) modem; however, be prepared to sit and wait. It's strongly recommended to use the fastest processor and modem possible.
America Online® is a registered service mark of America Online, Incorporated. IBM® is a registered trademark of International Business Machines, Incorporated. Macintosh® is a registered trademark of Apple Computer Corporation. CompuServe® is a registered trademark of CompuServe Incorporated. Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language Unabridged ©1961-86 edition is copyright protected by Merriam-Webster, Inc.. Merriam Webster® is a registered trademark of Merriam-Webster, Inc.. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.