GenEd 122 – LIVING IN THE IT ERA

Chapter 3

The Internet and the World Wide Web

Introduction
The Internet has changed the world, and will continue to have an
amazing impact on our day-to-day lives. For example, cars promise to
soon be able to drive themselves, avoid traffic accidents and
congestion, and automatically adjust personal schedules and much
more. This module covers the things you need to know to be prepared
for this ever-changing digital world, including:
Impact—how Internet technology is changing your world.
Hardware—how to connect your life to the Internet, including Wi-Fi,
smartphones, and tablets.
Applications—how to get ahead using social networking, streaming
technology, and cloud computing.

Desired Learning Outcomes/Competencies

At the end of the semester, the students must:

a. Explain the origins of the Internet and the web

b. Compare different web utilities and internet communication
c. Describe search tools, including search engines and specialized
search engines
Key Terms

File transfer protocol (FTP) and secure file transfer protocol (SFTP) allow
you to efficiently copy files across the Internet.

BitTorrent distributes file transfers across many different computers.

Web-based file transfer services make use of a web browser to upload

and download files.

3.1 Origin of the Internet and the Web

The Internet was launched in 1969 when the United States funded a
project that developed a national computer network called Advanced
Research Project Agency Network (ARPANET). The Internet is a large
network that connects together smaller networks all over the globe.
The web, also known as the World Wide Web or WWW, was introduced
in 1991 at the Center for European Nuclear Research (CERN) in
Switzerland. Prior to the web, the Internet was all text—no graphics,
animations, sound, or video. The web made it possible to include these
elements. It provided a multimedia interface to resources available on
the Internet.
The first generation of the web, known as Web 1.0, focused on linking
existing information. In this generation search programs, like Google
Search, were created to provide links to websites containing specific
words or phrases.

In 2001, the second generation, Web 2.0, evolved to support more

dynamic content creation and social interaction. Facebook is one of
the best-known Web 2.0 applications. While Web 2.0 changed the way
people contribute content or data to the web.
Web 3.0 focuses on how machines (computers) with little or no human
interaction create meaning for seemingly unrelated web data and
provide specific relevant information to humans. For example, Google
Now uses data from the web (e.g., an individual’s calendar of planned
activities, weather reports, traffic reports, etc.), searches for
interrelationships among the data (e.g., the effect of weather and traffic
on an individual’s planned daily commute to work), and automatically
presents relevant information to the user (e.g., sends an early morning
message to the individual’s smartphone regarding expected bad
weather and/or traffic delays).
It is easy to get the Internet and the web confused, but they are not the
same thing. The Internet is the physical network. It is made up of wires,
cables, satellites, and rules for exchanging information between
computers connected to the network. Being connected to this network
is often described as being online. The Internet connects millions of
computers and resources throughout the world. The web is a multimedia
interface to the resources available on the Internet. Every day over a
billion users from nearly every country in the world use the internet and
the web.

The most common uses are the following:

Communicating is by far the most popular Internet activity. You can

exchange e-mail, photos, and videos with your family and friends
from almost anywhere in the world. You can locate old friends and
make new friends. You can join and listen to discussions and
debates on a wide variety of special-interest topics.

Shopping is one of the fastest-growing Internet applications. You

can window shop, look for the latest fashions, search for bargains,
and make purchases.
Searching for information has never been more convenient. You
can access some of the world’s largest libraries directly from your
home computer. You can find the latest local, national, and
international news.

Education or e-learning is another rapidly emerging web

application. You can take classes on almost any subject. There are
courses just for fun, and there are courses for high school, college,
and graduate school credit. Some cost nothing to take and others
cost a lot.
Entertainment options are nearly endless. You can find music,
movies, magazines, and computer games. You will find live
concerts, movie previews, book clubs, and interactive live games.
3.2 Internet Access
The Internet and the telephone system are similar—you can connect a
computer to the Internet much like you connect a phone to the
telephone system. Once you are on the Internet, your computer
becomes an extension of what seems like a giant computer—a
computer that branches all over the world. When provided with a
connection to the Internet, you can use a browser program to search
the web.

Providers
The most common way to access the Internet is through an Internet
service provider (ISP). The providers are already connected to the
Internet and provide a path or connection for individuals to access the
Internet. The most widely used commercial Internet service providers use
telephone lines, cable, and/or wireless connections. Some of the best-
known providers in the United States are AT&T, Comcast, Sprint, T-Mobile,
and Verizon.

Browsers
Browsers are programs that provide access to web resources. This
software connects you to remote computers; opens and transfers files;
displays text, images, and multimedia; and provides in one tool an
uncomplicated interface to the Internet and web documents. Four well-
known browsers are Apple Safari, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and
Mozilla Firefox. (See Figure 2-2.)

Figure 2-2 Browser

For browsers to connect to resources, the location or address of the
resources must be specified. These addresses are called uniform
resource locators (URLs). All URLs have at least two basic parts.

The first part presents the protocol used to connect to the

resource. Protocols are rules for exchanging data between
computers. The protocol http is used for web traffic and is one of
the most widely used Internet protocols.
The second part presents the domain name. It indicates the
specific address where the resource is located. In Figure 2-3 the
domain is identified as www.mtv.com. The last part of the domain
name following the dot (.) is the top-level domain (TLD). Also
known as the web suffix, it typically identifies the type of
organization. For example, .com indicates a commercial site. (See
Figure 2-4.)

Once the browser has connected to the website, a document file is sent
back to your computer. This document typically contains Hypertext
Markup Language (HTML), a markup language for displaying web
pages. The browser interprets the HTML formatting instructions and
displays the document as a web page.

For example, when your browser first connects to the Internet, it opens
up to a web page specified in the browser settings. Web pages present
information about the site along with references and hyperlinks or links
that connect to other documents containing related information— text
files, graphic images, audio, and video clips.
3.3 Web Utilities

Utilities are programs that make computing easier. Web utilities are
specialized utility programs that make using the Internet and the web
easier and safer. Some of these utilities are browser-related programs
that either become part of your browser or are executed from your
browser. Others are designed to protect children from dangerous and
inappropriate website material. File transfer utilities allow you to
efficiently copy files to and from your computer across the Internet.
Internet security suites enhance security and privacy.

Plug-ins
Plug-ins are programs that are automatically started and operate as a
part of your browser. Many websites require you to have one or more
plug-ins to fully experience their content. Some widely used plug-ins
include

Acrobat Reader from Adobe—for viewing and printing a variety

of standard forms and other documents saved in a special format
called PDF.

Flash Player from Adobe—for viewing videos, animations, and

other media.

QuickTime from Apple—for playing audio and video files.

Windows Media Player from Microsoft—for playing audio files,

video files, and much more.

Some of these utilities are included in many of today’s browsers and

operating systems. Others must be installed before they can be used by
your browser.
Filters
Filters block access to selected sites. The Internet is an interesting and
multifaceted arena. But not all aspects of the Internet are appropriate
for all audiences. Parents, in particular, are concerned about children
roaming unrestricted across the Internet. Filter programs allow parents as
well as organizations to block out selected sites and set time limits. (See
Figure 2-8.)

Additionally, these programs can monitor use and generate reports

detailing the total time spent on the Internet and the time spent at
individual websites. For a list of some of the best-known filters, see
Figure 2-9.

File Transfer Utilities

Using file transfer utility software, you can copy files to your computer
from specially configured servers. This is called downloading. You also
can use file transfer utility software to copy files from your computer to
another computer on the Internet. This is called uploading. Three popular
types of file transfer are FTP, web-based, and BitTorrent.
 File transfer protocol (FTP) and secure file transfer protocol (SFTP)
allow you to efficiently copy files to and from your computer
across the Internet, and are frequently used for uploading
changes to a website hosted by an Internet service provider. FTP
has been used for decades and still remains one of the most
popular methods of file transfer.

Web-based file transfer services make use of a web browser to

upload and download files. This eliminates the need for any
custom software to be installed. A popular web-based file transfer
service is Dropbox.com or Microsoft OneDrive

BitTorrent distributes file transfers across many different computers

for more efficient downloads, unlike other transfer technologies
whereby a file is copied from one computer on the Internet to
another. A single file might be located on dozens of individual
computers. When you download the file, each computer sends
you a tiny piece of the larger file, making BitTorrent well suited for
transferring very large files. Unfortunately, BitTorrent technology
often has been used for distributing unauthorized copies of
copyrighted music and video. For a summary of web utilities, see
Figure 2-10.

Internet Security Suites

An Internet security suite is a collection of utility programs designed to
maintain your security and privacy while you are on the web. These
programs control spam, protect against computer viruses, provide filters,
and much more. You could buy each program separately; however, the
cost of the suite is typically much less.

Two of the best-known Internet security suites are McAfee’s Internet

Security and Symantec’s Norton Internet Security.
3.4 Communication
As previously mentioned, communication is the most popular Internet
activity, and its impact cannot be overestimated. At a personal level,
friends and family can stay in contact with one another even when
separated by thousands of miles. At a business level, electronic
communication has become a standard way to stay in touch with
suppliers, employees, and customers.

Some popular types of Internet communication are e-mail, messaging,

social networking, blogs, microblogs, webcasts, podcasts, and wikis.

E-mail
E-mail or electronic mail is the transmission of electronic messages over
the Internet. A typical e-mail message has three basic elements: header,
message, and signature. (See Figure 2-12.)

The header appears first and typically includes the following information:

Addresses: E-mail messages typically display the addresses of the

person or persons to whom the e-mail is sent. The e-mail message in
Figure 2-12 is to dcoats@usc.edu, with a copy sent to
aboyd@sdu.edu. E-mail addresses have two basic parts. (See Figure
2-13.)
 The first part is the user’s name and the second part is the domain
name, which includes the top-level domain. In our example e-mail,
dcoats is Dan’s user name. The server providing e-mail service for Dan
is usc.edu. The top-level domain indicates that the provider is an
educational institution.

Subject: A one-line description, used to present the topic of the

message. Subject lines typically are displayed when a person checks
his or her mailbox.

Attachments: Many e-mail programs allow you to attach files such as

documents and images. If a message has an attachment, the file
name typically appears on the attachment line.

The letter or message comes next. Finally, the signature identifies the
sender. This information may include the sender’s name, address, and
telephone number. For many business communications, the signature
also includes the sender’s company name, address, and telephone
number.

There are two basic types of e-mail systems: client-based and web-
based.

Client-based e-mail systems require a special program known as an

e-mail client to be installed on your computer. Before you can begin
e-mailing, you need to run the e-mail client from your computer,
which communicates with the e-mail service provider. Two of the
most widely used e-mail clients are Apple’s Mail and Microsoft’s
Outlook.

Web-based e-mail systems do not require an e-mail program to be

installed on your computer. Once your computer’s browser connects
to an e-mail service provider, a special program called a webmail
client is run on the e-mail provider’s computer and then you can
begin e-mailing. This is known as webmail. Most Internet service
providers offer webmail services. Three free webmail service providers
are Google’s Gmail, Microsoft’s Hotmail, and Yahoo!’s Yahoo!Mail.

For individual use, webmail is more widely used because it frees the user
from installing and maintaining an e-mail client on every computer used
to access e-mail. With webmail, you can access your e-mail from any
computer anywhere that has Internet access. E-mail can be a valuable
asset in your personal and professional life. However, like many other
valuable technologies, there are drawbacks too. Americans receive
billions of unwanted and unsolicited e-mails every year. This unwelcome
mail is called spam.

Spam is unwanted and unsolicited e-mail that may include a computer

virus or destructive programs often attached to unsolicited e-mail.

Spam blockers, also known as spam filters, are programs that identify
and eliminate spam. Most email programs provide limited spam blocking
capabilities. Many of these programs are free including SPAMfighter and
Intego Personal Antispam for Mac.

Messaging
While e-mail was one of the first and is one of the most popular electronic
messaging systems, other messaging systems have followed. Two of the
best known are text messaging and instant messaging.

Text messaging, also known as texting or SMS (short message service),

is the process of sending a short electronic message, typically less
than 160 characters, using a wireless network to another person, who
views the message on a mobile device such as a smartphone. Today,
billions of people send text messages every day. It has become one
of the most widely used ways to send very short messages from one
individual to another. While text messaging was originally limited to
characters, you can now send images, video, and sound using a
variation of SMS known as MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service).

Instant messaging (IM) allows two or more people to contact each

other via direct, live communication. To use instant messaging, you
register with an instant messaging service, such as Facebook or
Google+, and then specify a list of friends. Whenever you connect to
the Internet, your IM service is notified. It then notifies you of all your
friends who are available to chat and notifies your friends who are
online that you are available. You can then send messages directly
back and forth to one another. Most instant messaging programs also
include video conferencing features, file sharing, and remote
assistance. Many businesses routinely use these instant messaging
features. Two of the most popular instant messaging services are
Facebook Messenger and Google Hangouts.
Social networking

Social networking is one of the fastest-growing and most significant Web

2.0 applications. Social networking sites focus on connecting people
and organization that share a common interest or activity.

Three of the best known are Facebook, Google+, and LinkedIn

 Facebook was initially launched by a student at Harvard

University for college students in 2004. BY 2008 it was the most
widely used social networking site. Facebook provides a wide
array of features and applications including instant messaging,
photo and video sharing, games and much more.
There are three basic categories of Facebook users: individuals,
businesses and communities

Individuals create Facebook Profiles, which may include photos list of

personal interest, contact information, and other personal information.

Businesses create Facebook Pages to promote product and services.

Public figures such as politicians and entertainers frequently use
Facebook Pages to connect to their constituents and fans.

Communities of individuals who share a common interest often create

Facebook groups. These groups allow a number of people to come
together online to share information and discuss specific subjects

 Google+ also known as Google Plus, was launched in 2011. it is a

combination of some of Google Inc’s. Google+ provides access
to Circles, Hangouts and Sparks.

Circles for grouping individuals according to common interests or

other criteria,
Hangouts for communicating with up to 10 people at a time
Sparks which automatically provides news on selected topics of
interest and facilities sharing this information with others

Facebook and Google+ offer similar services. Facebook has been

around longer and has many more users. Google+, however, offers
integration with other Google services including Google Docs, Chat,
and Calendar.
  LinkedIn started in 2003 and has become the premier business
oriented social networking site. Although not nearly as large as
Facebook or Google+, it is the largest social networking site
focusing on business professionals. It has well over 100 million users

Blogs, Microblogs, Webcasts, Podcasts and Wikis

In addition to social networking sites, there are other Web 2.0

applications that help ordinary people communicate across the web
including blogs, microblogs, webcast, podcast and wikis

Many individuals create personal websites called blogs or web logs, to

keep in touch with friends and family. Some are like online diaries.
Businesses, newspapers and others also use blogs as a quick publishing
method. Several sites provide tools to create blogs. Two of the most
widely used are Blogger and WordPress

 Microblogs unlike traditional blogs only use short sentences that

only take a few seconds to write. Microblogs are designed to keep
friends and other contacts up to date on your interests and
activities. Twitter is the most popular microblogging site. Twitter,
enables you to add new content from your browser, instant
messaging application or even a mobile phone. A Twitter
message is known as a Tweet

 Webcasts deliver media content such music and movies .over the
Internet. Webcast use streaming technology in which audio and
video files are continuously downloaded to your computer while
you are listening to and or viewing the file content. After a
webcast has been completed, there are no files remaining on
your computer. Webcast typically broadcast live events.

For example, the popular website YouTube.com

 Podcasts like webcasts, deliver media content but do not use

streaming technology. Before content can be accessed, the
entire media files has to be downloaded and saved to your
computer.
Podcasts is a digital audio file made available on the Internet for
downloading to a computer or mobile device, typically available
as a series, new installments of which can be received by
 subscriber automatically. Once downloaded the file can be run to
listen to music or watch a movie as often as you would like. The media
files can also be transferred from your computer to a media player such
as an iPod

Examples include Amazon Video, Hulu and Netflix

 Wiki is a website specially designed to allow visitors to use their

browser to add, edit or delete the site’s content.
“Wiki” comes from the Hawaiian word for fast, which describes the
simplicity of editing and publishing through wiki software.
Wiki support collaborative writing in which there isn’t a single
expert author, but rather a community of interested people that
builds knowledge over time.Most famous example is Wikipedia, an
online encyclopedia, written and edited by anyone who wants to
contribute.

3.5 Search Tools

The web can be an incredible resource, providing information on nearly
any topic imaginable. Are you interested in music? Writing a paper on
the environment? Looking for a movie review? Trying to locate a long-
lost friend? Information sources related to these questions, and much,
much more, are available on the web. With over 20 billion pages and
more being added daily, the web is a massive collection of interrelated
pages. With so much available information, locating the precise
information you need can be difficult. Fortunately, a number of
organizations called search services operate websites that can help you
locate the information you need. Search services maintain huge
databases relating to information provided on the web and the Internet.
The information stored at these databases includes addresses, content
descriptions or classifications, and keywords appearing on web pages
and other Internet informational resources. Special programs called
spiders continually look for new information and update the search
services’ databases. Additionally, search services provide special
programs called search engines that you can use to locate specific
information on the web.
Search Engine
Search engines are specialized
programs that assist you in locating
information on the web and the
Internet. To find information, you go to a
search service’s website and use its
search engine. See Figure 2-19 for a list
of commonly used search engines. To
use a search website, you enter a
keyword or phrase reflecting the information you want. The search
engine compares your entry against its database and returns a list of hits,
or sites that contain the keywords. Each hit includes a link to the
referenced web page (or other resource) along with a brief discussion
of the information contained at that location. Many searches result in a
large number of hits. For example, if you were to enter the keyword
music, you would get billions of hits. Search engines order the hits
according to those sites that most likely contain the information
requested and present the list to you in that order, usually in groups of
10. Since each search service maintains its own database, the hits
returned by one search engine will not necessarily be the same hits
returned by another search engine. Therefore, when researching a
topic, it is best to use more than one search engine..

Specialized Search Engines

Specialized Search Engines focus on subject-specific websites

Examples:
Summary

To efficiently and effectively use computers, you need to be aware of

the resources available on the Internet and the web. Additionally, you
need to know how to access these resources, to effectively
communicate electronically, to efficiently locate information, to
understand Search tools and to use web utilities.

Literature Cited/Bibliography

O’Leary, T., O’Leary, L., & O’Leary, D. (2017). Computing Essentials

Complete Edition Making IT work for you. Retrieved from http://www.
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O’Leary (z-lib.org.pdf

Computing Essentials 2015

Making IT work for you by Timothy J O’Leary, et,al .

Computing Concepts 2nd Edition 2004 by Stephen Haag, Maeve

Cummings and Alan Rea, Jr.