Chapter 4 : Basic computer networking & Internet Technologies
Internet
A communications network that connects computers all around the globe. |
Web
Short for World Wide Web. Just one of the many resources available over this communications network. |
What is Internet?
The internet is the largest computer network in the world, carrying information from one continent to another in the blink of an eye. The computers connected to this network offer many types of resources, such as e-mail, instant messaging, social networking, popular music downloads, and online shopping.
The internet is the largest computer network in the world, carrying information from one continent to another in the blink of an eye. The computers connected to this network offer many types of resources, such as e-mail, instant messaging, social networking, popular music downloads, and online shopping.
How do I access the Internet?
Most computers can be configured to connect to the Internet over telephone, cell phone, satellite, or cable television systems. Internet access can be obtained from school, computer labs, local services providers such us your cable television company, and national Internet service providers such as AOL, AT&T, Verizon and EarthLink.
WEB
What is the World Wide Web?
The Web was invented in 1991 by Tim Berners-Lee, while consulting at CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) in Switzerland.
The Web is collection of linked and cross-referenced information available for public access. This information is accessible from Web Sites located on millions of computers.
How The Web Works
Web documents can be linked together because they are created in a format known as hypertext.
To support hypertext documents, the web uses a special protocol called hypertext transfer protocol or HTTP.
A hypertext document is a specially encoded file that uses the hypertext markup language or HTML.
Website? Web page? Web browser?
A website is also written Web site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets.A web site is a collection of web pages.
A web page is a electronic document on the World Wide Web.The first page for a web site sometimes is called a home page.
A web browser is the computer program you use to access and view web pages.
What's on the Web Page?
Some sites use advertising to subsidize free content.
Most large web sites have some navigation scheme to find information.
Links on the home page will bring you directly to featured content
What is Hyperlink?
Hyperlinks typically appear as highlighted (underlined and colored) phrases.
Your mouse cursor will turn to a "pointing finger" when you've found a hyperlink.
Click once to follow a hyperlink. Graphics also can be hyperlinks.
For example :Chapter3
What's the URL
A Web page has a unique address, called a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) or Web Address.
The location window displays the URL of the current page.
URL would look like this:
Types of Web Sites
1. PORTAL
- A portal is a Web site that offers a variety of Internet services from a single, convenient location.
- A popular portals include AltaVista, MSN, Yahoo!, and iGoogle.
2. INFORMATIONAL
- An informational is Web site which strive to provide information on a particular subject or subjects to the reader. Online dictionaries, local councils and real estate companies are examples of informational websites.
3. NEWS
- A news Web site contains newsworthy material including stories and articles relating to current events, life money, sports, and the weather.
- Ex: Newspaper, television and radio station online.
4. EDUCATIONAL
- An educational Web site offers exciting, challenging avenues for formal and informal teaching and learning.
5. BUSINESS/MARKETING
- A business/marketing Web site contains content that promotes or sells products or services.
- Ex: Dell Inc., Ebay, mudah.my etc.
6. ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORK
- An online social network is a Web site that encourages members in its online community to share their interests, ideas, stories, photos, music and video.
- example: facebook, friendster, etc.
7. ENTERTAINMENT
- An entertainment Web site offers an interactive and engaging environment.Popular entertainment Web sites offer music, videos, sports, games, chats, and more.
8. BLOG
- A blog, short for Weblog is an informal Web site consisting of time-stamped articles, or posts, in a diary or journal format.
- example: blogspot.
How to use a Web Directories, Web Browser & Search Engine
Web Directories
A web directory lists resources, organized by subject area.
example: Yahoo!, LookSmart, MSN
Web Browser
Software application designed to find hypertext documents on the Web and then open the documents oh the user's computer.
example: Internet Explorer, Firefox & Chrome.
Search Engine
A search engine is a database of resources that can be searched by keywords.
example: Alta Vista, Northern Light, Google
Web Directory
Easy to use & Good for general subject searches or browsing. eg: Yahoo |
Search Engine
More Resources & Good for searches where you can use specific keywords. eg: Google |
Network?
A network is a set of technologies – including hardware, software, and media – that can be used to connect computers together, enabling them to communicate, exchange information, and share resources in real time.
The use of network
1. Facilitating communication
2. Sharing hardware
3. Sharing data and information
4. Sharing software
5. Transferring funds
COMMON TYPES OF NETWORK (LANs, MANs and WANs)
Networks usually are classified as a local area network, metropolitan are network, or wide area network.The main differentiation among these classifications is their area of coverage.
1. Local Area Networks (LANs)
A computer communications network contained in a small area such as a commercial building is known as a local area network (LAN).
This type of network contains computers that are relatively near each other.
2. Metropolitan Area Network (MANs)
+ A metropolitan area network is a high-speed network that connects local area networks in a metropolitan area such as a city or town and handles the bulk of communications activity across that region.
+ A MAN typically includes one or more LANs, but covers a smaller geographic area than a WAN.
+ Local and state governments for example regulate some MANs.
3. Wide Area Networks (WANs)
+A Wide Area Network (WAN) is a network that covers a large geographic area (such as a city, country, or the world) using a communications channel that combines many types of media such as telephone lines, cables, and radio waves.
+A WAN can be one large network or can consist of two or more LANs connected together.
+The Internet is the world’s largest WAN.