9

Air Force Institute of

Technology, Kaduna
FACULTY OF COMPUTING
DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

Course Title: Introduction to Computer Course Code: AMS 103

LECTURE NOTE
INTRODUCTION TO INTERNET
INTRODUCTION

In the present age of information Technology, use of Internet is becoming quite popular for
accessing information on any topic of your interest. It also provides tremendous opportunities to
students, researchers and professionals for getting information on matters related to academic and
professional topics and lot more. In the present world, most Of the people who have computers
around themselves use Internet to access information from the World Wide Web, exchange
messages & documents and e-services.

OBJECTIVES

After going through this lesson, students would be able to:

• explain various terminology used in internet

• use various services provided by internet

• search the desired information over internet

• define e-mail and its various features

1.0 INTERNET
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard
Internet protocol (IP) to serve billions of users worldwide.
It is a network of networks that consists of millions of private, public, academic, business,
and government networks, of local to global scope, that are linked by a broad array of
electronic, wireless and optical networking technologies.
The Internet carries a vast range of information resources and services, such as the
interlinked hypertext documents of the World Wide Web (WWW) and the infrastructure to
support electronic mail.
It is a global network connecting millions of computers. More than 1000 countries are linked
into exchanges of data, news and opinions. Unlike online services, which are centrally
controlled, the Internet is decentralized by design. Each Internet computer, called a host, is
independent. Its operators can choose which Internet services to use and local services to
make available to the global Internet community.
1.2 USES OF INTERNET

Internet has been the most useful technology of the modern times which helps us not only in our
daily lives, but also our personal and professional lives developments. The internet helps us achieve
this in several different ways.

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 For the students and educational purposes, the internet is widely used to gather information
so as to do the research or add to the knowledge of various subjects.
• Business professionals and the professionals like doctors, access the internet to filter the
necessary information for their use.
The internet is therefore the largest encyclopedia for everyone, in all age categories.
The internet has served to be more useful in maintaining contacts with friends and relatives
who live abroad permanently.

1.3 BENEFIT OF INTERNET

• Millions of people with shared interests—no matter how obscure--exchange information and build
communities through Web sites, email and instant-messaging software.

• Large companies can connect with employees, suppliers, and partners around the globe, and small
businesses can find their customers anywhere in the world.

• The internet is also a time-efficient tool for teachers that expands the possibilities for curriculum
development.

• The Internet brings people closer together. Before the Internet, it was possible to keep in touch
with relatives and friends across the country or around the world—butit was also expensive.

• The Internet makes the world simpler. For businesses, the Internet breaks down logistical barriers,
offering greater flexibility and power in the way they do business.

1.4 LIMITATIONS OF INTERNET

• Theft of Personal information: Electronic messages sent over the Internet can be easily snooped
and tracked, revealing who is talking to whom and what they are talking about. If you use the
Internet, your personal information such as your name, address, credit card, bank details and other
information can be accessed by unauthorized persons. If you use a credit card or internet banking for
online shopping, then your details can also be 'stolen'
that due to more time spent on
• Negative effects on family communication: It is generally observed
among the family
Internet, there is a decrease in communication and feeling of togetherness
members.
viruses, but computers are also. Computers are
• Virus threat: Today, not only are humans getting
is a program which disrupts the normal
mainly getting these viruses from the Internet. Virus is
attached to internet are more prone to virus
functioning of your computer systems. Computers
hard disk.
attacks and they can end up into crashing your whole

1.5 SERVICES OF INTERNET

(a) E-Mail (Electronic Mail)
method of sending messages, notes or letters from
E-mail or Electronic mail is a paperless
people at the same time via Internet. E-mail is very fast
one person to another or even many
messages usually take only few seconds to arrive at
compared to the normal post. E-mail
anytime of the day or night, and, it will get
their destination. One can send messages have
to wait for the post office to open and you don't
delivered immediately. You need not What's more,
works 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
to get worried about holidays. It
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the copy of the message you have sent will be available whenever you want to look at it even
in the middle of the night. You have the privilege of sending something extra such as a file,
graphics, images etc. along with your e-mail. The biggest advantage of using email is that it is
cheap, especially when sending messages to other states or countries and at the same time it
can be delivered to a number of people around the world. It allows you to compose note, get
the address of the recipient and send it. Once the mail is received and read, it can be
forwarded or replied. One can even store it for later use, or delete. In e-mail even the sender
can request for delivery receipt and read receipt from the recipient.

Features of E-mail
One-to-one or one-to-many communications
Instant communications
Physical presence of recipient is not required
Most inexpensive mail services, 24-hours a day and seven days a week
Encourages informal communications

Opening a new e-mail account on

&æ-loo!
On the address tool bar of internet explorer, type http://www.yahoo.com

Press Enter

The Yahoo homepage below will be displayed

8'YAAoo!
Seych

Click on Free mail Sign up

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 A Yahoo registration form will be displayed as below

Hi there!

Create My Account
Carefully fill the form and click on when finished

A congratulatory message will be displayed to confirm your registration

Congratulations, Suleyman!
A confirmation message was sent to you 'aa email

(b) WWW (World Wide Web)

This is a graphical environment that allows text and pictures to be displayed on your screen,
via software called Web browsers (such as Microsoft Internet Explorer). In addition, sound
and movies are also supported on the WWW.
The Microsoft Internet Explorer Web Browser
Microsoft was a little late in realizing the full potential of the Internet, but soon came to
understand its importance. Their version of a Web browser is called the Microsoft Internet

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 Explorer, It has tho advantage of being tightly integrated into Windows / and
Microsoft Offi( e.

(c) FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

• VI P (f ile Transfer Protocol) is way of to and from the Internet
Often this is done using your browser, or you may obtain [P software
• [TP sites are typically used for uploading and downloading files to central server
computer, for the sako of filo di%tribution,
• In order to download and upload files to an site, you need to connect using special
some browe.er
software, There are both commercial and freo f TP software programs, and
based free FTP programs as well,
• The typical information needed to connect to an FTP site is:
you wj%h
- The "server address" or "hostname", This is the network address of tho computer
to connect to, such as ftp.rnicr0%oft.com.
specific files
- The username and password. These are the credentials you use to access the
on the computer you wish to connect to.
The objectives of FTP are:
To promote sharing of files (computer programs and/or data),
- To encourage indirect or implicit use of remote computers.
To shield a user from variations in file storage systems among different hosts.
To transfer data reliably, and efficiently.

1.6 TYPES OF INTERNET CONNECTIONS

(i) Dial up Connection

(ii) DSL Connection

(iii) Cable Modem Connection

(iv) VSAT
(i)Dial up connection
Dial-up refers to an Internet connection that is established using a modem. The modem connects the
computer to standard phone lines, which serve as the data transfer medium. When a user initiates a
dial-up connection,the modem dials a phone number of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) that is
designated to receive dial-up calls. The ISP then establishes the connection, which usually takes
about ten seconds and is accompanied by several beeping and a buzzing sound. After the dial-up
connection has been established, it is active until the user disconnects from the ISP. Typically, this IS
done by selecting the "Disconnect" option using the ISP's software or a modem utility program.
However, if a dial-up connection is interrupted by an incoming phone call or someone picking up a
phone in the house, the service may also be disconnected.

Advantages
• Low Price

• Secure connection your jp address continually changes

• Offered in rural areas you need a phone line

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Disadvantages

• Slow speed.

• Phone line is required.

• Busy signals for friends and family members.

(ii)DSL connection

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is a family of technologies that provides digital data transrni%ion
the wires of a local telephone network. DSL originally stood for digital subscriber loop, In
telecommunications marketing, the term DSL is widely understood to rnean Asymmetric Digital
Subscriber Line (ADSL), the most commonly installed DSL technology. DSL service is delivered
simultaneously with wired telephone service on the same telephone line. This is possible becaue,e
DSL uses higher frequency bands for data separated by filtering. On the customer premises, a DSL
filter on each outlet removes the high frequency interference, to enable simultaneous use of the
telephone and data. The data bit rate of consumer DSL services typically ranges from 256 kbit/3 to 40
Mbit/s in the direction to the customer (downstream),depending on DSL technology, line condition;
and service-level implementation. In ADSL, the data throughput in the upstream direction, (the
direction to the service provider) is lower, hence the designation of asymmetric service. In Symmetric
Digital Subscriber Line (SDSL) services, the downstreamand upstream data rates are equal,

Advantages:
Security: Unlike cable modems, each subscriber can be configured so that it will not be on
the same network. In some cable modem networks, other computers on the cable modem
network are left visibly vulnerable and are easily susceptible to break in as well as data
destruction.
Integration: DSL will easily interface with ATM and WAN technology.
High bandwidth
Cheap line charges from the phone company.
Good for "bursty" traffic patterns

(iii)CabIe Modem Connection

A cable modem is a type of Network Bridge and modem that provides bi-directional data
communication via radio frequency channels on a HFC and RFoG infrastructure. Cable modems are
primarily used to deliver broadband Internet access in the form of cable Internet, taking advantage of
the high bandwidth of a HFC and RFoG network. They are commonly deployed in Australia, Europe,
Asia and Americas.

(iv)VSAT
Short for very small aperture terminal, an earthbound station used in satellite communications of
data, voice and video signals, excluding broadcast television. A VSAT consists of two parts, a
transceiver that is placed outdoors in direct line of sight to the satellite and a device that is placed
indoors to interface the transceiver with the end user's communications device, such as a PC. The
transceiver receives or sends a signal to a satellite transponder in the sky. The satellite sends and
receives signals from a ground station computer that acts as a hub for the system. Each end user is
interconnected with the hub station via the satellite, forming a star topology. The hub controls the
entire operation of the network. For one end user to communicate with another, each transmission
has to first go to the hub station that then retransmits it via the satellite to the other end user's
VSAT.

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Advantages
Satellite communication systems have some advantages that can be exploited for the provision of
connectivity. These are:
• Costs Insensitive to Distance
• Single Platform service delivery (one-stop-shop)
• Flexibility
• Upgradeable
• Low incremental costs per unit

Disadvantages
However, like all systems there are disadvantages also. Some of
these are
can be
High start-up costs (hubs and basic elements must be in place before the services
provided)
Higher than normal risk profiles
Severe regulatory restrictions imposed by countries that prevent VSAT networks and
solutions from reaching critical mass and therefore profitability
Some service quality limitations such the high signal delays (latency)
Natural availability limits that cannot be mitigated against
Lack of skills required in the developing world to design, install and maintain satellite
communication systems adequately

ASSESSMENT
1. What are the different types of Internet Connection?
2. Fill in the blanks:
is a type of Network Bridge and modem that provides bi-directional data
communication via radio frequency channels on an HFC and RFoG infrastructure.
(b) The is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard
Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to serve billions of users
worldwide.
(c) VolP stands for referring to the protocol that underlies alt Internet
communication

ANSWER TO ASSESSMENT

1. The types of internet connection are:

• Dial up Connection
• DSL connection
• Cable ModemConnection

2. (a) cable modem (b) Internet (c) Voice-over-Internet Protocol