Communication on the Internet - Part 2

The Various Uses of the Internet

Thanks to the Internet, we have e-mail. We no longer have to wait for ridiculous amounts of time to receive the post (now also called ‘snail mail’). But apart from the time saved, the Internet has also allowed people separated by oceans and continents to correspond as if they were in the same country.

The Internet as communication through technology allows people from opposite sides of the world to share files and documents of all sizes with each other. It also features radio and video feeds.

The Internet also gives people access to each other via Instant Messaging and Chat Rooms. Online Messaging services such as Yahoo! Messenger, MSN Messenger, AIM, ICQ, and Skype allow people to interact in real-time by typing in a message or ‘voicing’ (using a microphone-equipped headset) at minimal cost when compared to long distance or international phone calls.

The Internet also creates virtual homes for people on through webpages that allow one to post documents related to one’s personal life, hobbies, or business, and which anyone in the world with an online computer can access. Webpages give you a web presence, which lets the rest of the planet know you exist.

The Internet has also given birth to e-commerce. Not only can we promote our business to the rest of the world, the Internet has also enabled webpages to be truly interactive so that we can now shop, pay our bills, do our banking, and manage our investment portfolio over the Internet.

The Internet as communication through technology has grown by leaps and bounds since its fledgling ARPANET days indeed. It is no longer limited to a computer and a phone line or cable. We can now access all the Internet’s features though a cell phone or a laptop in hotspots—areas that have Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) service such as offices, campuses, and even coffee shops and restaurants!