Communication of the Internet - Part 1
The Internet is one of the most pervasive technological phenomena of the last two decades because it is communication through technology — and a primary instinct of any human being is the instinct to communicate.
Why do we say that the Internet is communication through technology? What is the Internet? The Internet is a global network connecting computers around the world. It allows people using these computers to interact through e-mail, websites, online message boards, webcasts, etc.
And the Internet, being a medium that is so pervasive, has revolutionized not only the way we interact but also the way we think, live our lives, and do business. And it is so convenient too! It only requires a computer and an ISP (Internet Service Provider).
The Origins of the Internet as a Communication Tool
The Internet began as a project of ARPANET (the Advanced Research Projects Agency of the US Department of Defense) in 1960. It was commissioned by the Pentagon to look into the uses of this mode of communication for military purposes. Since then, the Internet steadily evolved into the indispensable communication tool it is today.
The Internet was not that fast or convenient in the beginning. It first operated at a very low data transfer rate, which meant long spells of waiting for the data to push itself through. Today, the Internet has reached amazing speeds compared to its early capabilities—anywhere from 56 kilobytes per second to as much as upwards of 10 megabytes per second. Faster data transfer rates mean more power and more power means better Internet communication.
