The term INTERNET comes from the phrase interconnected networks. Simply put, the Internet is a network of information.

     So, what is a network? A network is a collection of two (2) or more computers connected together via cables so that various things, like files, can be shared. Usually, you will find a network of computers in a research lab, in universities, or in large corporations. These local networks can then be connected, via high-speed phone lines/fiber optic cables/satellite links/etc., to the Internet. So, essentially, one might say that the Internet is a network of networks.

     It's important to note that one need not be connected to a local network to access the Internet, however. This is where local Internet service providers come in. An Internet Service Provider (ISP) is a business that sets up an Internet connection, then sells access to anyone who wants it.

     At the present time, there are basically four (4) major functions of the Internet:

1. Used as a means of communication,

2. Used as an information resource,

3. Used as a storage medium for a massive number of files, documents, graphics, etc.,

4. Serves as a virtual community, with real people behind the monitors.

     The Internet provides several services, such as:  Email, File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Gopher, Telnet, and Newsgroups.

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