Objective
An understanding of why the Internet was created, how it has evolved and what lies ahead.
Instructions
Have students read the following articles: Birth of the Net [https://websitebuilders.com/learn-about/birth-of-the-net/]
The Future [https://websitebuilders.com/learn-about/future-of-the-net]
Discussion
- Describe the Internet.
- How long has the Internet been around?
- Who developed it and why?
- Who makes the rules that govern how the Internet is used?
- How has the Internet evolved?
- How has the original design of the Internet affected its development?
- How do you think the Internet will be used in the future?
- In what ways does the Internet affect your life?
Activities
- Visit the Internet Hall of Fame’s Living History Timeline [http://www.internethalloffame.org/internet-history/timeline] and discuss the major milestones in the development of the Internet.
- Visit the site of Internet2 [http://www.internet2.edu/] to see some of the ways this ultra high-speed network fosters new types of collaboration among scientists.
- Read and discuss some of the predictions about the future of the Internet at Imagining the Internet [http://www.elon.edu/predictions]
Discussion Guide
- Describe the Internet.
The internet is a network that connects millions of computers around the world.
- How long has the Internet been around?
ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network), the forerunner of today’s Internet, was created in 1969. (The World Wide Web began in 1990.)
- Who developed it and why?
The U.S. Department of Defense wanted to create a computer network that would continue to function in the event of a disaster, such as a nuclear war.
- Who makes the rules that govern how the Internet is used?
Commercial firms and other regional network providers took over the operation of the major Internet arteries from the National Science Foundation (NSF), an American research organization. NSF also coordinated a service called InterNIC that registered all addresses on the Internet so that data could be routed to the right system, which is now administered by Network Solutions, Inc. and other Internet registration services in cooperation with NSF.
- How has the Internet evolved?
Connecting to the Internet via DSL lines, cable, satellite and wireless networks increases bandwidth dramatically, making the Web much more useful. Increased speed has ignited an explosion of electronic commerce, video on demand, telecommuting, collaborative scientific projects, videoconferencing and virtual environments.
- How has the original design of the Internet affected its development?
Connecting to the Internet using 56 Kbps modems over telephone lines can be painfully slow, and receiving large data files like video clips can take a long time. New technology, including DSL lines, cable, satellite and wireless networks, has addressed this problem.
- How do you think the Internet will be used in the future?
Soon, everything from your car to your refrigerator will be connected to the global network, communicating with each other wirelessly. Encourage students to come up with specific examples of possible future uses of the internet.
- In what ways does the Internet affect your life?
Ask students for specific examples of the role of the internet in their lives.
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