Toshiba A500 An overview of using the Internet

138 Exploring Your Computer’s Features
An overview of using the Internet
An overview of using the Internet
The following sections give a quick introduction to the Internet and
some of its exciting features, under these headings:
❖The Internet
❖The World Wide Web
❖Internet Service Providers
❖Connecting to the Internet
❖Surfing the Internet
❖Internet features
❖Uploading to, and downloading files from, the Internet
The Internet
The Internet is an association of thousands of networks and
millions of computers around the world connected by
communications lines. They all work together to share information.
The World Wide Web
The World Wide Web (or “Web”) is a subset of the Internet—a
collection of interlinked documents (located on computers
connected to the Internet) that work together using a specific
Internet protocol called Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).
The World Wide Web offers information as text, images, audio, or
video to be referenced from anywhere in the world. Special
programs called Web browsers are specifically designed to work
with HTTP. They make it easier to connect to a particular network
address and send and receive information.
Internet Service Providers
To connect a computer directly to the Internet, many people and
businesses use an Internet Service Provider (ISP). An ISP is a
company that has the equipment and the telecommunication lines
necessary to maintain an Internet connection.
You can connect to the Internet by using a telephone and modem or
through other higher-speed communication methods such as Digital
Subscriber Lines (DSL), cable, and satellite links.