The document discusses why learning about the internet is important. It states that the internet has greatly affected businesses and organizations by allowing them to advertise, sell products, and reach new customers online. It also notes that the internet can be used to research careers, find job opportunities and salaries, and is used daily by many people in their jobs to communicate with coworkers. Whatever your career, the internet will likely be used daily. The chapter aims to explore how the internet works and the opportunities it provides.

1. Why Learn About the Internet?
To say that the Internet has had a big effect on organizations of all types and sizes
would be a huge understatement. Since the early 1990s, when the Internet was first
used for commercial purposes, it has affected all aspects of business. Businesses use
the Internet to sell and advertise their products and services, reaching out to new
and existing customers. If you are undecided about a career, you can use the Internet
to investigate career opportunities and salaries using sites such as
www.monster.com and HotJobs at www.yahoo.com. Most companies have Internet
sites that list job opportunities, descriptions, qualifications, salaries, and benefits. If
you have a job, you probably use the Internet daily to communicate with coworkers
and your boss. People working in every field and at every level use the Internet in
their jobs. Purchasing agents use the Internet to save millions of dollars in supplies
every year. Travel and events-management agents use the Internet to find the best
deals on travel and accommodations. Automotive engineers use the Internet to work
with other engineers around the world developing designs and specifications for new
automobiles and trucks. Property managers use the Internet to find the best prices
and opportunities for commercial and residential real estate. Whatever your career,
you will probably use the Internet daily. This chapter starts by exploring how the
Internet works and then investigates the many exciting opportunities for using the
Internet to help you achieve your goals.
Internet
A collection of interconnected
networks, all freely exchanging
information.
USE AND FUNCTIONING OF THE INTERNET
ARPANET
A project started by the U.S. Department
of Defense (DoD) in 1969 as
both an experiment in reliable networking
and a means to link DoD
and military research contractors,
including many universities doing
military-funded research.
Internet Protocol (IP)
A communication standard that
enables traffic to be routed from one
network to another as needed.
A Brief History of the Internet
ARPANET is created
TCP/IP becomes the protocol for ARPANET
1969
1982
Domain Name System (DNS) is created
Tim Berners-Lee creates the World Wide Web
1984
1991
Commercial Internet Exchange (CIX) Association is established
to allow businesses to connect to the Internet
1991

2. How the Internet Works
Transmission Control Protocol
(TCP)
The widely used Transport-layer
protocol that most Internet applications
use with IP.
backbone
One of the Internet’s high-speed,
long-distance communications
links.
Uniform Resource Locator
(URL)
An assigned address on the Internet
for each computer.
U.S. Top-Level Domain
Affiliations
com
edu
Business sites
Educational sites
gov
net
Government sites
Networking sites
org Nonprofit organization sites
Accessing the Internet
Several Ways to Access the
Internet
Users can access the Internet in
several ways, including using a
LAN server, dialing into a server
using the telephone lines, using a
high-speed service, or accessing
the Internet over a wireless
network.
Connect via LAN Server
This approach is used by businesses and organizations that manage a local area network
(LAN). By connecting a server on the LAN to the Internet using a router, all users on the
LAN are provided access to the Internet. Business LAN servers are typically connected to the
Internet at very fast data rates, sometimes in the hundreds of Mbps. In addition, you can
share the higher cost of this service among several dozen LAN users to allow a reasonable cost
per user.
Connect via Dial-up
Connecting to the Internet through a dial-up connection requires a modem that allows the
computer to use standard phone lines. The modem then contacts a server managed by the
Internet service provider (ISP). Dial-up connections use TCP/IP protocol software plus Serial
Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) or Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) software. SLIP and PPP are
two communications protocols that transmit packets over telephone lines, allowing dial-up
access to the Internet. After the connection is made, you are on the Internet and can access
any of its resources. Dial-up is considered the slowest of connections because it is restricted

3. by the 56 Kbps limitation of traditional phone line service. A dial-up connection also ties up
the phone line so that it is unavailable for voice calls.
Connect via High-Speed Service
Several “high-speed” Internet services are available for home and business. They include cable
modem connections from cable television companies, DSL connections from phone companies,
and satellite connections from satellite television companies. These technologies were
discussed in Chapter 6. High-speed services provide data transfer rates between 1 and 7 Mbps.
Unlike dial-up, high-speed services provide “always connected” service that does not tie up
the phone line.
Connect Wirelessly
In addition to connecting to the Internet through wired systems such as phone lines and
television cables, wireless Internet access is very popular. Thousands of public Wi-Fi services
are available in coffee shops, airports, hotels, and elsewhere, where Internet access is provided
free, for an hourly rate, or for a monthly subscription fee. Wi-Fi is even making its way into
aircraft, allowing business travelers to be productive during air travel by accessing e-mail and
corporate networks.6
Cell phone carriers also provide Internet access for handsets or notebooks equipped with
connect cards. New 3G mobile phone services rival wired high-speed connections enjoyed
at home and work. Sprint, Verizon, AT&T, and other popular carriers are working to bring
4G service to subscribers soon. 4G cell phone service will compete strongly against today’s
wired services. Wireless devices also require specific protocols and approaches to connect.
Internet Service Providers
Internet service provider (ISP)
Any company that provides Internet
access to people or organizations
THE WORLD WIDE WEB
World Wide Web
A collection of tens of millions of
server computers that work together
as one in an Internet service using
hyperlink technology to provide
information to billions of users.
hyperlink
Highlighted text or graphics in a Web
document that, when clicked,
opens a new Web page or section of
the same page containing related
content.
Web browser
Web client software such as Internet
Explorer, Firefox, and Safari used to
view Web pages.
Hypertext Markup Language
(HTML)
The standard page description
language for Web pages.
HTML tags
Codes that let the Web browser
know how to format text—as a
heading, as a list, or as body
text—and whether images, sound,
and other elements should be
inserted.

4. Extensible Markup Language
(XML)
The markup language for Web
documents containing structured
information, including words,
pictures, and other elements.
Cascading Style Sheet (CSS)
A file or portion of an HTML file that
defines the visual appearance of
content in a Web page.
Web 2.0 and the Social Web
Web 2.0
The Web as a computing platform
that supports software applications
and the sharing of information
between users.
rich Internet application
Software that has the functionality
and complexity of traditional application
software, but does not
require local installation and runs in
a Web browser.
Web Programming Languages
Java
An object-oriented programming
language from Sun Microsystems
based on C++ that allows small programs
(applets) to be embedded
within an HTML document.
Developing Web Content
The art of Web design involves working within the technical limitations of the Web and
using a set of tools to make appealing designs. Popular tools for creating Web pages and
managing Web sites include Adobe Dreamweaver, Microsoft Expression Web, and Nvu. (See
Figure 7.8.) Today’s Web development applications allow the user to create Web sites using
software that resembles a word processor. The software includes features that allow the developer
to work directly with the HTML code or use autogenerated code. Web development
software also helps the designer keep track of all files in a Web site and the hyperlinks that
connect them.
Web Services
Web services
Standards and tools that streamline
and simplify communication among
Web sites for business and personal
purposes.
Internet and web application
search engine
A valuable tool that enables you to
find information on the Web by specifying
words that are key to a topic of

5. interest, known as keywords.
Business Uses of the Web
In 1991, the Commercial Internet Exchange (CIX) Association was established to allow
businesses to connect to the Internet. Since then, firms have been using the Internet for a
number of applications, as discussed in this section.
E-mail, Instant Messaging, and Video Chat
. E-mail is no longer limited to simple text messages. Depending on your hardware and software
and the hardware and software of your recipient, you can embed images, sound, and
video in a message and attach any kind of file. The authors of this book, for example, attached
instant messaging
A method that allows two or more
people to communicate online using
the Internet
Career Information and Job Searching
The Internet is an excellent source of job-related information. People looking for their first
job or seeking information about new job opportunities can find a wealth of information.
Search engines can be a good starting point for searching for specific companies or industries.
You can use a directory on Yahoo’s home page, for example, to explore industries and careers.
Most medium and large companies have Internet sites that list open positions, salaries, benefits,
and people to contact for further information. The IBM Web site, www.ibm.com, has
a link to “Jobs at IBM.” When you click this link, you can find information on jobs with
IBM around the world. Some Internet sites specialize in certain careers or industries. The
site www.directmarketingcareers.com lists direct marketing jobs and careers. Some sites can
help you develop a résumé and find a good job. They can also help you develop an effective
cover letter for a résumé, prepare for a job interview, negotiate an employment contract,
and more. In addition, several Internet sites specialize in helping you find job information
and even apply for jobs online, including www.monster.com, www.hotjobs.com, and
Telnet, SSH, and FTP
File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
A protocol that describes a file
transfer process between a host and
a remote computer and allows
users to copy files from one computer
to another.

6. Web Log (Blog), Video Log (Vlog), and Podcasting
Web log (blog)
A Web site that people can create
and use to write about their observations,
experiences, and feelings
on a wide range of topics.
Usenet and Newsgroups
Usenet is an older technology that uses e-mail to provide a centralized news service. Topic
areas in Usenet are called newsgroups. A newsgroup is essentially an online discussion group
that focuses on a particular topic. Newsgroups are organized into various hierarchies by
general topic, and each topic can contain many subtopics. Table 7.7 provides some examples.
Usenet is actually a protocol that describes how groups of messages can be stored on and sent
between computers. Following the Usenet protocol, e-mail messages are sent to a host computer
that acts as a Usenet server. This server gathers information about a single topic into a
central place for messages. A user sends e-mail to the server, which stores the messages. The
user can then log on to the server to read these messages or have software on the computer
log on and automatically download the latest messages to be read at leisure. Thus, Usenet
forms a virtual forum for the electronic community, and this forum is divided into
newsgroups. Blogging, RSS, and social networking sites have drawn many users away from
Usenet forums.
Chat Rooms
chat room
A facility that enables two or more
people to engage in interactive
“conversations” over the Internet.
Internet Phone and Videoconferencing Services
Internet phone service enables you to communicate with others around the world. This
service is relatively inexpensive and can make sense for international calls. With some services,
you can use the Internet to call someone who is using a standard phone. You can also keep
your phone number when you move to another location. According to one Internet phone
user who moved from Madison, Wisconsin, to Californ
Social Networks
Social networking Web sites provide Web-based tools for users to share information about
themselves with people on the Web and to find, meet, and converse with other members.
The most popular social networking sites are MySpace and Facebook. Both sites provide
members with a personal Web page and allow them to post photos and information about
themselves (see Figure 7.15). Social networking sites allow members to send messages to each
Media Sharing
Media-sharing Web sites such as YouTube for video sharing and Flickr for photo sharing
provide methods for members to store and share digital media files on the Web. YouTube
allows members to post homemade video content in categories such as comedy, entertainment,
film and animation, how-to, news, people, pets, sports, and travel. As mentioned
earlier, Flickr allows members to upload photos to their own personal online photo album
and choose photos to share with the community.
Social Bookmarking
Social bookmarking sites are another example of Web 2.0. These sites provide a way for Web

7. users to store, classify, share, and search Web bookmarks—also referred to as favorites. The
typical purpose of social bookmarking sites is to provide a view of the most popular Web
sites, videos, blog articles, or other Web content at any given moment. Often social bookmarking
sites include Web browser add-ons (extensions) that provide a button on the toolbar
for recommending Web content. For example, del.icio.us is a social bookmarking Web site
that provides a “what’s hot right now” button. When you sign up for del.icio.us, you can
Content Streaming
content streaming
A method for transferring multimedia
files over the Internet so that the
data stream of voice and pictures
plays more or less continuously
without a break, or very few of them;
enables users to browse large files
in real tim
e.
Shopping on the Web
bot
A software tool that searches the
Web for information such as products
and prices.
Web Auctions
Web auction
An Internet site that matches buyers
and sellers.
Music, Radio, Video, and TV on the Internet
Music, radio, and video are hot growth areas on the Internet. Audio and video programs can
be played on the Internet, or files can be downloaded for later use. Using music players and
music formats such as MP3, discussed in Chapter 3, you can download music from the
E-Books and Audio Books
Digital books, both in text and audio form, are growing in popularity thanks to appealing
devices and services. Amazon’s e-book reader called the Kindle jump-started the e-book
market with its small form factor and high capacity.33 The Kindle wirelessly connects to
Amazon’s e-book service using free wireless service from Sprint to download books, blogs,
newspapers, and periodicals. It can store about 200 books.
Office on the Web
Having an Internet office with access to files and information can be critical for people who
travel frequently or work at home. An Internet office is a Web site that contains files, phone
numbers, e-mail addresses, an appointment calendar, and more. Using a standard Web
browser, you can access important business information. An Internet office allows your
desktop computer, phone books, appointment schedulers, and other important information
to be with you wherever you are.
Internet Sites in Three Dimensions
Some Web sites offer three-dimensional views of places and products. For example, a 3-D
Internet auto showroom allows people to select different views of a car, simulating the experience
of walking around in a real auto showroom. (See Figure 7.18.) When looking at a

8. 3-D real estate site on the Web, people can tour the property, go into different rooms, look
at the kitchen appliances, and even take a virtual walk in the garden. Map Web sites and
Internet-powered software like Windows Live Search and Google Earth provide views of
cities and locations in a 3-D environment.34 Second Life provides an
Other Internet Services and Applications
Other Internet services are constantly emerging. A vast amount of information is available
over the Internet from libraries. Many articles that served as the basis of the sidebars, cases,
and examples used throughout this book were obtained from university libraries online.
Movies can be ordered and even delivered over the Internet. The Internet can provide critical
information during times of disaster or terrorism. During a medical emergency, critical
intranet
An internal corporate network built
using Internet and World Wide Web
standards and technologies; used
by employees to gain access to
corporate information.
extranet
A network based on Web technologies
that links selected resources of
a company’s intranet with its customers,
suppliers, or other business
partners.
virtual private network (VPN)
A secure connection between two
points on the Internet.
tunneling
The process by which VPNs transfer
information by encapsulating traffic
in IP packets over the Internet.
NET ISSUES
Management issues. Although the Internet is a huge, global network, it is managed at
the local level; no centralized governing body controls the Internet. Preventing attacks is
always an important management issue. Increasingly, states are proposing legislation to
help collect sales tax from Internet sales.
• Service and speed issues. The growth in Internet traffic continues to be significant.
Traffic volume on company intranets is growing even faster than the Internet. Companies
setting up an Internet or intranet Web site often underestimate the amount of computing
power and communications capacity they need to serve all the “hits” (requests for pages)
they get from Web cruisers.
• Privacy, fraud, security, and unauthorized Internet sites. As use of the Internet grows,
privacy, fraud, and security issues become even more important. People and companies
are reluctant to embrace the Internet unless these issues are successfully addressed.
Unauthorized and unwanted Internet sites are also problems some companies face. A
competitor or an unhappy employee can create an Internet site with an address similar
to a company’s. When someone searches for information about the company, he or she
might find an unauthorized site instead. While the business use of the Web has soared,
online scams have put the brakes on some