What is the Internet? 

I receive this question at least once a week. What is the Internet?

Now, you can study network architecture and TCP/IP for years, but all you really need to know is how the internet works.

The Internet is made up of many computers that are sharing files which are all connected on the same network. The computers are either servers or clients – a fancy name for users. Every computer that is on the Internet has a unique number called an IP number. We receive that number from our Internet service provider. Because of your unique number, when you request a web page or get your email, the server knows how to find you on the network. No computer can share the same 2 IP numbers. When you enter in the web address www.wnpt.org, you are really just asking to see the files on the computer server at WNPT.
Also, most of my students are fascinated by how fast data travels on the Internet. Once a server places the pages for you to view on the network and it is headed your way, it travels at the speed of electricity; which is almost the speed of light or 186,000 miles per second.

Not bad for a computer network designed back in the 1960’s. What else do you have in your home from the 60’s that works this well?