The Internet is a global network of computer networks (Ackermann, 1995). It began in the late 1960s. Communication that is made possible with this global network may be leading to the most significant changes in human communication since Gutenberg invented metal-type printing in 1456. At this time, the Internet Society says that the Net consists of over 50,000 computer networks on all seven continents. About 29,000 of these networks are in the United States.  Communication scientist John Pavlik (1998) estimates that the Internet links over 100,000 computer networks in the world.

The Internet allows rapid transfers of data, messages, documents, sound, and images. It makes time and space trivial barriers to contemporary human communication (when access is not at issue). The technical rules for how the computers share data through the Internet are called protocols. The type of data transfer done is known as packet switching. Packet switching began in the 1960s (Dern, 1994). A multiplexing process is used to divide a stream of data into packets for transmission.

Early research on packet switching gave rise to the Internet. The building of the Net continues today as users, designers, governments, businesses, and organizations add data, sites, connections, links, etc. to the existing networks. The United States Department of Defense in the 1960s, funded research for a decentralized computer network. The network was called ARPANET. ARPA stood for Advanced Research Projects Agency. ARPANET linked researchers at universities, research labs, and some military labs (Ackermann, 1995). In 1969, the ARPANET consisted of only 4 host computers. Electronic mail (e-mail) was introduced in 1972. In the 1980s, the National Science Foundation (NSF) funded development of a network called NSFNET to connect supercomputer centers in the United States. Colleges and universities were encouraged to join (Ackermann, 1995).

Throughout the 1980s, commercial activity was minimal on the Internet. The Internet and private computer networks like CompuServe were kept separate. In 1990, ARPANET ceased its network administrative activities and NSFNET took them over (Ackermann, 1995). NSF create InterNIC in 1993 to provide services such as the registration of domain names. Commercial networks were allowed to conduct business. The services were then contracted to the private sector.

The Internet has doubled in size (number of hosts and domains) from 6.6 million hosts in 1995 to 12.8 million hosts in mid-1996. Domains increased from 120,000 to 488,000. The number of domains doubles every 12-15 months (Kantor & Neubarth, 1996). Actual numbers of users are different to pinpoint. Estimates of U.S. users vary from 9 to 35 million. Wirthlin Worldwide numbers indicate (from self-report,random sampling)that 27 million Americans are consistent Internet users (Kantor & Neubarth, 1996). As of December, 1997, Internet World reported that about 51 million U.S. adults (age 16 and older) were online (Internet World, December, 1997). The same item reported that females were 47% of users and were 58% of those who said that they intend to go online. Internet World obtained this data from IntelliQuest Information Group. Data reported in Internet World in early 1998 (2.98, p. 20) indicate that 21% of U.S. households have access to the Internet.

Technical Side of the Internet

The technical side of the Net is referred to as Open Architecture Networking. This networking allows the interconnection of separate networks which are designed individually. The open architecture networking design uses a protocol known as Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Networks are linked together with gateways and routers. Key objectives are low error, high reliability, and retransmission of signals when necessary to assure fast and dependable packet switching. The ARPANET and Internet brought about network innovations such as resource sharing, file transfer (ftp),remote log-in (TELNET), and e-mail. E-mail was one of the greatest innovations. Today, most organizations have e-mail and the technology has become a major adjunct to other organizational media such as telephone and paper mail. The Internet has what appears to be unlimited potential because it was designed to become a global infrastructure which keeps growing and expanding its architecture. Since its control is distributed, it has little chance of "down time." Host computers have domain name system (DNS) identification lines which are now familiar with most users (ex. www.cnn.com). One of the reasons for the success of the Internet is that the Net had its origins in the research and development activities of the military, universities, government laboratories. For example, numerous computer scientists involved with research were using the software that became the standard of the Net.

There has been some confusion over what is part of the Internet and what is not. The total sum of all computer networks in the world is known as the Matrix (Dern,1994). The Internet is a subset of the Matrix. By 1983, the military had its own network known as MILNET. While the Internet certainly represents a global network of networks within the Matrix and is a widespread infrastructure, there is a trend toward localization of networks that can linked into the Internet. Two levels are becoming more common. The first involves organizational networks which include Local Area Networks (LANs) and intranets (networks internal to organizations). The second level is community networks such as the Department of Energy's MFENet (magnetic fusion energy), NASA's SPAN, and computer scientists' CSNET. In the late 1980's there was networking service intended for higher education such as JANET in Britain and NSFNet in the United States. Most of the Internet was used for education-based purposes in the 1980's. The National Science Foundation (NSF) then encouraged regional networks to seek commercial users. In 1988, there was more emphasis on education and what was called a national research network. By 1994, early developers of the Net issued a report discussing directions for the Net. Privatization of the Net was complete by 1995.

Internet Users

In 1995, Nielsen data from telephone questionnaires indicated that about 37 million people in the U.S. and Canada had access to the Internet.

Generalizations about Internet users, based on consistency among survey and net users questionnaires yield the following conclusions about Internet users:
 

• More Internet users are male than female.
• Average Net usage is about 35 minutes/week.
• Net users are more affluent and educated than non-users.

The World Wide Web

The World Wide Web (WWW) is not the same thing as the Internet. The Web (WWW) is a hypertext system using the Internet. It was begun at CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics in Geneva, Switzerland (Ackermann, 1995). Its inventor is Tim Berners-Lee. You can explore the WWW epicenter at www.w3.org. Speculation about substitution of WEB activities is supplemented by dubious data reports such as the item in Internet World 2.98, p. 20) reporting a study by a group called ActivMedia. The data indicate that 20% of net users report decreased visits to bars after they started using the Internet. Files at Web sites are linked with hypertext connections. Programs that let you contact the sites are called browsers. Netscape Navigators are now the most commonly used browsers. LYNX is text-based only, cumbersome, and awkward. Forget LYNX if you can.

World Wide Web Users

In 1995, Nielsen data indicated that there were about 18 million WWW users in the United States and Canada. The same data indicated that about 2.5 million people in the two nations had made purchases through the Web. Studies about WWW users, when viewed for consistency, yield the following generalizations:
 

• WWW users are upscale, more educated, and professional.
• Web users are still more likely to be male than female.
• The most common Web activity is gathering information.
• About 1/5 Web users use it for shopping.
• Users complain about pages taking too long to load.
• About 35% of users displace TV with Web time.

Most business users at the corporate level view their Web sites as brochure-like. The main reasons that they find them useful are image building (48%), providing information about their products (39%), advertising (34%), and getting input from customers 16%). Most do not stress e-commerce or customer relationship-building with their sites. Only 3% view shopping as a reason for their sites (Internet World, 2.98,p. 20). Those who provide online commerce, ironically, do not use it themselves as consumers much! Only 25% do, according to data gathered by a group called Public Eye (Internet World, 2.98, p. 20).

Possible Infrastructure of the Future

Some observers claim that the Internet is reaching the size and function of a communication infrastructure (Ackermann, 1995). What is a communication infrastructure? It is a system of communication which supports organization, information flow, message exchange, etc. in ways that support other systems like economic systems, political systems, educational systems, etc. The Clinton administration decided to allow that Internet to become privatized (from NREN to NII), meaning that it functions as a network of private ventures operating with some governmental oversight (Ackermann, 1995). It is more likely that the Internet is an emerging infrastructure, but not yet one in its present existence. The majority of users are in North America and other English-speaking areas of the world. Neubarth & Kantor, 1996). Women are increasing in percentages, but are still only 31.5% of the total. Average Internet users income is an annual salary of $59,000 (Neubarth & Kantor, 1996).
 
 

Sources:

Ackermann, E. (1995). Learning to Use the Internet. Wilson, OR: Franklin, Beedle & Associates.

Dern, D. P. (1994). The Internet Guide for New Users. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Kantor, A., & Neubarth, M. (1996). Off the charts: The Internet of 1996. Internet World, December, 45-51.

Pavlik, J. V. (1998).  New Media Technology.  Boston: Allyn & Bacon.