FREE ESSAY ON INTERNET

INTERNET

Beam me up, Scottie. This popular line from Star Trek was a demonstration of the advanced
technology of the future. Though it was a fictional story, Star Trek became the universal
vision of the future. As always reality tends to mimic fiction. Though our society has
not quite resulted to living in space, we have made life easier with technology. Economic
survival has become more dependent upon information and communications bringing forth new
technology of which was never thought possible. Just a mere thirty years ago a computer
occupied a whole room compared today's palm sized computers, which are faster and perform
more functions. Cellular phones, now light and compact, were bulky just ten years ago.
The most incredible invention, the Internet, is bringing infinite amount of information
to your desktop. In the world of the of the Internet there exist a world blind to skin
color and other physical appearances. The Internet while still young in age has grown
rapidly, spreading to countries world wide and connecting 50 million users. With its
popularity, it is incumbent upon our society to recognize how the Internet works and to
be aware of its advantages as well as disadvantages.
While seemingly high tech the Internet concept is rather simple. Computers speak to one
another and send information. This is accomplished by sending and receiving electronic
impulse, and then decoding them into a message. In order to communicate with one another
they are linked up in a network. They are then able to access information from thousands
of other computers. The network acts like one large computer storing information in
various places, rather than in one physical structure. Users tap into the Internet to
access or provide information. Internet technology allows one to surf the World Wide Web
or send e-mail. The vision of the Internet that would revolutionize the computer and
communications belonged to JCR Licklider of MIT (Leiner n. page). In August of 1962 he
envisioned a globally interconnected set of computers which would allow everyone to
quickly access data and programs (Leiner n. page). A government sponsored project at
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) started in October (Leiner n. page).
The race for discovery of such technology raged between the Soviet Union and The United
States of America. Both countries wanted control of the possibly powerful tool. Then in
1968, The National Physical Laboratory in Great Britain set up the first test network,
which prompted the Pentagon's ARPA to fund a larger project in the USA. (Sterling n.
page)
However the race was not limited to just nations but also companies. In 1965, working
with Thomas Merrill, Lawrence G. Roberts created the first wide-area computer ever built.
These experiments proved that computers could work together running programs and
retrieving data as necessary on remote machines. Roberts put together his plan for
ARPANET, published in 1966. At that time he learned of Donald Davies and Roger
Scantlebury of NPL and Paul Baron and others at RAND. Research at MIT (1961-1967), RAND
(1962-1965) and NPL (1964-1967) while parallel had no knowledge of one another. In August
of 1968 an RFQ, a refined model of ARPANET was released for the development of one of the
key components, the packet switches Interface Message Processors (IMP). Bolt Beranek and
Newman (BBN) installed the first IMP at UCLA and the first host computer was connected.
By the end of 1969 four host computers were connected together into the initial ARPANET
and the Internet was off the ground. In 1977, electronic mail was introduced. (Leiner n.
page)
As the Internet quickly grew, changes were necessary. The Internet's decentralized
structure made it easy to expand but its NCP did not have the ability to address networks
further down stream than the destination IMP. Bob Kahn decided to develop a new version
of the protocol which eventually became known as the Transmission Control Protocol /
Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Compared to the NCP which acted as a device driver, the new
protocol was more like a communication protocol. In order to make it easier to use, Host
were then assigned names, replacing numbers. A group of scientist then set out to show
that a compact and simple implementation of TCP was possible. They succeeded, allowing it
to run on desktop computers. (Leiner n. page).
Original uses of the Internet included government communications and a forum for
scientist to share ideas and help one another in research. In the 1980's the Internet
grew beyond its primarily research roots to include a broad user community and increased
commercial activity. In present day it has become a tool for conducting research and
finding information, as well as communications with others. Electronic mail, amazingly
popular, with chat rooms and discussion groups makes the Internet a popular place for
meeting new people. (Leiner n. page).
Perhaps the largest shift is in the profile of Internet users. In the beginning users
were scientist and government officials: those highly educated and well trained. However
today's 50 million users are all ages and from all backgrounds (Why use the Internet? n.
page). Access to the Internet is no longer limited and can be found just about everywhere
including schools, colleges, libraries, and at home. In 1992 the Internet had a growth of
twenty percent every month (Why use the Internet? n.page). A developer of the Internet
said, If the Internet stumbles, it will not be because we lack for technology, vision, or
motivation. It will be because we cannot set a direction and march collectively into the
future. ( Leiner n. page)
Clearly the Internet has brought many conveniences. Businesses and students benefit from
the technology as well as those who use the Internet for personal uses. Over 50 million
people used the Internet in 1995 and by the year 2000 the number is predicted to be over
150 million (Why your company should be on the Internet n. page). Fortune Magazine said,
The Internet is the biggest and earliest manifestation of the way business is going to be
conducted from now on. Companies are embracing the Internet and those who do not will be
left behind (Why use the Internet? n. page). The Internet opens a wider audience to
companies providing customers valuable information via mailing lists. Space on the
Internet is inexpensive compared to paper, radio and television advertisements, therefore
companies reach a broader community with little cost (Why use the Internet? n. page).
Most web users are well educated Americans with professional or technical jobs with
median annual salary of $69,000, making them a prime target group. Opening a storefront
online gives the advantage of always being open. The Internet is a fair playing field for
large and small companies alike. Computer networks track inventory and consumer demand
resulting in increased profits (Why Minnesota Students Need Access to the Internet n.
page). Remote video conferencing and Internet phones allow companies to conduct live chat
sessions with clients around the world. Data bases are available for public or private
uses. Companies can transfer files, bulletins or e-mail via the Internet, and it is all
very affordable.(Why use the Web? n.page)
Students as well as commerce is benefiting from the Internet. Students need more
information than is offered by school libraries. The Internet gives students access to
resources from around the world. They are also more willing to sit and browse the
Internet then to use the library. Information can be found, selected and retrieved faster
on the Internet. Entire books can be transferred in minutes (Sterling n.page). Students
find the Internet to be a viable educational tool which makes them aware of the globalism
of the world rather than sheltered in the realm of the classroom. They have the option of
writing to pen pals in other countries and getting to know other cultures.
(MRP-Discussion n. page)
The Internet also serves as a preparation tool for the future. The world is moving
towards electronics: in today's market being competitive means knowing how to get
information, and more and more, it is traveling by wires. The Internet allows children to
get hands on experience, and helps them develop intellectual skills and problem solving.
It allows children to research information that interest them. For example, a child
interested in baseball can find information on the latest statistics and read about the
history of the sport. By educating themselves it opens their minds to technology. ( Why
Minnesota Students need access to the Internet n.page)
The Internet is a popular place to socialize. Exchanging information with those far away
take only seconds using the Internet. While postal mail can take days, electronic mail,
or e-mail, takes seconds. Many companies offer e-mail services for free to those with
access to computer with a modem. Unlike phone system and postal system there are no
charges for long distance service or communication with foreign countries. E-mail and
instant messages (found in programs such as America Online and ICQ) can be used to send
images and software. (Sterling n. page)
Internet technology has gone as far as to allow people to make new friends without any
physical contact. One way to meet new people is to join an Internet discussion group. In
such a group people with a common interest ask and receive advice and exchange
information. Another opportunity to meet new people is in Internet chat rooms. In such
rooms one can speak freely to anyone as if they were at a party. America Online users
refer to relations charter though the sever as AOL luv. Those in discussion groups and
chat rooms are not limited to just Americans but open to people all around the world. The
Internet is a world wide tool filled with many cultures, and different people. 
In this world, race is not a factor since there is no physical contact. Everyone is equal
and has the freedom to express oneself. It is an institution that resists
institutionalization. It belongs to everyone and yet no one, everyone sort of pitches in
and it evolves on its own. There are no censors, bosses, board of directors or
stockholders. The Internet is unregulated and uncensored.
However, the Internet being so free and uncensored presents many problems. Acknowledgment
of children using the Internet has fueled a fight for regulation. Parents can not always
monitor their children, therefore the Internet needs to be a safe place for the children.
Children have access to the Internet in schools, libraries, and just about everywhere. In
schools it is nearly impossible for a teacher to watch all the children, and in libraries
it is not the librarian's job to monitor them. Computers and the Internet are for
everyone, including children, thus it has become an immense problem.
Access to pornography has been one of the greatest concerns among parents. Surprisingly,
pornography is easy to access and children will. Children are naturally curious and love
to explore. Minors are also targeted by advertisers. Just like on television advertisers
try to lure children in with pictures and web sites which include games and chat rooms.
However the biggest danger is not what they find on the Internet but who they find. The
information they access is not as dangerous as the people they meet. There have been many
cases of molesters and kidnappers searching for pray on-line. Nicknames are used to
protect the identity of the children but can also be used to mask adults. They enter
children's chat rooms and coax the children to trust them. Nonetheless, denying the
children access to the Internet is not the solution, perhaps software is. However
software limiting children's access to web pages have not been successful. In some case
the software does not filter out all inappropriate pages but filters out
non-objectionable pages. (Should children be kept off-line? n.page)
Molesters and kidnappers are not the only people with access to the Internet we should
fear. Those mischievous thinkers also pose a threat. Known as hackers or crackers, they
search for vulnerable computer systems then strike. Businesses can lose trade secrets,
and the damages can be a disaster. In 1996 Dan Framer, a security consultant, tested
2,000 computers networks, and of those 65% had security holes large enough for an
intruder to enter (Freedman 280). 
Government computers are just a vulnerable as teenagers have recently demonstrated.
Teenagers working out of their home with guidance from a 18 year old broke into
government classified information. Though they were caught, it bought alarm to the
possible dangers of information leaks. The United States' enemies could have access to
military codes and top secret files.
Although the average person is not targeted by hackers they are in danger of fraud and
con-artists. Stolen credit card numbers have been rumored to be a major problem. The
chances of it happening are not as great as the media makes it to be, but nevertheless it
is a problem. The criminals easily get away with such a crime. They get the number of a
credit card and charge ridiculous bills, but by the time the bill comes they have moved
on to the next victim. Many schemes come in the form of junk mail. They offer deals that
sound too good to be true and chances are they fake. They only ask for a small sum of
money up front, next they cash the check and move on. ( Anarchy Online 98)
Secure passwords can prevent hackers from accessing computers. Passwords should consist
of numbers, letters and symbols: an example P11++69. No matter how secure and high tech
the computer security system, all it takes is a simple , stupid password like hello to
render the whole system worthless. (Freedman 279)
Though the Internet has its advantages it also has disadvantages, therefore users should
educate oneself on the revolutionary tool. With over 50 million users the Internet is
rapidly growing and is to the '90's what the personal computer was to the 70's. New
usage's are springing up everyday, making it impossible to predict the future of the
Internet. One thing certain is that the Internet has revolutionized the computer and
communications. The Internet is a world wide broadcasting capability, a mechanism for
collaboration and interaction between individuals without regard to geographic location.
(Leiner n.page)