APCSP Networking and History of the Internet

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering fundamental networking concepts, the historical evolution of the internet and World Wide Web, and computer hardware components from APCSP Unit 2.

Sputnik 1

The first human-made artificial satellite launched into space by Russia on October 4, 1957, which served as the cataclysmic event that began the creation of the Internet.

Packet Switching

A technique invented by Paul Baran in 1962 that breaks down data into smaller packets to transfer them efficiently across networks without congestion, requiring the sender IP address, receiver IP address, and reassembly order.

ARPA (Advanced Research Project Agency)

A United States agency created in response to the Cuban Missile Crisis and Cold War communication disruption fears; renamed DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) in 1972.

ARPANET

A major network launched in 1969 that connected universities for research over phone lines, initially linking UCLA (CA LA University), Stanford, UC Santa Barbara, and the University of Utah.

Ray Tomlinson

The computer programmer who developed the first email program.

TCP/IP

The foundational internet protocol created in 1973 by Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn to enable reliable communication across multiple networks, later required and adopted by ARPANET in 1976.

Vint Cerf

A computer scientist recognized as the father of the internet who co-created TCP/IP and coined the term "internet."

Ethernet Cable

A physical networking cable invented by Robert Metcalfe in 1973 that carries data between devices over a wired Local Area Network (LAN) or Wide Area Network (WAN).

NSFnet

A major backbone network created in 1981 by the National Science Foundation (NSF) alongside ARPANET to connect university researchers.

DNS (Domain Name System)

A system created by the University of Wisconsin that translates machine-readable IP addresses into human-readable domain names for easier network navigation.

T1 Lines

A dedicated, private, digital telecommunications circuit developed by the NSF in 1985 that served as a high-capacity, reliable backbone connection.

T3 Lines

High-capacity network lines deployed by the NSF to alleviate severe congestion on T1 lines, providing a massive increase in data transmission speed.

Tim Berners-Lee

The researcher known as the father of the World Wide Web who invented the World Wide Web, HTML, HTTP, and URLs between 1990 and 1991.

GUI (Graphical User Interface)

A visual interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices and software using graphical elements such as icons and windows rather than text commands.

Mosaic for X

The first Graphical User Interface (GUI) web browser designed for the World Wide Web, developed by the University of Illinois.

Commercialization of the Internet (1994)

The transition period beginning around 1994 characterized by commercial activities, including Pizza Hut offering online pizza ordering and the launch of First Virtual, the first cyber bank.

Network

A system linking two or more devices or components together for the purpose of sharing data, hardware resources, and software programs.

OSI Model (Open System Interconnection)

A 7-layer networking framework used to implement protocols, where control and data pass sequentially from one layer to the next.

Protocol

A standardized set of rules defining how devices format, communicate, and transmit data across a network.

ISR (Internet Service Router)

An all-in-one networking device used by most home networks that combines a network switch, a router, and a wireless access point.

IPv4

A 32-bit internet protocol addressing system formatted as numerical groups separated by periods.

IPv6

A scalable 128-bit internet protocol addressing system formatted in hexadecimal notation as 8 groups of 4 hexadecimal digits separated by colons.

Internet

The global, physical network of interconnected computers and networks.

World Wide Web

A digital system of linked documents and resources transmitted over the physical infrastructure of the Internet.

Cache

Supplementary high-speed memory that a computer's CPU uses to store frequently used instructions.

Bus Speed

A measurement of how quickly data travels across the electrical pathways (busses) on a computer's motherboard.

RAM (Random Access Memory)

The computer's temporary memory that can be read and written by the CPU, providing fast access to instructions and data currently in use.

CPU Speed

A measurement of how rapidly a computer processor can execute a single clock cycle in one second.

Graphics Card

A piece of computer hardware that processes and renders visual data, enabling high-quality display output on monitors.

LAN (Local Area Network)

A computer network covering a small, localized physical area, such as a school building (e.g., Deep Run HS or CIT).

WAN (Wide Area Network)

A telecommunications network that spans a large geographic region, such as an entire school district (e.g., HCPS).

Node

A physical connection point within a network that acts either as a redistribution point or an endpoint for data transmission.

Motherboard

The main circuit board that connects all hardware components together within a computer.

Chipset

Small rectangular components mounted on the motherboard that direct and regulate the flow of data between hardware parts.

Busses

Microscopic wires and conductive tracks etched onto a motherboard that transmit data signals between components.

Heat Sink

A thermal dissipation device mounted directly on top of microprocessors to draw heat away from them.

Hard Drive

The permanent, primary storage drive of a computer that retains its data even when power is turned off.

CMOS Battery

A small onboard battery that continuously powers the system clock, date, and basic BIOS firmware settings when the PC is off.

SATA Cable

A physical interface cable used to link storage devices, such as hard drives, to the motherboard for data transfer.

Peripherals

Auxiliary hardware devices connected externally to a computer (typically through USB ports) to expand its capabilities and functionality.