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UPSA - University of Professional Studies, Accra

Scholarship with Professionalism

The Internet & The World Wide Web (Exploring Cyberspace)

Objectives

  • Understanding key topics regarding the Internet and World Wide Web:
    • Connecting to the Internet: Types of connections and Access Providers
    • Mechanisms: How Does the Internet Work?
    • Overview: The World Wide Web
    • Communication Methods: Email, Instant Messaging, etc.
    • Exploring Online Resources: Telephony, Multimedia, Webcasting, Blogs, E-Commerce, and Social Networking
    • Security Concerns: Snooping, Spamming, Spoofing, Phishing, Pharming, Cookies, Spyware, and Malware

The Impact of the Internet

  • Quote from futurist Graham Molitor:
    • "The immensity of the changes wrought and still to come cannot be underestimated. This miraculous information channel, the Internet, will touch and alter virtually every facet of humanity, business, and all the rest of civilization’s trappings."

Graphical History of Telecommunications and the Internet

Timeline of Significant Developments
  • 1621: Invention of the Slide Rule.
  • 1642: Blaise Pascal invented the first mechanical adding machine.
  • 1843: Ada Lovelace publishes notes, recognized as the world's first computer programmer.
  • 1844: Samuel Morse sends the first telegraph message from Washington to Baltimore.
  • 1876: Alexander Graham Bell patents the telephone.
  • 1895/1907: First radio signal transmitted / First regular radio broadcast from New York.
  • 1927: First demonstration of television in the USA.
  • 1944: First electro-mechanical computer (Mark I) developed.
  • 1946: ENIAC, first programmable electronic computer, introduced in the United States.
  • 1947: Vannevar Bush proposes hypertext; creation of the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA).
  • 1958: First commercially available modem introduced.
  • 1989: World Wide Web established by Tim Berners-Lee; first home trials of fiber communications network.
  • 1990: ARPANET decommissioned; first ISP goes online.
  • 1992: Introduction of the term "Surfing the Internet" and significant increase in Internet hosts.
  • 1993: Development of the first graphical web browser, Mosaic.
  • 1994: Rise of PCs with motion video; introduction of Netscape Navigator; another surge in Internet hosts.

Connection to the Internet

Requirements for Internet Access

  • Devices: Personal computer with modem.
  • Connection Means: Telephone line, cable hookup, or wireless capability.
  • Internet Access Provider (ISP): Such as Vodafone, MTN, etc. Types of ISPs:
    • Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP): Offers internet access via public Wi-Fi hotspots in various locations.

Wired and Wireless Networks

Types of Network Connections

  • Wired Networks: Devices connected using cables, predominantly Ethernet networks.
  • Wireless Networks: Connections via radio waves, including technologies like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
  • Hybrid Networks: Many networks incorporate both wired and wireless technologies.

Connecting to the Internet: Bandwidth and Access Providers

Understanding Bandwidth

  • Definition: Channel capacity, or bandwidth, is the amount of data that can be sent through a channel over a given time.
  • Transmission Types:
    • Baseband Transmission: Only one signal can be transmitted at a time.
    • Broadband Transmission: Allows multiple signals to be transmitted simultaneously.
    • Examples: Coaxial, fiber-optic cable, DSL, satellite.

Data Transmission Speeds

Measurement Units

  • Bit: Smallest unit of information in computers.
  • bps (bits per second): Speed measurement; e.g., 56,000 bps is the minimum speed for graphic websites.
  • Kbps (Kilobits per second): 1,000 bits per second; for instance, 56 Kbps.
  • Mbps (Megabits per second): 1 million bits per second; higher-speed connections.
  • Gbps (Gigabits per second): 1 billion bits per second, representing extremely high-speed connections.

Internet Access Providers (ISPs)

  • ISPs: Organizations providing Internet access for fees (local, regional, national).
    • Example: Vodafone, MTN.
  • WISPs: Enable wireless Internet access on devices like laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
  • Public Hotspots: WISPs install Wi-Fi in public spaces like airports, hotels, etc.

Mechanisms of the Internet

Functionality Overview

  • Client-Server Model: The Internet consists of numerous smaller networks linking various organizations and individuals.
    • Process: When a client requests information (e.g., flights), a server sends the information back to the client.

Internet Communications: Protocols, Packets, & IP Addresses

Protocols

  • Definition: The set of rules that computers follow for electronic data transmission.
  • TCP/IP: The primary protocol that governs how devices communicate over the Internet.
    • Function: Specifies how to indicate message completion and receipt between devices.
Packets
  • Definition: Basic units of data sent over a network.
    • Each packet contains address information for the sender and recipient.
IP Addresses
  • Definition: Unique identifiers for devices on the internet.
    • Format: Four sets of numbers (0-255) separated by periods (e.g., 1.160.10.240).
    • Types: Dynamic and Static IP addresses.

Governance of the Internet

Key Organizations

  • Internet Society: Oversees standards for Internet usage.
  • Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN): Sets naming rules for Internet domains.

Differentiating the Internet and the World Wide Web

  • Internet: A global system of interconnected networks that follows specific protocols.
  • World Wide Web: A subset of the Internet that allows access to multimedia content, beyond text.

Browsers and Web Access

Web Browsers

  • Definition: Software that provides access to the web.
  • Website: A unique location on the web containing web pages.
    • Web Page: Document that contains text, images, and multimedia.
    • Homepage: The introductory page of a website.

URLs

  • Definition: Uniform Resource Locator; a string pointing to a specific information piece on the web.

Communication Protocol

  • HTTP: Hypertext Transfer Protocol, the foundation for data communication on the web.

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)

  • Definition: Set of tags used to structure and format documents on the web.
  • Hyperlinks: Links that navigate to other documents or web pages; words/phrases connecting related content.

Search Services and Search Engines

Definitions

  • Search Services: Organizations maintaining databases for locating information online (e.g., Google, Yahoo).
  • Search Engines: Programs facilitating keyword searches for information retrieval.

Communication Methods Over the Internet

Email and Instant Messaging

  • Email: Can be accessed through standalone software or web-based services.
  • Instant Messaging (IM): Real-time communication with multiple users online.
  • Mailing List: Discussion group where all subscribers receive collective messages.

Additional Communication Tools

  • Newsgroup: An electronic bulletin board for subject-based discussions.
  • Message Board: Similar to a discussion group but web-based; also known as a forum.
  • FTP (File Transfer Protocol): Standard for transferring files between devices regardless of operating systems.

Digital Content and Services

Internet Telephony and VoIP

  • Internet Telephony: VoIP allows phone calls over the Internet, often at lower cost or free.

Multimedia Content

  • Definition: Integration of multiple information types (text, drawings, audio, video).
  • Handling: Often requires plug-ins like Flash or QuickTime for proper viewing.

Push Technology and Webcasting

  • Push Technology: Autosends updates to personal computers.
  • Webcasting: Live or regularly scheduled content sent to users automatically.

RSS Feeds

  • Definition: Simplified method for receiving updates from multiple websites; based on XML.

Podcasting

  • Definition: Method of delivering audio/video content over the Internet, allowing users to download media for consumption later.

E-Commerce

Overview

  • Definition: Electronic means of buying and selling goods and services online.
  • Types:
    • B2B (Business-to-Business)
    • B2C (Business-to-Consumer)
    • C2C (Consumer-to-Consumer): Platforms like auctions.
  • Market Impact: Traditional retailers losing business to online stores like Amazon.

Security Issues in the Digital Space

Types of Internet Intrusions

  • Snooping: Unauthorized data access.
  • Spam: Unsolicited advertising emails.
  • Spoofing: Forging sender info in an email.

Phishing and Pharming

  • Phishing:
    • Sending false emails that lead users to fake web pages to steal data.
  • Pharming:
    • Malicious software redirects users to counterfeit websites even if the correct address is typed.
    • Protect by ensuring connections use HTTPS, indicating secure websites.

Cookies and Privacy Concerns

  • Definition: Small files storing user information (e.g., usernames, preferences).
  • Issues: Although innocuous, can be misused by marketers for targeted advertising.

Spyware and Malware

  • Spyware: Software covertly installed to gather information.
  • Adware: A form of spyware delivering unsolicited advertisements.
  • Keyloggers: Capture keystrokes to steal sensitive data.
  • Virus: Replicates across systems, spreading malicious files.
  • Antivirus Software: Designed to detect and eliminate viruses and malware.

Security Best Practices

  • Caution against illegal downloads and unsolicited offers.
  • Always read agreements before accepting them.
  • Avoid opening unknown email attachments.
  • Regular backups are vital to data security.
  • Choose strong, unique passwords and protect them carefully.

Quiz and Assessment

  • Phishing: Recognized by sending fraudulent emails trying to acquire sensitive information.
  • Domain: A term referring to a unique web address on the Internet.