The Internet has become much more than a collection of telephone lines and computers. It has exploded into a powerful force that reaches into our very way of life, changing the way we work, play, study, express our ideas and spend money. Through the Internet, a computer on one network can communicate with virtually any other network. Using these global connections, people can use their computers to exchange messages, to communicate real time, to share data and programs and to access limitless stores of information.
The Internet, in fact has become so important that its use is considered an essential part of computer use. In other words, mastering the Internet is one of the first things you should do, if you want to get the most from your computing experience. No introduction to the Internet is complete without a short review of its history. Even though today's Internet bears little resemblance to its forebear of 30-plus years ago, it still functions in basically the same way.