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An introduction to the global network of computers and how they connect to share information.
Imagine you wanted to send a drawing to a friend in Australia. If you mailed it, it might take a week. On the internet, it takes less than second! How do billions of computers talk to each other that fast?
The Internet is a massive, global network that connects billions of computers and electronic devices together. Think of it like a giant, invisible spiderweb that covers the entire Earth. When you are 'online,' your device is like one tiny point on that web. Because everything is connected, you can share pictures, play games, and talk to people almost anywhere. It isn't just one single wire; it is a 'network of networks' made of cables under the ocean, satellites in space, and wireless signals in the air. This allows data to travel thousands of miles in the blink of an eye!
Think of the internet like a post office that never sleeps. 1. You write a digital message (like an email). 2. The internet breaks that message into tiny pieces called packets. 3. These packets travel through different 'roads' (wires and signals) to find your friend's computer. 4. Your friend's computer puts the pieces back together so they can read it!
Quick Check
In your own words, what is the 'Internet'?
Answer
The internet is a global network of billions of computers and devices connected together to share information.
Years ago, only big desktop computers could connect to the internet. Today, almost anything can be a connected device. To join the network, a device needs a special piece of hardware called a network interface. This allows it to 'speak' the language of the internet. You probably use a smartphone or a tablet to watch videos, but did you know that game consoles, smart watches, and even some refrigerators can connect to the internet too? If it can send or receive data from the web, it is part of the global network.
Let's look at a typical house. 1. A student uses laptop for homework. 2. Two parents have smartphones. 3. The family has smart TV for movies. 4. Total devices = devices sharing the same internet connection!
Quick Check
Name three devices other than a laptop that can connect to the internet.
Answer
Possible answers include: smartphones, tablets, game consoles, smart watches, or smart TVs.
It is important to know that not all networks are the same size. A Local Area Network (LAN) is a small group of connected devices in one specific place, like your home or your classroom. It’s like a private conversation between a few friends. The Internet, however, is a Wide Area Network (WAN). It is global. When you connect your tablet to your home Wi-Fi, you are joining a local network first. That local network then connects to a much larger 'highway' that leads to the rest of the world. Your home router acts like a gatekeeper between your private local network and the public global internet.
Imagine your school: 1. Each classroom is like a Local Network. Students inside can talk to each other easily. 2. The hallways are like the Internet. They connect all the different classrooms together. 3. To send a note to a friend in a different school across town, your note has to leave your classroom (Local), go through the hallway, and travel across the city (Global) to reach the other school's hallway!
What is the best definition of the Internet?
Which of these is an example of a Local Area Network (LAN)?
True or False: Only desktop computers are able to connect to the internet.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow, try to explain to a family member the difference between your home Wi-Fi (Local Network) and the whole Internet (Global Network).
Practice Activity
Go on a 'Device Hunt' in your home! Count how many different things you can find that connect to the internet. You might be surprised by how many there are!