History of Networking and the Internet PDF

**1.1 History of Networking and the Internet** The origin of networking concept was dated as far back as 1962, when the concept of galactic network was proposed for social interaction by J.C.R Licklider of MIT who was also the first head of research computer program at Defense Advanced Research Pro...

**1.1 History of Networking and the Internet** The origin of networking concept was dated as far back as 1962, when the concept of galactic network was proposed for social interaction by J.C.R Licklider of MIT who was also the first head of research computer program at Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), though then known as the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA). The first major landmark towards networking computer was done in 1965 when computers were made to talk together by connecting a TX-2 computer in Mass to Q-32 in California which marks the first ever wide area network built using a telephone line but with a low speed dial-up. He proceeded to further explore this network concept by proposing the ARPANET in 1967 which, theoretically, connections would not be lost even in the failure or absence of one or more of the network components. In 1969, ARPANET has metamorphosed as a network of four computer making it the first ever internet built by the US department of defense. However, ARPANET first public demonstration took place at international conference on computer communications in 1972. The US internet supported about 11,000 servers in 1987 when they joined their Canadian counterpart. This figure increased drastically to about 200,000 servers by the end of 1989. Most countries\' individual networks were linked together to form one worldwide network of networks by early 1990s and over 1million servers were on the internet as at the end of the year 1992. As of today no one can predict the exact figure of how many computers and network users are on the internet that reflects how large the internet has become. However, it was estimated that over one (1) billion users and 500 million computers are on the internet. The internet today serves as the largest avenue for information sharing, business, entertainment and social networking. **REQUIREMENT FOR INTERNET CONNECTION** 1. A powerful computer machine 2. Windows operating system(I.e. any of the MS Windows versions ranging from windows 95 and above) 3. The Ram size of the window memory must be big 4. A large space must also be available on the Hard Disk. 5. A modem is also required to connect to the internet 6. A compatible pointing-device i.e. mouse to make operations easier. 7. An internet service provider (ISP) is also required. 8. A telephone line is necessary if the connection is meant to be on-line. **1.2 BASIC KEY WORDS IN INTERNET** **WWW**: This is an acronym for World Wide Web. It creates an access for information all over the globe. **WEB**: This is a part of a large group of connected computer called the internet; it enables people to see document in a richly formatted text and graphics. Web page is interesting to operate due to the fact that it contains hyperlinks.it is called links because the net already has plenty of hyperlinks. Web comes in varieties of forms, texts, videos and pages that enhance interaction with internet. Every web page has a name attached to it so that browser can find it. **ISP**: It stands for internet service provider. As the name implies, it provides internet services. It is a requirement necessary for internet connection. **E-MAIL:** This means electronic mail. Like every other mail services, E-mail is a way of sending messages. However. Unlike other mail services it is carried out in electronic form. Therefore, it makes interaction among people possible within a short period. For example, relationship between friends, relation and business partners among others are further facilitated all over the globe. However, before anybody can use e-mail to interact with others i.e. to send message(s),the person must open an e-mail account. **BROWSER**: This is the software that searches and gets web page and displays them on the computer screen if the computer is connected to the internet. There are two commonly known browsers, one came from the internet access provider and it is installed when internet software is being install. However apart from that one another one can be installed. **INTRANET**: This is a small version of internet that is used within an office. It is an ideal method of distributing information within an organization outside the office is called Extranet. **E-COMMERCE**: This means Electronic Commerce. It involves the buying and selling of goods and services through the internet. Some business tractions are carried out in the net with the aid of credit card serving as the means of payment. Things like books, cloths, shoes and videos among others can be sold and purchased through the internet. **1.3 THE ROLES OF INTERNET SERVICES** The introduction of internet services like the introduction of computer technology play a vital role in almost all area of human lives as well as their commercial activities. Some of such roles are outlined as follows: 1. It plays a very important role in tracking people as well as crime investigation. 2. Research on business, products and services can be carried out in the net within a short period. 3. In the area of education, Internet services enhance both young and adults education. Some schools even send admission letter to student through Internet services. 4. Marketing and other business traction are carried out in the net within a short period with the aid of credit cards. 5. Internet also provides better awareness to people all over the globe. 6. It is a very important research tool. 1. **Providing better access to health information and options.** Telemedicine can offer convenient, flexible, and more affordable care option to millions of Nigerians --especially those who lack accessible and quality healthcare in their region or need to stay at home due to health concerns or disabilities. While the benefits of this online tool are clear, they often go underutilized by the people who need it most due to lack of internet access. 2. **Making it easier to communicate with friends and family.** From video call platforms to social media outlets, friends and family can connect more easily than ever before. For people who are not physically located near their community or have family members in other countries, the internet provides a bridge of connection. 3. **Offering a wealth of online activities and experiences to enjoy remotely** For older adults or people who might have difficulty leaving the house, the digital word is a gateway to exploration and enjoyment. One of the CTN'S learners Brenda joyce, uses her tablet and digital skills to join virtual events, like collaging classes and the Frick Museum's Cocktails with a Curator. 4. **Promoting workforce development skills.** A report by Burning Glass Technologies found that more than 8 in 10 middle skill jobs require digital skills. With access to the internet and the knowledge to use it, people can work towards higher-paying jobs, develop new skills, and better participate in a digital work force. 5. **Increasing access to social services and benefits.** There are a lot of helpful resources available that people might not know about or access if they are not online. Benefits and social services- like the Affordable Connectivity Program-typically have portals, streamlined applications, and qualification info online. 6. **Decreasing isolation and loneliness** According to our partner Metta Fund, 7% of ilder adults spend one hour or less socializing with friends or family in one week. This is especially troubling when loneliness is linked to serious mental and physical health conditions. 7. **Empowering people with sense of agency** For Luis, one of CTN's Home Connect learners, the internet promoted a shift in his daily life. He uses his device to listen to music, audiobooks, and religious services. He was able to update his resume and apply for jobs. He even assisted others in getting registered online for vaccine appointments! With the tools of technology, older adults like Luis can independently pursue opportunities and interests online. 8. **Improving education and learning opportunities** The pandemic revealed just how essential internet access is for k-12 students, and its importance will not fade in the coming years. In a 2019 Gallup survey, an overwhelming majority of teachers (85%),principals (96%), and administrators (96%) favored increased use of digital learning tools. 9. **Searching and applying for jobs.** The internet is now essential for finding new job opportunities, writing resumes, and submitting applications. 10. **Maintaining curiosity, finding new interests, Sand pursuing hobbies.** 11. **Improving the economy for everyone** 12. **Strengthening communities and social ties.** The internet helps people organize, collaborate, and share information with large members of people. 13. **Creating a better world** The internet enables us to collaborate with people across the globe. This means we can highlight injustices, better understand needs, and connect with people we may have met before.we can therefore conclude that the internet has made society better. **MODULE 6** **COMPUTING DICIPLINE AND ITS SPECIALIZATION** **1.0 COMPUTING DICIPLINE AND ITS SPECIALIZATION** If you choose a computing major, what career options are open to you? We have provided information for each of the majors listed here: - **Computer Engineering** Computer engineering (CE) students study the design of digital hardware and software systems including communications systems, computers and devices that contain computers. For them, programming is focused on digital devices and their interfaces with users and other devices. An important area within computing engineering is the development of embedded systems. Devices such as cell phones, digital audio players, digital video recorders, alarm systems, x-ray machines, and laser surgical tools all require integration of hardware and embedded software, and are all the result of computer engineering. Computer engineering majors are offered by a fairly large number of universities, almost always within engineering. This major requires significant study of mathematics. - **Computer Science** Computer science (CS) spans the range from theory through programming to cutting-edge development of computing solutions. Computer science offers a foundation that permits graduates to adapt to new technologies and new ideas. The work of computer scientists falls into three categories: a\) Designing and building software; b\) Developing effective ways to solve computing problems, such as storing information in databases, sending data over networks or providing new approaches to security problems; and c\) Devising new and better ways of using computers and addressing particular challenges in areas such as robotics, computer vision, or digital forensics (although these specializations are not available in all computer science programs). Most computer science programs require some mathematical background. Let us consider what is involved in a career path in each area. **Career Path 1**: Designing and implementing software. This refers to the work of software development which has grown to include aspects of web development, interface design, security issues, mobile computing, and so on. This is the career path that the majority of computer science graduates follow. While a bachelor's degree is generally sufficient for entry into this kind of career, many software professionals return to school to obtain a terminal master's degree. (Rarely is a doctorate involved.) Career opportunities occur in a wide variety of settings including large or small software companies, large or small computer services companies, and large organizations of all kinds (industry, government, banking, healthcare, etc.). Degree programs in software engineering also educate students for this career path. **Career Path 2:** Devising new ways to use computers. This refers to innovation in the application of computer technology. A career path in this area can involve advanced graduate work, followed by a position in a research university or industrial research and development laboratory; it can involve entrepreneurial activity such as was evident during the dot-com boom of the 1990s; or it can involve a combination of the two. **Career Path 3**: Developing effective ways to solve computing problems. This refers to the application or development of computer science theory and knowledge of algorithms to ensure the best possible solutions for computationally intensive problems. As a practical matter, a career path in the development of new computer science theory typically requires graduate work to the Ph.D. level, followed by a position in a research university or an industrial research and development laboratory. **Career Path 4:** Planning and managing organizational technology infrastructure. This is the type of work for which the new information technology (IT) programs explicitly aim to educate students. Career paths 2 and 3 are undeniably in the domain of computer science graduates. Career paths 1 and 4 have spawned the new majors in software engineering and information technology, respectively, and information systems graduates often follow Career path 1, too. Computer scientists continue to fill these positions, but programs in software engineering, information technology, and information systems offer alternative paths to these careers. - **Information Systems** Information systems (IS) is concerned with the information that computer systems can provide to aid a company, non-profit or governmental organization in defining and achieving its goals. It is also concerned with the processes that an enterprise can implement and improve using information technology. IS professionals must understand both technical and organizational factors, and must be able to help an organization determine how information and technology-enabled business processes can provide a foundation for superior organizational performance. They serve as a bridge between the technical and management communities within an organization. What information does the enterprise need? How is that information generated? Is it delivered to the people who need it? Is it presented to them in ways that permit them to use it readily? Is the organization structured to be able to use technology effectively? Are the business processes of the organization well designed? Do they use the opportunities created by information technology fully? Does the organization use the communication and collaboration capabilities of information technologies appropriately? Is the organization capable of adapting quickly enough to changing external circumstances? These are the important issues that businesses rely on IS people to address. A majority of IS programs are located in business schools; however, they may have different names such as management information systems, computer information systems, or business information systems. All IS degrees combine business and computing topics, but the emphasis between technical and organizational issues varies among programs. For example, programs differ substantially in the amount of programming required. Traditionally, many graduates of IS programs have functioned in roles that are similar to the roles for which IT programs explicitly prepare their students. Information systems graduates continue to fill these roles, but the new programs in information technology offer an alternative path to these positions. - **Information Technology** Information technology (IT) is a label that has two meanings. In common usage, the term "information technology" is often used to refer to all of computing. As a name of an undergraduate degree program, it refers to the preparation of students to meet the computer technology needs of business, government, healthcare, schools, and other kinds of organizations. IT professionals possess the right combination of knowledge and practical, hands-on expertise to take care of both an organization's information technology infrastructure and the people who use it. They assume responsibility for selecting hardware and software products appropriate for an organization. They integrate those products with organizational needs and infrastructure, and install, customize and maintain those applications, thereby providing a secure and effective environment that supports the activities of the organization's computer users. In IT, programming often involves writing short programs that typically connect existing components (scripting). Planning and managing an organization's IT infrastructure is a difficult and complex job that requires a solid foundation in applied computing as well as management and people skills. Those in the IT discipline require special skills -- in understanding, for example, how networked systems are composed and structured, and what their strengths and weaknesses are. There are important software systems concerns such as reliability, security, usability, and effectiveness and efficiency for their intended purpose; all of these concerns are vital. These topics are difficult and intellectually demanding. - **Software Engineering** Software engineering (SE) is concerned with developing and maintaining software systems that behave reliably and efficiently, are affordable to develop and maintain, and satisfy all the requirements that customers have defined for them. It is important because of the impact of large, expensive software systems and the role of software in safety-critical applications. It integrates significant mathematics, computer science and practices whose origins are in engineering. Students can find software engineering in two contexts: computer science programs offering one or more software engineering courses as elements of the CS curriculum, and in separate software engineering programs. Degree programs in computer science and in software engineering tend to have many courses in common; however, as of Spring 2006 there are few SE programs at the bachelor's level. Software engineering focuses on software development and goes beyond programming to include such things as eliciting customers' requirements, and designing and testing software. SE students learn how to assess customer needs and develop usable software that meets those needs. Both computer science and software engineering curricula typically require a foundation in programming fundamentals and basic computer science theory. They diverge in their focus beyond these core elements. Computer science programs tend to keep the core small and then expect students to choose among more advanced courses (such as systems, networking, database, artificial intelligence, theory, etc.). In contrast, SE programs generally expect students to focus on a range of topics that are essential to the SE agenda (problem modeling and analysis, software design, software verification and validation, software quality, software process, software management, etc.). While both CS and SE programs typically require students to experience team project activity, SE programs tend to involve the students in significantly more of it, as effective team processes are essential to effective SE practices. In addition, a key requirement specified by the SE curriculum guidelines is that SE students should learn how to build software that is genuinely useful and usable by the customer and satisfies all the requirements defined for it. Most people who now function in the U.S. as serious software engineers have degrees in computer science, not in software engineering. In large part this is because computer degrees have been widely available for more than 30 years and software engineering degrees have not. Positions that require development of large software systems often list "Software Engineer" as the position title. Graduates of computer science, computer engineering, and software engineering programs are good candidates for those positions, with the amount of software engineering study in the programs determining the suitability of that graduate for such a position. Most IT professionals who have computing degrees come from CS or IS programs. It is far too soon for someone who wants to work as a software engineer or as an information technology practitioner to be afraid that they won't have a chance if they don't graduate from a degree program in one of the new disciplines. In general, a CS degree from a respected program is the most flexible of degrees and can open doors into the professional worlds of CS, SE, IT, and sometimes CE. A degree from a respected IS program allows entry to both IS and IT careers. Media attention to outsourcing, offshoring, and job migration has caused many to be concerned about the future of computing-related careers. It is beyond the scope of this web site to address these issues. The report of the British Computer Society addresses these issues as they impact the U.K. The Globalization Report of the ACM Job Migration Task Force reflects an international perspective, not just a U.S-centric one.