Internet Basics_ Connecting to the Internet 3.pdf

8/22/24, 11:52 AM Internet Basics: Connecting to the Internet Internet Basics What is the Internet? Introduction The Internet is an increasingly important part of everyday life for people ar...

8/22/24, 11:52 AM Internet Basics: Connecting to the Internet Internet Basics What is the Internet? Introduction The Internet is an increasingly important part of everyday life for people around the world. But if you've never used the Internet before, all of this new information might feel a bit confusing at first. Throughout this tutorial, we'll try to answer some basic questions you may have about the Internet and how it's used. When you're done, you'll have a good understanding of how the Internet works, how to connect to the Internet, and how to browse the Web. What is the Internet? What is the Internet? The Internet is a global network of billions of computers and other electronic devices. With the Internet, it's possible to access almost any information, communicate with anyone else in the world, and do much more. You can do all of this by connecting a computer to the Internet, which is also called going online. When someone says a computer is online, it's just another way of saying it's connected to the Internet. https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/internetbasics/connecting-to-the-internet/1/ 1/14 8/22/24, 11:52 AM Internet Basics: Connecting to the Internet What is the Web? The World Wide Web—usually called the Web for short—is a collection of different websites you can access through the Internet. A website is made up of related text, images, and other resources. Websites can resemble other forms of media—like newspaper articles or television programs—or they can be interactive in a way that's unique to computers. The purpose of a website can be almost anything: a news platform, an advertisement, an online library, a forum for sharing images, or an educational site like us! https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/internetbasics/connecting-to-the-internet/1/ 2/14 8/22/24, 11:52 AM Internet Basics: Connecting to the Internet Once you are connected to the Internet, you can access and view websites using a type of application called a web browser. Just keep in mind that the web browser itself is not the Internet; it only displays websites that are stored on the Internet. How does the Internet work? At this point you may be wondering, how does the Internet work? The exact answer is pretty complicated and would take a while to explain. Instead, let's look at some of the most important things you should know. It's important to realize that the Internet is a global network of physical cables, which can include copper telephone wires, TV cables, and fiber optic cables. Even wireless connections like Wi-Fi and 3G/4G rely on these physical cables to access the Internet. When you visit a website, your computer sends a request over these wires to a server. A server is where websites are stored, and it works a lot like your computer's hard drive. Once the request arrives, the server retrieves the website and sends the correct data back to your computer. What's amazing is that this all happens in just a few seconds! Watch the video below from Tata Communications to learn more about how the Internet functions. https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/internetbasics/connecting-to-the-internet/1/ 3/14 8/22/24, 11:52 AM Internet Basics: Connecting to the Internet What is the internet and How Does the Internet Work? | Network and Internet explained Other things you can do on the Internet One of the best features of the Internet is the ability to communicate almost instantly with anyone in the world. Email is one of the oldest and most universal ways to communicate and share information on the Internet, and billions of people use it. Social media allows people to connect in a variety of ways and build communities online. https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/internetbasics/connecting-to-the-internet/1/ 4/14 8/22/24, 11:52 AM Internet Basics: Connecting to the Internet There are many other things you can do on the Internet. There are thousands of ways to keep up with news or shop for anything online. You can pay your bills, manage your bank accounts, meet new people, watch TV, or learn new skills. You can learn or do almost anything online. Lesson 2: What Can You Do Online? Introduction There's almost no limit to what you can do online. The Internet makes it possible to quickly find information, communicate with people around the world, manage your finances, shop from home, listen to music, watch videos, and much, much more. Let's take a look at some of the ways the Internet is most commonly used today. Finding information online With billions of websites online today, there is a lot of information on the Internet. Search engines make this information easier to find. All you have to do is type one or more keywords, and the search engine will look for relevant websites. For example, let's say you're looking for a new pair of shoes. You could use a search engine to learn about different types of shoes, get directions to a nearby shoe store, or even find out where to buy them online! https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/internetbasics/connecting-to-the-internet/1/ 5/14 8/22/24, 11:52 AM Internet Basics: Connecting to the Internet There are many different search engines you can use, but some of the most popular include Google, Yahoo!, and Bing. Email Short for electronic mail, email is a way to send and receive messages across the Internet. Almost everyone who uses the Internet has their own email account, usually called an email address. This is because you'll need an email address to do just about anything online, from online banking to creating a Facebook account. https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/internetbasics/connecting-to-the-internet/1/ 6/14 8/22/24, 11:52 AM Internet Basics: Connecting to the Internet Social networking Social networking websites are another way to connect and share with your family and friends online. Rather than sharing with just a few people over email, social networks make it easier to connect and share with many people at the same time. Facebook is the world's largest social networking site, with more than 1 billion users worldwide. Chat and instant messaging Chat and instant messaging (IM) are short messages sent and read in real time, allowing you to converse more quickly and easily than email. These are generally used when both (or all) people are online, so your message can be read immediately. By comparison, emails won't be seen until recipients check their inboxes. https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/internetbasics/connecting-to-the-internet/1/ 7/14 8/22/24, 11:52 AM Internet Basics: Connecting to the Internet Examples of instant messaging applications include Yahoo Messenger and Google Hangouts. Some sites, like Gmail and Facebook, even allow you to chat within your web browser. Online media There are many sites that allow you to watch videos and listen to music. For example, you can watch millions of videos on YouTube or listen to Internet radio on Pandora. Other services, like Netflix and Hulu, allow you to watch movies and TV shows. And if have a set-top streaming box, you can even watch them directly on your television instead of a computer screen. Everyday tasks https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/internetbasics/connecting-to-the-internet/1/ 8/14 8/22/24, 11:52 AM Internet Basics: Connecting to the Internet You can also use the Internet to complete many everyday tasks and errands. For example, you can manage your bank account, pay your bills, and shop for just about anything. The main advantage here is convenience. Rather than going from place to place, you can do all of these tasks at home! And a whole lot more! Remember, these are just a few of the things you'll be able to do online. Keep working through this tutorial to learn more about connecting to the Internet and using the Web! Lesson 3: Connecting to the Internet How do I connect to the Internet? Once you've set up your computer, you may want to purchase home Internet access so you can send and receive email, browse the Web, stream videos, and more. You may even want to set up a home wireless network, commonly known as Wi-Fi, so you can connect multiple devices to the Internet at the same time. Watch the video below to learn about connecting to the Internet. https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/internetbasics/connecting-to-the-internet/1/ 9/14 8/22/24, 11:52 AM Internet Basics: Connecting to the Internet Computer Basics: Connecting to the Internet Looking for the old version of this video? You can still view it here. Types of Internet service The type of Internet service you choose will largely depend on which Internet service providers (ISPs) serve your area, along with the types of service they offer. Here are some common types of Internet service. ▶︎ Dial-up: This is generally the slowest type of Internet connection, and you should probably avoid it unless it is the only service available in your area. Dial-up Internet uses your phone line, so unless you have multiple phone lines you will not be able to use your landline and the Internet at the same time. ▶︎ DSL: DSL service uses a broadband connection, which makes it much faster than dial-up. DSL connects to the Internet via a phone line but does not require you to have a landline at home. And unlike dial-up, you'll be able to use the Internet and your phone line at the same time. ▶︎ Cable: Cable service connects to the Internet via cable TV, although you do not necessarily need to have cable TV in order to get it. It uses a broadband connection and can be faster than both dial-up and DSL service; however, it is only available where cable TV is available. ▶︎ Satellite: A satellite connection uses broadband but does not require cable or phone lines; it connects to the Internet through satellites orbiting the https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/internetbasics/connecting-to-the-internet/1/ 10/14 8/22/24, 11:52 AM Internet Basics: Connecting to the Internet Earth. As a result, it can be used almost anywhere in the world, but the connection may be affected by weather patterns. Satellite connections are also usually slower than DSL or cable. ▶︎ 3G and 4G: 3G and 4G service is most commonly used with mobile phones, and it connects wirelessly through your ISP's network. However, these types of connections aren't always as fast as DSL or cable. They will also limit the amount of data you can use each month, which isn't the case with most broadband plans. Choosing an Internet service provider Now that you know about the different types of Internet service, you can do some research to find out what ISPs are available in your area. If you're having trouble getting started, we recommend talking to friends, family members, and neighbors about the ISPs they use. This will usually give you a good idea of the types of Internet service available in your area. Most ISPs offer several tiers of service with different Internet speeds, usually measured in Mbps (short for megabits per second). If you mainly want to use the Internet for email and social networking, a slower connection (around 2 to 5 Mbps) might be all you need. However, if you want to download music or stream videos, you'll want a faster connection (at least 5 Mbps or higher). You'll also want to consider the cost of the service, including installation charges and monthly fees. Generally speaking, the faster the connection, the more expensive it will be per month. Although dial-up has traditionally been the least expensive option, many ISPs have raised dial-up prices to be the same as broadband. This is intended to encourage people to switch to broadband. We do not recommend dial-up Internet unless it's your only option. Hardware needed Modem https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/internetbasics/connecting-to-the-internet/1/ 11/14 8/22/24, 11:52 AM Internet Basics: Connecting to the Internet Once you have your computer, you really don't need much additional hardware to connect to the Internet. The primary piece of hardware you need is a modem. The type of Internet access you choose will determine the type of modem you need. Dial-up access uses a telephone modem, DSL service uses a DSL modem, cable access uses a cable modem, and satellite service uses a satellite adapter. Your ISP may give you a modem—often for a fee—when you sign a contract, which helps ensure that you have the right type of modem. However, if you would prefer to shop for a better or less expensive modem, you can choose to buy one separately. Router https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/internetbasics/connecting-to-the-internet/1/ 12/14 8/22/24, 11:52 AM Internet Basics: Connecting to the Internet A router is a hardware device that allows you to connect several computers and other devices to a single Internet connection, which is known as a home network. Many routers are wireless, which allows you to create a home wireless network, commonly known as a Wi-Fi network. You don't necessarily need to buy a router to connect to the Internet. It's possible to connect your computer directly to your modem using an Ethernet cable. Also, many modems include a built-in router, so you have the option of creating a Wi-Fi network without buying extra hardware. Setting up your Internet connection Once you've chosen an ISP, most providers will send a technician to your house to turn on the connection. If not, you should be able to use the instructions provided by your ISP—or included with the modem—to set up your Internet connection. After you have everything set up, you can open your web browser and begin using the Internet. If you have any problems with your Internet connection, you can call your ISP's technical support number. Home networking https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/internetbasics/connecting-to-the-internet/1/ 13/14 8/22/24, 11:52 AM Internet Basics: Connecting to the Internet If you have multiple computers at home and want to use all of them to access the Internet, you may want to create a home network, also known as a Wi-Fi network. In a home network, all of your devices connect to your router, which is connected to the modem. This means everyone in your family can use the Internet at the same time. Your ISP technician may be able to set up a home Wi-Fi network when installing your Internet service. If not, you can review our lesson on How to Set Up a Wi-Fi Network to learn more. If you want to connect a computer that does not have built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, you can purchase a Wi-Fi adapter that plugs into your computer's USB port. https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/internetbasics/connecting-to-the-internet/1/ 14/14