The Internet. The Internet is a worldwide computer network transmitting data by packet switching

The Internet is a worldwide computer network transmitting data by packet switching. It consists of millions of smaller networks, linked by copper wires, fiber-optic cables, wireless connections. The Internet allows computer users to connect to other computers and information stores easily, wherever they may be across the world.

In 1961, a series of independent research teams began developing packet switching. In 1967, Lawrence Roberts designed computer network which was built on these new technologies. In late 1969, the first tests were made. The Internet made their first public appearances in 1972 at the Internet Computer Communication Conference.

The Internet can be compared with a transporting system spread all over the world. The networks in the system are owned by Internet service providers. Most of host computers (above 50%) are located in the USA and the rest are in more than 100 countries. Every computer on the Net understands a basic set of technologies that enable the Internet work. Data sent over the Internet is broken down into small chunks called packets, which travel along the route independently. On the way, the packets are passed from one server to the next until they reach their final destination. Once all the packets have arrived, they are reassembled into their original form. The data are constantly being directed towards its destination by special computers called routers. Due to this technology, if one part of the route fails or slows down, data can be quickly rerouted over another part.

The World Wide Web is a huge collection of interlinked documents, images and other resources, linked by hyperlinks. The defining feature of the Web is its ability to connect pages to one another with hyperlinks. Millions of users both place and look for all possible kinds of information within the Web. Many of them have their own web-sites. You can read newspapers and magazines discussing the articles you are interested in, visit famous libraries and archives, make an inquiry in some encyclopedia, to see pictures or films, to listen to the latest music, etc.

The World Wide Web is one of the services accessible via the Internet, along with various others including e-mail, reading the Usenet News, Telnet, FTP and Gopher. E-mail is the most popular Internet service. Almost all people having access to the Internet use it for exchanging messages.

The Internet is fast becoming a basic feature of global civilization. Asof December 30, 2007, 1,319 billion people use the Internet according to Internet World Stats. Millions of institutions, companies and individuals use the Internet all over the world.

Many research institutions, companies and people make money from the Net. They develop new Internet technologies; keep up its running; or use it for their business. The Internet provides businessmen with a reliable and cheap means of communication. Any group of professionals can cheaply communicate over the Internet. The low cost and nearly instantaneous sharing of ideas, knowledge, and skills has made collaborative work much easier.

An office worker away from his desk, perhaps on the other side of the world on a business trip or a holiday, can have complete access to all of his normal files and data, including e-mail and other applications, while away from the office.

These simple features of the Internet, over a worldwide basis, are changing the basis for the production, sale, and distribution of anything. This includes all manner of print publications, software products, news, music, film, video, photography, graphics and the other arts. Internet technology enables business and project teams to share documents, calendars and other information. Such collaboration occurs in a wide variety of areas including scientific research, software development, conference planning, political activism and creative writing.

More and more banks and companies conduct transactions over the Internet. The Internet has also become a large market for companies; some of the biggest companies today have grown by taking advantage of the efficient nature of low-cost advertising and commerce through the Internet. It is the fastest way to spread information to a vast number of people simultaneously. Numerous firms and companies develop their marketing with the aid of the Internet. The Internet has also subsequently revolutionized shopping. Today we can buy many useful things over the Internet at a lower price.

The Internet has made possible entirely new forms of social interaction, activities and organizing, thanks to its basic features such as widespread usability and access. In democratic societies, the Internet has achieved new relevance as a political tool. Many political groups use the Internet to achieve a whole new method of organizing.

The Internet has been a major source of leisure. Today, many Internet forums have sections devoted to games and funny videos; short cartoons are also popular. Over 6 million people use blogs or message boards as a means of communication and for the sharing of ideas. Many use the Internet to access and download music, movies and other works for their enjoyment and relaxation. As discussed above, there are paid and unpaid sources for all of these

Many use the World Wide Web to access news, weather and sports reports, to plan and book holidays and to find out more about their random ideas and casual interests.

However, some problems remain. Two of them are most serious on the Net. You may easily run into a virus. However, there is a very simple way out: install antivirus software and it should take care of this. Avoid opening email attachments from people you don't know.

Security is also a very important problem. Nearly all the information being sent over the Internet is transmitted without any form of encoding, i.e. “in the clear”. Using encoding programs you will be able to protect your information. Encoding software translates your message into a secret code so that it can be read only by the person who has the correct decryption key – that is, the person you're sending it to. Be careful entering your personal data on the Net.

Who says that computers isolate people? The Internet is a valuable means of communication and a source of information which is available to everybody in business, social and political life great, and entertainment. Actually, the Internet has almost broken the borders and made people much closer giving them a wonderful opportunity to get acquainted with each other and to know much more about the world and about themselves.

9. Find the following sentences in the text and read them:

1. Интернет, глобальная компьютерная сеть, передающая данные при помощи пакетной коммутации.

2. Интернет дает возможность пользователям легко присоединяться к другим компьютерам и хранящейся информации, в какой бы точке мира они не находились.

3. Первые испытания были проведены в конце 1969 года.

4. Большинство Интернет-серверов находятся в Соединенных Штатах, а остальные размещаются в более чем 100 других стран.

5. Каждый компьютер в сети воспринимает основные технологии, на основе которых работает Интернет.

6. Данные, пересылаемые по Интернету, разбиваются на маленькие части, называемые пакетами, которые независимо продвигаются по маршруту.

7. Данные постоянно направляются к месту назначения специальными компьютерами, называемыми рутеры.

8. Благодаря этой технологии, в случае, если некоторые компьютеры сети выходят из строя, информация проходит другим путем, минуя их.

9. Всемирная паутина – одна из услуг, доступных в Интернете, наряду с другими.

10. Электронная почта – самая популярная услуга Интернет.

11. Интернет быстро становится основным признаком глобальной цивилизации.

12. Проблемы, однако, остаются. Две из них наиболее серьезны.

13. Почти вся информация, пересылаемая по Интернету, передается без всякого кодирования, т.е. «вчистую».

14. Используя кодирующие программы, вы можете защитить свою информацию.

10. Find mistakes in the following statements and correct them:

1. The Internet allows computer users to connect to other computers but not to information stores.

2. In 1991, a series of independent research teams began developing packet switching.

3. More than 50% of the Internet host computers are located in England.

4. If one part of the route fails or slows down, data can’t travel towards its destination.

5. It takes much time for a message to get to its destination via e-mail.

6. Only people who live in Europe have access to e-mail service.

7. Communication provided by the Internet is cheap but unreliable.

8. Commercial use of the network is quite difficult task and businessmen don’t like it.

9. The Internet can’t provide security while transmitting information.

10. There are many problems with the Internet and there are no ways to resolve them.

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