52 :: Computer and Office Applications

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INTRODUCTION TO INTERNET

3.1 INTRODUCTION
In the present age of information Technology, use of
Internet is becoming quite popular for accessing
information on any topic of your interest. It also provides
tremendous opportunities to students, researchers and
professionals for getting information on matters related to
academic and professional topics and lot more. In the
present world, most of the people who have computers
around themselves use Internet to access information from
the World Wide Web, exchange messages & documents
and e-services.

3.2 OBJECTIVES
After going through this lesson, you would be able to:

• explain various terminology used in internet

• use various services provided by internet
• search the desired information over internet
• define e-mail and its various features
• explain the process of downloading file.

3.3 INTERNET
The Internet is a global system of interconnected
computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol
suite (TCP/ IP) to serve billions of users worldwide. It is a
network of networks that consists of millions of private,
public, academic, business, and government networks, of
local to global scope, that are linked by a broad array of
electronic, wireless and optical networking technologies.
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The Internet carries a vast range of information resources

and services, such as the interlinked hypertext documents
of the World Wide Web (WWW) and the infrastructure to
support electronic mail.

3.3.1 Uses of Internet

Internet has been the most useful technology of the
modern times which helps us not only in our daily lives, but
also our personal and professional lives developments. The
internet helps us achieve this in several different ways.

For the students and educational purposes the internet is

widely used to gather information so as to do the research
or add to the knowledge of various subjects. Even the
business professionals and the professionals like doctors,
access the internet to filter the necessary information for
their use. The internet is therefore the largest encyclopedia
for everyone, in all age categories. The internet has served
to be more useful in maintaining contacts with friends and
relatives who live abroad permanently.

3.3.2 Advantages of Internet:

• E-mail: Email is now an essential communication tools
in business. With e-mail you can send and receive
instant electronic messages, which works like writing
letters. Your messages are delivered instantly to
people anywhere in the world, unlike traditional mail
that takes a lot of time. Email is free, fast and very
cheap when compared to telephone, fax and postal
services.

• 24 hours a day - 7 days a week: Internet is

available, 24x7 days for usage.

• Information: Information is probably the biggest

advantage internet is offering. There is a huge amount
of information available on the internet for just about
every subject, ranging from government law and
services, trade fairs and conferences, market
information, new ideas and technical support. You can
almost find any type of data on almost any kind of
 Introduction to Internet :: 54

subject that you are looking for by using search

engines like google, yahoo, msn, etc.
• Online Chat: You can access many ‘chat rooms’ on
the web that can be used to meet new people, make
new friends, as well as to stay in touch with old friends.
You can chat in MSN and yahoo websites.

• Services: Many services are provided on the internet

like net banking, job searching, purchasing tickets,
hotel reservations, guidance services on array of topics
engulfing every aspect of life.

• Communities: Communities of all types have sprung

up on the internet. Its a great way to meet up with
people of similar interest and discuss common issues.

• E-commerce: Along with getting information on the

Internet, you can also shop online. There are many
online stores and sites that can be used to look for
products as well as buy them using your credit card.
You do not need to leave your house and can do all
your shopping from the convenience of your home. It
has got a real amazing and wide range of products
from household needs, electronics to entertainment.

• Entertainment: Internet provides facility to access

wide range of Audio/Video songs, plays films. Many of
which can be downloaded. One such popular website is
YouTube.

• Software Downloads: You can freely download

innumerable, softwares like utilities, games, music,
videos, movies, etc from the Internet.

3.3.3 Limitations of Internet

• Theft of Personal information: Electronic messages
sent over the Internet can be easily snooped and
tracked, revealing who is talking to whom and what
they are talking about. If you use the Internet, your
personal information such as your name, address,
credit card, bank details and other information can be
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accessed by unauthorized persons. If you use a credit

card or internet banking for online shopping, then your
details can also be ‘stolen’.

• Negative effects on family communication: It is

generally observed that due to more time spent on
Internet, there is a decrease in communication and
feeling of togetherness among the family members.
• Internet addiction: There is some controversy over
whether it is possible to actually be addicted to the
Internet or not. Some researchers, claim that it is
simply people trying to escape their problems in an
online world.

• Children using the Internet has become a big

concern. Most parents do not realize the dangers
involved when their children log onto the Internet.
When children talk to others online, they do not realize
they could actually be talking to a harmful person.
Moreover, pornography is also a very serious issue
concerning the Internet, especially when it comes to
young children. There are thousands of pornographic
sites on the Internet that can be easily found and can
be a detriment to letting children use the Internet.

• Virus threat: Today, not only are humans getting

viruses, but computers are also. Computers are mainly
getting these viruses from the Internet. Virus is is a
program which disrupts the normal functioning of your
computer systems. Computers attached to internet are
more prone to virus attacks and they can end up into
crashing your whole hard disk.

• Spamming: It is often viewed as the act of sending

unsolicited email. This multiple or vast emailing is
often compared to mass junk mailings. It needlessly
obstruct the entire system. Most spam is commercial
advertising, often for dubious products, get-rich-quick
schemes, or quasi-legal services. Spam costs the
sender very little to send — most of the costs are paid
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for by the recipient or the carriers rather than by the

sender

3.4 SERVICES OF INTERNET -E-mail, FTP, Telnet

Email, discussion groups, long-distance computing, and file

transfers are some of the important services provided by
the Internet. Email is the fastest means of communication.
With email one can also send software and certain forms of
compressed digital image as an attachment. News groups
or discussion groups facilitate Internet user to join for
various kinds of debate, discussion and news sharing.
Long-distance computing was an original inspiration for
development of ARPANET and does still provide a very
useful service on Internet. Programmers can maintain
accounts on distant, powerful computers and execute
programs. File transfer service allows Internet users to
access remote machines and retrieve programs, data or
text.

(a) E-Mail (Electronic Mail)

E-mail or Electronic mail is a paperless method of sending

messages, notes or letters from one person to another or
even many people at the same time via Internet. E-mail is
very fast compared to the normal post. E-mail messages
usually take only few seconds to arrive at their destination.
One can send messages anytime of the day or night, and,
it will get delivered immediately. You need not to wait for
the post office to open and you don’t have to get worried
about holidays. It works 24 hours a day and seven days a
week. What’s more, the copy of the message you have
sent will be available whenever you want to look at it even
in the middle of the night. You have the privilege of
sending something extra such as a file, graphics, images
etc. along with your e-mail. The biggest advantage of using
email is that it is cheap, especially when sending messages
to other states or countries and at the same time it can be
delivered to a number of people around the world.

It allows you to compose note, get the address of the

recipient and send it. Once the mail is received and read, it
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can be forwarded or replied. One can even store it for later

use, or delete. In e-mail even the sender can request for
delivery receipt and read receipt from the recipient.

(i) Features of E-mail:

 One-to-one or one-to-many communications
 Instant communications
 Physical presence of recipient is not required
 Most inexpensive mail services, 24-hours a day and
seven days a week
 Encourages informal communications

(ii) Components of an E-mail Address

As in the case of normal mail system, e-mail is also based

upon the concept of a recipient address. The email address
provides all of the information required to get a message to
the recipient from any where in the world. Consider the e-
mail ID. john@hotmail.com
In the above example john is the username of the person
who will be sending/receiving the email. Hotmail is the mail
server where the username john has been registered and
com is the type of organization on the internet which is
hosting the mail server.

(b) FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

File Transfer Protocol, is an Internet utility software used to

uploaded and download files. It gives access to directories
or folders on remote computers and allows software, data
and text files to be transferred between different kinds of
computers. FTP works on the basis of same principle as
that of Client/ Server. FTP “Client” is a program running on
your computer that enables you to communicate with
remote computers. The FTP client takes FTP command and
sends these as requests for information from the remote
computer known as FTP servers. To access remote FTP
server it is required, but not necessary to have an account
in the FTP server. When the FTP client gets connected, FTP
server asks for the identification in terms of User Login
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name and password of the FTP client (Fig. 3.1). If one does
not have an account in the remote FTP server, still he can
connect to the server using anonymous login.

Using anonymous login anyone can login in to a FTP server

and can access public archives; anywhere in the world,
without having an account. One can easily Login to the FTP
site with the username anonymous and e-mail address as
password.

(i) Objectives of FTP :

 Provide flexibility and promote sharing of computer

programs, files and data
 Transfer data reliably and more efficiently over network
 Encourage implicit or indirect use of remote computers
using Internet
 Shield a user from variations in storage systems among
hosts.
USER
INTERFACE

SERVER FTP Commands

USER
A FTP Replies A
USER

SERVER Connection
FILE USER
FILE
SYSTEM B SYSTEM B
FTP SERVER CLIENT FTP

Fig. 3.1

(ii) The basic steps in an FTP session

 Start up your FTP client, by typing ftp on your system’s

command line/’C>’ prompt (or, if you are in a Windows,
double-click on the FTP icon).
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 Give the FTP client an address to connect. This is the

FTP server address to which the FTP client will get
connected
 Identify yourself to the FTP remote site by giving the
Login
Name
 Give the remote site a password
 Remote site will verify the Login Name/Password to
allow the FTP client to access its files
 Look directory for files in FTP server
 Change Directories if requird
 Set the transfer mode (optional);
 Get the file(s) you want, and
 Quit.

(c) Telnet (Remote Computing)

Telnet or remote computing is telecommunication utility

software, which uses available telecommunication facility
and allows you to become a user on a remote computer.
Once you gain access to remote computer, you can use it
for the intended purpose. The TELNET works in a very step
by step procedure. The commands typed on the client
computer are sent to the local Internet Service Provider
(ISP), and then from the ISP to the remote computer that
you have gained access. Most of the ISP provides facility to
TELENET into your own account from another city and
check your e-mail while you are travelling or away on
business.

The following steps are required for a TELNET

session

 Start up the TELNET program

 Give the TELNET program an address to connect (some
really nifty TELNET packages allow you to combine
steps
1 and 2 into one simple step)
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 Make a note of what the “escape character” is

 Log in to the remote computer,
 Set the “terminal emulation”  Play around on the
remote computer, and
 Quit.

3.5 TYPES OF INTERNET CONNECTIONS

There are five types of internet connections which are as
follows:

(i) Dial up Connection

(ii) Leased Connection
(iii) DSL connection
(iv) Cable Modem Connection
(v) VSAT

3.5.1 Dial up connection

Dial-up refers to an Internet connection that is established

using a modem. The modem connects the computer to
standard phone lines, which serve as the data transfer
medium. When a user initiates a dial-up connection, the
modem dials a phone number of an Internet Service
Provider (ISP) that is designated to receive dial-up calls.
The ISP then establishes the connection, which usually
takes about ten seconds and is accompanied by several
beepings and a buzzing sound.
After the dial-up connection has been established, it is
active until the user disconnects from the ISP. Typically,
this is done by selecting the “Disconnect” option using the
ISP’s software or a modem utility program. However, if a
dial-up connection is interrupted by an incoming phone call
or someone picking up a phone in the house, the service
may also be disconnected.

Advantages
• Low Price
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• Secure connection – your IP address continually

changes
• Offered in rural areas – you need a phone line
Disadvantages
• Slow speed.
• Phone line is required.
• Busy signals for friends and family members.

3.5.2 Leased Connection

Leased connection is a permanent telephone connection
between two points set up by a telecommunications
common carrier. Typically, leased lines are used by
businesses to connect geographically distant offices. Unlike
normal dial-up connections, a leased line is always active.
The fee for the connection is a fixed monthly rate. The
primary factors affecting the monthly fee are distance
between end points and the speed of the circuit. Because
the connection doesn’t carry anybody else’s
communications, the carrier can assure a given level of
quality.
For example, a T-1 channel is a type of leased line that
provides a maximum transmission speed of 1.544 Mbps.
You can divide the connection into different lines for data
and voice communication or use the channel for one high
speed data circuit. Dividing the connection is called
multiplexing.
Increasingly, leased lines are being used by companies,
and even individuals, for Internet access because they
afford faster data transfer rates and are cost-effective if
the Internet is used heavily.
Advantage
• Secure and private: dedicated exclusively to the
customer
• Speed: symmetrical and direct
• Reliable: minimum down time
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• Wide choice of speeds: bandwidth on demand, easily

upgradeable

• Leased lines are suitable for in-house office web

hosting
Disadvantages

• Leased lines can be expensive to install and rent.

• Not suitable for single or home workers
• Lead times can be as long as 65 working days
• Distance dependent to nearest POP
• Leased lines have traditionally been the more
expensive access option. A Service Level Agreement
(SLA) confirms an ISP’s contractual requirement in
ensuring the service is maintained. This is often lacking
in cheaper alternatives.

3.5.3 DSL connection

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is a family of technologies

that provides digital data transmission over the wires of a
local telephone network. DSL originally stood for digital
subscriber loop. In telecommunications marketing, the
term DSL is widely understood to mean Asymmetric Digital
Subscriber Line (ADSL), the most commonly installed DSL
technology. DSL service is delivered simultaneously with
wired telephone service on the same telephone line. This is
possible because DSL uses higher frequency bands for data
separated by filtering. On the customer premises, a DSL
filter on each outlet removes the high frequency
interference, to enable simultaneous use of the telephone
and data.
The data bit rate of consumer DSL services typically ranges
from 256 kbit/s to 40 Mbit/s in the direction to the
customer (downstream), depending on DSL technology,
line conditions, and service-level implementation. In ADSL,
the data throughput in the upstream direction, (the
direction to the service provider) is lower, hence the
designation of asymmetric service. In Symmetric Digital
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Subscriber Line (SDSL) services, the downstream and

upstream data rates are equal.

Advantages:

• Security: Unlike cable modems, each subscriber can

be configured so that it will not be on the same
network. In some cable modem networks, other
computers on the cable modem network are left visibly
vulnerable and are easily susceptible to break in as
well as data destruction.

• Integration: DSL will easily interface with ATM and

WAN technology.

• High bandwidth
• Cheap line charges from the phone company.
• Good for “bursty” traffic patterns

Disadvantages

• No current standardization: A person moving from

one area to another might find that their DSL modem is
just another paperweight. Customers may have to buy
new equipment to simply change ISPs.

• Expensive: Most customers are not willing to spend

more than $20 to $25 per month for Internet access.
Current installation costs, including the modem, can be
as high as $750. Prices should come down within 1-3
years. As with all computer technology, being first
usually means an emptier wallet.

• Distance Dependence: The farther you live from the

DSLAM (DSL Access Multiplexer), the lower the data
rate. The longest run lengths are 18,000 feet, or a little
over 3 miles.

3.5.4 Cable Modem Connection

A cable modem is a type of Network Bridge and modem
that provides bi-directional data communication via radio
frequency channels on a HFC and RFoG infrastructure.
Cable modems are primarily used to deliver broadband
 Introduction to Internet :: 64

Internet access in the form of cable Internet, taking

advantage of the high bandwidth of a HFC and RFoG
network. They are commonly deployed in Australia,
Europe, Asia and Americas.

Fig.3.2 : Cable modem connection

Figure 3.2 shows the most common network connection

topologies when using cable modems. The cable TV
company runs a coaxial cable into the building to deliver
their Internet service. Although fed from the same coax
that provides cable TV service, most companies place a
splitter outside of the building and runs two cables in,
rather than using a splitter at the set-top box. The coax
terminates at the cable modem.

The cable modem itself attaches to the SOHO computing

equipment via its 10BASE-T port. In most circumstances,
the cable modem attaches directly to a user’s computer. If
a LAN is present on the premises (something many cable
companies frown upon), some sort of router can be
connected to the cable modem.

Advantages

• Always Connected: A cable modem connection is

always connected to the Internet. This is advantageous
because you do not have to wait for your computer to
“log on” to the Internet; however, this also has the
disadvantage of making your computer more
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vulnerable to hackers. Broadband: Cable modems

transmit and receive data as digital packets, meaning
they provide high-speed Internet access. This makes
cable modem connections much faster than traditional
dial-up connections.

• Bandwidth: Cable modems have the potential to

receive data from their cable provider at speeds
greater than 30 megabits per second; unfortunately,
this speed is rarely ever realized. Cable lines are
shared by all of the cable modem users in a given
area; thus, the connection speed varies depending
upon the number of other people using the Internet
and the amount of data they are receiving or
transmitting.

• File Transfer Capabilities: Downloads may be faster,

but uploads are typically slower. Since the same lines
are used to transmit data to and from the modem,
priority is often given to data traveling in one direction.

• Signal Integrity: Cable Internet can be transmitted

long distances with little signal degradation. This
means the quality of the Internet signal is not
significantly decreased by the distance of the modem
from the cable provider.

• Routing: Cable routers allow multiple computers to be

hooked up to one cable modem, allowing several
devices to be directly connected through a single
modem. Wireless routers can also be attached to your
cable modem.

• Rely on Existing Connections: Cable modems

connect directly to preinstalled cable lines. This is
advantageous because you do not need to have other
services, such as telephone or Internet, in order to
receive Internet through your cable modem. The
disadvantage is that you cannot have cable internet in
areas where there are no cable lines. Disadvantages

• Cable internet technology excels at maintaining signal

strength over distance. Once it is delivered to a region,
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however, such as a neighborhood, it is split among that

regions subscribers. While increased capacity has
diminished the effect somewhat, it is still possible that
users will see significantly lower speeds at peak times
when more people are using the shared connection.
• Bandwidth equals money, so cable’s advantage in
throughput comes with a price. Even in plans of similar
speeds compared with DSL, customers spend more per
Mb with cable than they do with DSL.
• It’s hard to imagine, but there are still pockets of the
United States without adequate cable television
service. There are far fewer such pockets without
residential land-line service meaning cable internet is
on balance less accessible in remote areas.

3.5.5 VSAT

Short for very small aperture terminal, an earthbound

station used in satellite communications of data, voice and
video signals, excluding broadcast television. A VSAT
consists of two parts, a transceiver that is placed outdoors
in direct line of sight to the satellite and a device that is
placed indoors to interface the transceiver with the end
user’s communications device, such as a PC. The
transceiver receives or sends a signal to a satellite
transponder in the sky. The satellite sends and receives
signals from a ground station computer that acts as a hub
for the system. Each end user is interconnected with the
hub station via the satellite, forming a star topology. The
hub controls the entire operation of the network. For one
end user to communicate with another, each transmission
has to first go to the hub station that then retransmits it via
the satellite to the other end user’s VSAT.

Advantages

Satellite communication systems have some advantages

that can be exploited for the provision of connectivity.
These are:

• Costs Insensitive to Distance

• Single Platform service delivery (one-stop-shop)
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• Flexibility
• Upgradeable
• Low incremental costs per unit
Disadvantages

However like all systems there are disadvantages also.

Some of these are
• High start-up costs (hubs and basic elements must be
in place before the services can be provided)
• Higher than normal risk profiles
• Severe regulatory restrictions imposed by countries
that prevent VSAT networks and solutions from
reaching critical mass and therefore profitability
• Some service quality limitations such the high signal
delays (latency)
• Natural availability limits that cannot be mitigated
against

• Lack of skills required in the developing world to

design, install and maintain satellite communication
systems adequately

3.6 DOWNLOADING FILES

Downloading is the process of copying a file (such as a
game or utility) from one computer to another across the
internet. When you download a game from our web site, it
means you are copying it from the author or publisher’s
web server to your own computer. This allows you to install
and use the program on your own machine.

Here’s how to download a file using Internet Explorer and

Windows XP. (This example shows a download of the file
“dweepsetup.exe” from Dexterity Games.) If you’re using a
different browser such as Netscape Navigator or a different
version of Windows, your screen may look a little different,
but the same basic steps should work.
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1. Click on the download link for the program you

want to download. Many sites offer multiple
download links to the same program, and you only
need to choose one of these links.
2. You may be asked if you want to save the file or run
it from its current location. If you are asked this
question, select “Save.” If not, don’t worry — some
browsers will automatically choose “Save” for you.
(Fig. 3.3(a))
3. You will then be asked to select the folder where
you want to save the program or file, using a
standard “Save As” dialog box. Pay attention to
which folder you select before clicking the “Save”
button. It may help you to create a folder like “C:\
Download” for all of your downloads, but you can
use any folder you’d like.
4. The download will now begin. Your web browser will
keep you updated on the progress of the download
by showing a progress bar that fills up as you
download. You will also be reminded where you’re
saving the file. The file will be saved as “C:\
Download\dweepsetup.exe” in the picture below.
(Fig. 3.3(b))
Note: You may also see a check box labeled
“Close this dialog box when download
completes.” If you see this check box, it helps to
uncheck this box. You don’t have to, but if you
do, it will be easier to find the file after you
download it.

5. Depending on which file you’re downloading and

how fast your connection is, it may take anywhere
from a few seconds to a few minutes to download.
When your download is finished, if you left the
“Close this dialog box when download completes”
option unchecked, you’ll see a dialog box as shown
in fig. 3.3(c) :
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Fig 3.3.(a) Downloading Window

Fig 3.3.(b) Downloading WindowFig 3.3.(c) Downloading Window

6. Now click the “Open” button to run the file you just
downloaded. If you don’t see the “Download
complete” dialog box, open the folder where you
saved the file and double-click on the icon for the
file there.

What happens next will depend on the type of file you

downloaded. The files you’ll download most often will
end in one of two extensions. (An extension is the last
few letters of the filename, after the period.) They are:

o .EXE files: The file you downloaded is a program.

Follow the on-screen instructions from there to
install the program to your computer and to learn
how to run the program after it’s installed.
o .ZIP files: ZIP is a common file format used to
compress and combine files to make them
download more quickly. Some versions of Windows
(XP and sometimes ME) can read ZIP files without
extra software. Otherwise, you will need an
unzipping program to read these ZIP files. Common
unzipping programs are WinZip, PKZIP, and Bit
Zipper, but there are also many others. Many
unzipping programs are shareware, which means
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you will need to purchase them if you use them

beyond their specified trial period.

INTEXT QUESTION 3.1

1. What are the different types of Internet Connection?

2. Fill in the blanks:

(a) A __________ is a type of Network Bridge and

modem that provides bi-directional data
communication via radio frequency channels on a
HFC and RFoG infrastructure.
(b) The ________ is a global system of interconnected
computer networks that use the standard Internet
protocol suite (TCP/IP) to serve billions of users
worldwide.
(c) VoIP stands for______________ , referring to the
protocol that underlies all Internet communication.

3.7 WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNT

In this lesson you learnt about the Internet, its importance
and types of internet services and different types of
internet connections have also been discussed along with
their advantages and disadvantages.

3.8 TERMINAL QUESTIONS

1. What is Internet? What are its advantages and

disadvantages?

2. What are the various services of internet?

3. Explain in brief different types of internet connection.

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3.9 ANSWER TO INTEXT QUESTIONS

Intext Question 3.1

1. The types of internet connection are:

• Dial up Connection
• Leased Connection
• DSL connection
• Cable Modem Connection
• VSAT
2. (a) cable modem (b) Internet (c) Voice-over-Internet
Protocol