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is really just a whole pile of connected computers of all shapes and sizes all around the world. Some of the connections are permanent - some companies exist just to be always connected to the internet and to be available for us to connect up to. They are sometimes called 'hosts' (maybe because their computer systems are used by people having internet fun, in the same way that people who are party hosts let their homes be used for fun).

The permanently connected computers can pass information to each other all day. This picture shows information - maybe it's lots of e-mails? - whizzing round the internet from computer to computer.


So, if you or I want to connect our home computers to the internet, maybe so that we can get e-mails or find information, we just have to connect up to this existing 'network'. Most of us do this by using a 'modem'. This is just an electronic gadget which you attach to your computer and then to your telephone line. It lets you send and receive computer information using your telephone line as the connection. (The 'hosts' are always connected to the telephone system.)

Once your computer is connected to the internet you can use it to send and receive e-mails, collect and send files of information from computer to computer (sometimes called FTP which stands for File Transfer Protocol), read news, 'chat' to other users by typing messages and, last but not least 'browse the web'.

Now, you'll just have to read the next page to find out what that means, won't you!

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Last Updated: May 19th, 1999