How I use it: the Internet.

In the 1970s, technology was developed in order to network computers. This consisted of a set of communications protocols or rules, which enabled computers to connect and talk to each other. In 1983, the predecessor of theInternet adopted the protocol standard, which is now known as the Internet Protocol Suite otherwise known as TCP/IP. The Britannica Concise Encyclopedia defines these protocols; 'TCP is the component that collects and reassembles the packets of data, while IP is responsible for making sure the packets are sent to the right destination'. An IP address is assigned to a computer when it logs onto the network (now commonly known as the World Wide Web) and acts like a postal address for electronic communication. Uniform resource identifiers are used by the In-ternet to identify resources either by name (URN) or location (URL). Software known as Internet browsers have been developed to assist navigation and find the resources required from home computers. They also ensure that the information is viewed in a user-friendly format. Newer browsers also offer a number of additional benefits including security, privacy settings, synchronization (which allows you to store information on the web and access it when you log on to the Internet from a different computer) and plug-ins, which specialize in processing particular types of content. A review of the top 10 Internet browsers can be found at: internet-browser-review.toptenre-Cost The cost of the Internet depends on your provider and the technology used. The oldest technology is narrowband dial-up which uses a standard telephone line and is now considered very slow and susceptible to interference. Broadband refers to a band of frequencies available to transmit information. The speed is dependent on the bandwidth accessible. Accessibility is also affected by the means of transmission with ADSL relying on telephone lines, while cable relies on robust fibre cabling, faster than traditional copper telephone lines. It is possible to check the speed of transmission. You will also require a modem, which receives the signal into the house and needs to be matched with the technology used to provide the Internet; usually provided free of charge by your provider. Another type of modem available is a 'dongle', which allows a computer to receive broadband over a mobile network. A router is used to communicate the signal from the modem to computer or computers and can be wireless to avoid the need of cables or wires. It …