What is the Internet
The internet is a network that connects computers all across the globe. It has allowed us to share and contribute information in a way and on a scale that has never been accomplished before. Just like the Gutenberg printing press, the internet is yet another invention that has simultaneously propelled our society forward and stifled our intellectual abilities. It has allowed ideas and knowledge to be shared and spread like never before, but is also “subsuming most of our other intellectual technologies” (Carr, 16). There is much controversy over the consequences of the Internet, and while it has had both positives and negative impacts, it has and will continue to drastically change our world and the way we think.
The internet is anywhere that there is a computational device connected to a network. The data sent and retrieved is stored and processed in data centers across the world. Many people confuse the internet with the world wide web (www), however they are not the same thing. The world wide web is one way in which people can access information on the internet, it is merely a platform through which information flows. The internet is a “network of networks” meaning that it enables devices to connect to each other. From what I have found, there are a variety of different kinds of internets including DSL, Cable, Fiber, Wireless, Satellite, and BPL. Each uses a different mode of networks to connect devices to one another. The internet has become an integrated part of most people’s daily lives. In the future, I believe it will become an even bigger part, to the point where we do not even recognize that we are using technology to complete tasks. The world will continue to become more connected and the development of artificial intelligence and virtual reality will be integrated not just for recreational use but for education and science as well. The internet is becoming a multifaceted entity the likes of which the world has never seen before.
In a way, the internet is alive. Not in the sense of a plant, animal, or human is but it has become extremely advanced in that some forms of technology have become self-aware and seem to have a consciousness. It is all around us and constantly in use, so while it is not organic it is a presence that connects us all day everyday and has the capability of giving thought to inanimate objects. I love the way in which the internet makes it easy to discover things that would have taken much longer to do without it. For example, if I am curious about a certain topic, I have access to a multitude of databases and resources in order to get the information I need. It is also quite astonishing what the internet has done in terms of connecting people around the world. Before the internet, conversations and information took days, weeks, and sometimes months to reach one person to another. The internet has made it possible to connect with people in a matter of seconds and receive a response just as quickly. This has enabled us to progress faster and more efficiently than before the internet existed. The thing that scares me is the question of what we can do versus what we should do. We have made enormous strides in the capabilities of what the internet can do. However, there are many implications when it comes to something so widespread that many people across the globe depend on. For example, the people who are in charge of the networks wield much more power than people think. A lot of our lives are shared and stored on the internet, and it is important to remember that more people have access to that information than just yourself, and some people have the power to do whatever they like with it. I also think that the reliance on the internet is concerning. For example, the internet has made some jobs formerly only capable of being done by humans no longer in need of human labor. While this has many economic benefits, this does displace many workers in our society and will eventually have repercussions felt around the world. The internet has done an immeasurable amount of good for society, but it is also important to note the dangers that come with complete reliance of an inorganic entity controlled by powerful people.
