What it the Internet?

The Internet is a huge, international network made of smaller networks. There are over 2.2 million computers on the Internet (as of January 1994) with an estimated number of users near 15 million. Universities, government agencies, non-profit organizations and businesses are all part of the Internet.
All the computers on the Internet use a common protocol (TCP/IP) to communicate with one another. This allows computers running different operating systems to all be part of the network. Most of the machines on the Internet use the Unix operating system, but you will see DOS and Macintosh machines, machines running VMS, and others, too.
These networks offer all sorts of information and act as a communications medium.

Why Would I Want to Be Part of the Internet?

1. Access to Information.
The Internet is the largest network in the world. You can find information ranging from how to extract essential oils from herbs to how to compile a program for your Commodore-64. Read newspapers online; check the card catalog of the local library; read the latest Presidential press release. Check the weather forecast; read a book; check the latest movie reviews. Order flowers; visit an electronic bookstore; get information on the latest software.
2. International Communications
Over half of the world's nations have sites on the Internet. Even more have access to e-mail gateways to exchange electronic mail with Internet sites. You can communicate with friends and colleagues in Russia, India, Mexico, Europe...even Antarctica!
In addition to being able to send e-mail all over the globe, you can communicate with people