When I go to a website, am I retrieving this information from someone's computer, and if so, does that mean their computer is on 24/7?
Can you explain the internet to me in simplistic terms?
Thanks.
2006-11-27 17:57:12 · 9 answers · asked by Innocuous pen... 4 in Computers & Internet ➔ Internet
Yes, when you access a site online, you are talking to another computer. And yes, they try to have that computer on 24/7, but it is designed to be run 24/7 and is usually a server, not a desktop PC.
It somewhat simple terms, using the post office as an analogy:
-Your PC and the other computer have an IP Addresses, think of them as street addresses (they do about the same thing, let people send stuff to you)
-You want to get information from Yahoo, so you send data (a letter) to Yahoo, saying you want their information
-The letter you sent is sent through several routers (post offices) until it gets to Yahoo's server (their address)
-Yahoo sends you their data (a return letter) to you
-This letter also goes though several routers (post offices again) until it is delivered back to you
-You view the web page (you read the letter they sent you)
There is actually a lot more than that, but it is a start.
2006-11-27 18:12:30 · answer #1 · answered by Bryan A 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Here is some facts:
Way back in the 1960's when the cold war was on, the US Department of Defense (DoD) needed to establish communications with major US military installations. The DoD funded research sites in the US, in 1968 the Advanced Projects Research Agency (ARPA) along with other oraganisations built a network, which was based on packet switching technology, based on this technology the in the 1970's more nodes, access points were added domesticly and abroad, the name changed from ARPA to ARPANET, DNS (domain name system) was introduced in 1984, still used today of course, the phenomenal growth rate in the 1980's was nothing compared to the 90's, where the ARPANET evolved into what is the internet now, in 1991 www was born, by 2001 the numer of internet hosts exeeded 110 billion, heaven knows what that number is today, just thought you might be intrested in how the "internet" came about.
2006-11-27 19:41:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a bit like that - but in general it's not someone's computer it's a very large network of computers, some small and some very large, which contains the information.
When you key in a search argument, it gets translated inside the search engine (yahoo or some other engine) as a result.
.... and yes they are available 24/7
2006-11-27 18:07:32 · answer #3 · answered by Robert W 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are looking for internet at home, then yes, you must pay for internet and then connect a wireless "hub" to your paid for connection. I suppose an unethical solution is to 'borrow' the internet from your neighbor. Or you could create some sort of deal/arrangement with your neighbor and the two of you split the cost of the internet. But of course, it's against your 'user agreement' with your internet provider.
2016-03-28 22:33:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes! that computer remains on 24x7.
That computers processes the request send using HTTP Protocol and send u back the web-page.
To know more about HTTP, browse http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Http_protocol
2006-11-27 18:04:31 · answer #5 · answered by Vaibhav 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its a lot of computers all linked together, beyond that its obvious nobody knows. Some day it will achieve consciousness and kill everyone.
2006-11-27 18:20:04 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try wiki for a complete answer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet
2006-11-27 20:01:31 · answer #7 · answered by Paul B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Google it
2006-11-27 18:04:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.learnthenet.com/English/animate/connect.html
2006-11-27 18:05:58 · answer #9 · answered by Oscar 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋