Computers
as a Second LanguageComputers
as a Second LanguageHardware and Software
COMPUTER
NETWORKS A
network refers to two or more computers that are connected so they can
share hardware and software. For example, a home-based business might
have two computers and only one laser printer. By connecting the two
computers with special network cables, and implementing some basic
networking software, both computers could access the laser printer.
Perhaps the hard disk on one of the computers has 200 or 300 fonts
installed. It would be a big waste of hard disk storage space if the
same fonts were installed on the second computer. The networking
arrangement allows the second computer full access to all the fonts on
the first computer.Networked
computers require hardware called network interface cards.
Special cables (similar to cable TV cables) join one computer to
another. In addition, the setup requires software, a network
operating system, to control the flow of information and manage
files.Offices
and schools often have all their computers networked to each other. This
is commonly called a Local Area
Network or LAN. Larger networks
often employ a full time person, a network administrator,
to oversee the operations and troubleshoot any problems that may arise.A
Wide Area Network,
or WAN, consists of computers that are connected over
a wide geographic area, such as a city or a country. In this setup,
information is transmitted via telephone lines, microwaves or
satellites.The
Internet is the mother of all networks. In
simple terms, the Internet is a global network of connected networks.
Today, there are an estimated 100 million computers connected to the
Internet. In just seconds, it's possible to send electronic mail (email)
to a person anywhere in the world, via the Internet.In
the last two years the Internet has become very commercialized with
thousands of businesses on line anxious to
sell you their products. There are dozens of news, weather and sports
services, virtual shopping malls, libraries, hotel and airline
reservation agencies. In fact, just about any service you can think of
is offered on the Internet.If
you own a computer equipped with a telephone modem, it's very
inexpensive to get on the Internet. There are companies, called
Internet Service Providers
or ISPs, that can get you on line for about $10.00
to $20.00 a month. The number of people using the Internet is
growing rapidly. Some analysts are predicting that the worldwide use
will grow from 100 million today to more than one billion
by the year 2000! |
