The Internet is basically a bunch of computers that can talk to one another. We may just think the Internet is a place to help us do our homework or share pictures and images, but it is much more than just that. When the Internet first fired up, it was primarily just for scientists to share information to better understand what they were working on it. Today just under half of the human world has access to and is actively using the Internet in their daily lives. As time goes on, the Internet will be as accessible as a telephone. Today, just over half of the planet is extensively using the Internet and that will only increase as time goes on. As time goes on electronics tend to drastically drop in value. In fact, most PC computers will lose half of their value each successive year. That means that a computer that is worth two thousand dollars today will be worth one hundred and twenty-five dollars five years from now.
We start with the history of the Internet, move on to how it works, and we end with where we think it will go next. As you explore our worksheets below you will read and learn about the history of all of this and where it is all heading. Students will learn about the digital infrastructure in place and how things technically work. We will also look at how this medium has changed what it means to be a publisher, artist, or even a musician by the current digital landscape. We will also look at what common vocabulary to this medium actually is. Those words you use daily, do you know what they mean?