INTERNET

INTERNET. The Internet is the global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices. It is a network of networks that consists of private, public, academic, business, and government networks of local to global scope, linked by electronic, wireless, and optical networking technologies. The Internet carries a vast range of information resources and services, such as the inter-linked hypertext documents and applications of the World Wide Web (WWW), electronic mail, telephony, and file sharing.

The origins of the Internet date back to the development of packet switching and research commissioned by the United States Department of Defense in the 1960s to enable time-sharing of computers. The primary precursor network, the ARPANET, initially served as a backbone for interconnection of regional academic and military networks in the 1970s. The funding of the National Science Foundation Network as a new backbone in the 1980s, as well as private funding for other commercial extensions, led to worldwide participation in the development of new networking technologies, and the merger of many networks. The linking of commercial networks and enterprises by the early 1990s marked the beginning of the transition to the modern Internet, and generated growth as generations of institutional, personal, and mobile computers were connected to the network. Commercialization incorporated its services and technologies into virtually every aspect of modern life. (1)

The first introduction of the Internet to many elementary students began in the early 1990s with a stand-alone keyboard and printer located in a hallway. After phoning the Keystone Area Education Agency, the user heard a series of buzzes and pings and then static as the link was made. Early use was restricted to playing "Oregon Trail" or researching bio-rhythms. The first large group of Macintosh computers was brought to HOOVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL where they were housed in an empty classroom. Students from other schools were transported to Hoover to gain experience. Often these groups were initially limited to students involved in classes for the talented and gifted. Within several years, computer labs were established in each elementary school with one computer, generally encouraged for teacher use, was introduced into the classroom.

Teacher-use of computers was encouraged by the implementation of school calendars only accessible on the computer and then the unveiling of student report cards being computer-generated. Test scores, recorded through a period of time, were tallied by the computer and printed in the school office for use at conferences. Computer classes were offered and protocols developed for student use of the Internet. The MAPP tests, computerized standardized testing in mathematics, was begun with results being available in 24 hours. (2)

In 1995 free public access to the internet was made available at the CARNEGIE-STOUT PUBLIC LIBRARY for the first time on February 10th. Business and residents could access the Internet with a local call by April of that year.

INS Info Services of Des Moines in cooperation with CYCARE SYSTEMS, INC. provided the first local-call service. In previous years, those who subscribed to the company service accessed an 800 number and were billed at 15 cents per minute. With local access, internet service was available from INS for $40 per month with a limit of 250 hours. (3)

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Source:

1. "Internet," Wikipedia, Online: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet

2. Randolph W. Lyon, teacher at Hoover Elementary School

3. "Internet Access In Dubuque," Dubuque by the Decades," Telegraph Herald, July 2020, p. 47