Programming Open Service Gateways with Java Embedded Server™ Technology

1.1. The Internet and the Networked Home

Since the early 1990s, the Internet has grown tremendously and its impact is now felt in almost every aspect of our lives. It has changed the way we obtain entertainment, communicate, and conduct commerce, and is becoming a household presence like the telephone and the television.

Because of the ubiquity of the Internet and the vast resources it makes available, a computer that is not connected to the Internet becomes less useful, and the features available locally become less relevant. In fact, many people own a general-purpose computer solely to access the Internet.

As the Internet matures, services are being offered in addition to contents. We shop, trade stocks, lan trips, and get news on the Internet, ...