Internet Basics

Figure 9.1 is an astounding graph that speaks to the pace of Internet development. It shows the number of years it took a number of technologies to reach 50 million users worldwide. As you can see, whereas it took 74 years for the telephone to reach 50 million users, it took the World Wide Web only 4.

Figure 9.1. Internet pace: Years to reach 50 million users worldwide

What forces are propelling our interest in the Internet? One main force is that usage is increasing dramatically; today some 250 million people worldwide have Internet access, and that number is growing by leaps and bounds. The Internet is very useful and easy to ...

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