Lesson 2. Uses of the Internet

Words and word combinations:

precursor – предшественник

to administer – управлять, руководить

scholarly – ученый, научный

advertising – реклама

to cease – прекращать

World-Wide Web – Всемирная паутина, Сеть

file transfer – передача файлов

highway system – система основных путей

delivery service – служба доставки

electronic commerce – электронная коммерция

business-to-business transaction – деловая сделка

database – база данных

to speed – ускорять

file sharing – совместное использование файлов

to swap – обмениваться

provided – при условии

to violate – нарушать

online chat – переговоры в онлайновом режиме

instant messaging – мгновенный обмен сообщениями

TEXT

USES OF THE INTERNET

Before the Internet was created, the U.S. military had developed and deployed communications networks, including a network known as ARPANET¹. Uses of the networks were restricted to military personnel and the researchers who developed the technology. Many people regard the ARPANET as the precursor of the Internet. From the 1970s until the late 1980s the Internet was a U.S. government-funded communication and research tool restricted almost exclusively to academic and military uses. It was administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF)². In the 1980s the NSF developed the policy that relaxed restrictions and allowed universities to use the Internet for research and scholarly activities. However, the NSF policy prohibited all commercial uses of the Internet. Under this policy advertising did not appear on the Internet, and people could not sell products or services on the Internet.

By 1995 the NSF ceased its administration of the Internet. The Internet was privatized, and commercial use was permitted. This move coincided with the growth in popularity of the World Wide Web (WWW), which was developed by British physicist and computer scientist Timothy Berners-Lee. The Web replaced file transfer as the application used for most Internet traffic. The difference between the Internet and the Web is similar to the distinction between a highway system and a delivery service that uses the highways to move cargo from one city to another. The Internet is the highway system over which Web traffic and traffic from other applications move. The Web consists of programs running on many computers that allow a user to find and display multimedia documents, documents that contain a combination of text, photographs, graphics, audio, and video. By the end of 2000, Web traffic dominated the Internet—more than 80 percent of all traffic on the Internet came from the Web.

Companies, individuals, and institutions use the Internet in many ways. Companies use the Internet for electronic commerce including advertising, selling, buying, distributing products, and providing customer service. In addition, companies use the Internet for business-to-business transactions, such as exchanging financial information and accessing complex databases. Businesses and institutions use the Internet for voice and video conferencing and other forms of communication that enable people to work away from the office using a computer. The use of e-mail speeds communication between companies and among other individuals.

Media and entertainment companies run online news and weather services over the Internet, distribute music and movies, and broadcast audio and video, including live radio and television programs. File sharing services let individuals swap music, movies, photos, provided they do not violate copyright protections. Online chat allows people to carry on discussions using written text. Instant messaging enables people to exchange text messages. Scientists and scholars use the Internet to communicate with colleagues, perform research, distribute lecture notes and course materials to students, and publish papers and articles. Individuals use the Internet for communication, entertainment, finding information, and buying and selling goods and services.

¹ ARPANET (Advanced Research Project Agency Network) – сеть Управления перспективных исследовательских программ

² NSF (National Science Foundation) – Национальный научный фонд

1. Find the English equivalents in the text:

управление Интернетом; обмениваться текстовыми сообщениями; комбинация текста, графики, аудио и видео; радио- и телепередачи в прямом эфире; общаться с коллегами; реклама, покупка и продажа товаров; ослабить ограничения; мгновенный обмен сообщениями; обсуждать; научное и военное использование; совпадать; нарушать защиту права собственности

2. True or false?

1) Instant messaging enables people to swap music, movies and photos.

2) By 1995, Web traffic dominated the Internet.

3) Companies use the Internet for electronic commerce.

4) A few people regard the ARPANET as the precursor of the Internet.

5) The use of e-mail speeds communication among the individuals.

6) Scientists and scholars use the Internet to communicate with colleagues.

7) In the 1980s the NSF decided to relax restrictions.

8) British computer scientist Timothy Berners-Lee developed the WWW.

3. Answer the questions:

1) What was the ARPANET?

2) What was the function of the National Science Foundation till 1995?

3) What innovation did Timothy Berners-Lee develop?

4) Why is the Internet compared with the highway system?

5) What does the Web consist of?

6) What do different companies all over the world use the Internet for?

7) What does the use of e-mail provide?

8) What do file sharing services and online chats provide?

4. Make up the summary of the text.