We can use the Internet to do some great things.
In SciCity you can meet with friends as Avatars, explore virtual environments and make movies of your discoveries for others to watch!
What is the Internet?
The Internet is a massive network of computers, all sending information to each other around the world.
When you use the Internet you are using your computer to become part of this giant network.
There are two types of computers that make up the Internet - Servers and Clients.
When you type in a web address or click on a link, your computer becomes a Client asking for information.
Then a Server will serve you the information you asked for.
It’s a bit like a waiter serving you the meal you ordered!
It is only information about the website that is sent to your computer.
For example: the colour of the website does not get served to your computer, it is only the code for that colour that is sent.
Your computer then uses this coded information to work out what colour to show you on the screen.
Activity:
To see the code for the Upstart website:
- Click on ‘View’ in the browser menu
- Choose ‘Source’ from the drop-down list You will see the code your computer has been sent to display the Upstart website and make it work correctly.
Underwater-Web
In New Zealand, when you go onto the Internet, you are usually connecting to the rest of the world through two big cables that have been laid out under the sea on the ocean floor.
One of these cables goes across to Australia and then to Fiji, then to Hawaii and then across to North America.
The other cable goes directly to Hawaii and then across to North America.
These cables are called the Southern Cross cables.
You are sending messages such a long way every time you visit a website based in another country!
