What is the Internet?

The internet, sometimes simply called the net, is a worldwide system of interconnected computer networks and electronic devices that communicate with each other using an established set of protocols. The internet was conceived by the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) of the U.S. government in 1969. ARPA was later renamed the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in 1972. DARPA's first known packet-switching network was known as the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET).
Packet Switching transmits data across digital networks by breaking it down into blocks or packets for more efficient transfer using various network devices. Each time one device sends a file to another, it breaks the file down into packets so that it can determine the most efficient route for sending the data across the network at that time. The network devices can then route the packets to the destination where the receiving device reassembles them for use. 

Brief history of the Internet

In 1983, the ARPANET began using the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) open networking protocol suite and in 1985, the National Science Foundation Network designed the network to connect university computer science departments around the U.S.
Communications over the internet greatly improved in 1989 when the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) was created, enabling different computer platforms to connect to the same internet sites. In 1993, the Mosaic web browser was created.
The internet continues to grow and evolve. Internet Protocol Version 6, for example, was designed to anticipate enormous future expansion in the number of available IP addresses. In a related development, the Internet of Things (IoT) is the burgeoning environment in which almost any entity or object can be given a unique identifier (UID) and the ability to transfer data automatically over the internet. A helpful description of the evolution of the internet can be seen in the graphic below:

How does the Internet work?

The process of transferring information over the internet from one device to another relies on packet switching. The internet is a packet-routing network that uses IP and Transmission Control Protocols (TCP’s) for communication. When a person visits a website, their computer or mobile device sends a request to the server over one of these protocols. This short YouTube video explains more about how the Internet works

Web browsers

A web browser, also known as an internet browser or simply a browser, is a software application that lets people access the World Wide Web. It’s a one-click window to the entirety of human knowledge — seniors can search for the answer to any question they might have. With a web browser, seniors can browse any website and easily navigate to other sites, similar to how you can browse stores at the shopping mall, lingering in those you like before moving on to visit new ones.
Web browser examples: 
Here, we will examine the most popular examples of web browsers on the market to give seniors an idea of the different types of web browsers available. 
Google Chrome
With 70% of the global market share, Google Chrome is the most popular web browser. Chrome’s popularity can be partly explained by its fast-browsing speeds and easy integration with your personal Google account, making it the most convenient browser for many people. And with the largest library of extensions among the leading browsers, Chrome is also an extremely easy internet browser to modify and customize.
 
What is a Google Account?
A Google Account is an online account required to personalize results and sometimes access Google’s services, including Google Search, Gmail, Google Maps, Google Chrome, YouTube and Google Assistant, among others. You also need a Google Account to install apps from the Play Store.
Safari
Safari is the default web browser for all Apple devices: Macs, iPads, and iPhones. While most people don’t have Mac computers, many have iPhones and iPads. In fact, Safari is the most popular mobile web browser in the US. Safari’s look and feel is consistent across Apple devices.
 
Microsoft Edge (previously Internet Explorer)
Microsoft Edge has replaced the old and outdated Internet Explorer as Microsoft’s new flagship browser. This web browser comes standard with any device using Microsoft’s Windows operating system. Microsoft Edge is built on the Chromium browser platform, which also underpins Chrome and other browsers as well.

Searching the Internet

Search engines
A search engine, like Google or Bing, is a website that indexes the contents of the web so seniors can search for information that matches their keywords.
How do search engines work?
Search engines use internet robots (bots), sometimes known as ‘web crawlers’ or ‘spiders’, to index websites. The indexed and searchable web represents a minority of the overall content on the web.
Site ranking
Complex algorithms are used by search engines to rank websites and determine what results to return to you. Different search engines use different algorithms, but some common methods used to rank websites include:
-    How often a page is linked to from other sources.
-    How often the content is updated.
-    The trustworthiness of the domain.
Companies often use techniques such as Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to boost their place in search engine rankings by using these algorithms to their advantage. They can also pay to be listed at the top of a search as an advertisement. This is why oftentimes, the first few results you see may not be the most relevant to your search.
Issues around search algorithms: 
Search algorithms can:
-    be manipulated to artificially dictate search results
-    be used to invade privacy via targeted advertisements
-    return results that potentially damage a person’s reputation.
In response to claims of bias in 2018, Google stated that “While we take great care to present the most authoritative information, there are many cases where users can and will find information that’s not authoritative”. So, it is important to evaluate the information you find.

How to use Google effectively

Use Exact phrases
To search for an exact phrase on Google, use quotation marks around the words you want to appear together. This helps narrow down the search results to only pages that include the exact phrase.
For example, searching for "best pizza in town" will show results that specifically mention that exact phrase. This is useful when you want to find specific information or quotes. Just remember to use this technique sparingly, as too many exact phrases can limit your search results too much.
Use Keywords
Using keywords is a fundamental aspect of conducting effective searches on Google. By incorporating specific words or phrases related to your topic, you can refine your search results and find the information you need more efficiently.
For example, if you're looking for information on healthy eating, using keywords like "nutritious recipes" or "balanced diet tips" will yield more relevant results. It's important to choose keywords that accurately reflect the information you're seeking to avoid getting overwhelmed with irrelevant content.
Additionally, using specific keywords can help you find niche or specialized information that may not appear in broader searches.
Excluding Words in Results
To exclude specific words from your Google search results, simply use the "-" symbol followed by the word you want to exclude. This can be handy when you want to narrow down your search by filtering out irrelevant information.
For example, if you're searching for information about dogs but don't want any results related to poodles, you can search "dogs -poodles." This will ensure that any search results mentioning poodles are excluded from the list. Be mindful of using this feature sparingly to avoid unintentionally excluding helpful information.
Searching within a Specific Website
To search within a specific website, use the "site:" operator in Google search. Simply type "site:example.com" before your search query to limit results to that website. This feature is useful when you want to find information on a particular site quickly or when a site doesn't have its own search function.

For example, searching "site:nytimes.com covid-19" will display results only from The New York Times website related to COVID-19. It's a handy trick for efficient research and navigating large websites.
See here for more advanced Google Search techniques: 

Evaluating information

Before using any information, you have found on the internet, you must evaluate the information source. Learning how to determine the relevance and quality of information is one of the most important skills to have when searching the internet.
There are many different factors to consider when determining the quality of your information.
-    Author: Is there an author? Is it a person or organization?  What are their credentials and qualifications in the topic area?
-    Date: Does the information source have a date? Is the date relevant to the type of information you are looking for i.e. recent/up-to-date breakthroughs or historical?
-    Type of information and scope: Does the information tie in with other information you have found on the topic? Are conclusions well drawn?  Is the level of the document suitable to your needs?
-    Purpose: Who is the intended audience? Is it self-published? Does it support an official group?
-    Writing style: Is it well written? Is the format and length appropriate?
-    Language used: Is the language elementary, serious, sensational?
-    Bibliography: Have references been used?

Check out this useful video for some further guidance about how to evaluate information you find on the Internet: 

Filter bubbles

Have you ever noticed how search engines will suggest search terms to you as you are typing in the search bar? The fact that you may see different suggestions than someone else typing the same letters is an example of a “filter bubble”. Eli Pariser coined the phrase “filter bubble” in 2011 to illustrate how the internet can give you a biased perspective of the world based on search engine algorithms, your past internet searches and what hyperlinks you have clicked on. 
 

Search engines’ auto-suggestions are based on real searches that people have done, and results retrieved can vary from country to country. Someone searching for “Passport applications” will be directed to a different website depending on whether they are searching from the UK or Australia, and on their previous search history.
Watch the video in which Eli explains what a ‘filter bubble’ is, how search engines tailor their search results based on your search history, and how they can retrieve information that may not challenge or expand your perspective on the world.

Privacy and search engines

The main way search engines make money is by selling information about your search habits to 3rd party advertisers. While search engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo are good search engines to use when searching for information, they use cookies to track which websites you have visited.
You may have had a pop up when you have visited an internet page which tells you that cookies are being used to improve services.

Cookies are a small piece of data inserted by a web page into your browser. Cookies allow websites to remember you when you next visit the website. A cookie can be thought of as an internet user's identification card, which tell a website when the user has returned. One of the biggest issues is the significant collection of personal information facilitated by these cookies. By tracking users' browsing habits, third-party cookies contribute to the creation of detailed profiles, raising serious privacy concerns. The accumulation of such information allows for the targeted delivery of advertisements and content, often without users' explicit consent. Some search engines, do not use cookies to track users:

Domain names and URL’s

Domain names: 
A domain name is the address of your website that internet users type in the browser URL bar to visit your website. In simple terms, if your website was a house, then your domain name would be its address.
A more detailed explanation, though, is that the internet is a giant network of computers connected to each other through a global network of cables. Each computer on this network can communicate with other computers. To identify them, each computer is assigned an Internet Protocol (IP) address. This is a series of numbers that identify a particular computer on the internet. A typical IP address looks like this:
66.249.66.1
An IP address like this is quite difficult to remember. Imagine if you had to use such numbers to visit your favorite websites. Domain names were invented to solve this problem. Now, if you want to visit a website, then you don’t need to enter a long string of numbers. Instead, you can visit it by typing an easy-to-remember domain name in your browser’s address bar. For example, twitter.com.

How Is Domain Name Different from a Website and Web Hosting?

The domain name is the web address of your website, then web hosting is the home where your website lives. This is the actual computer where your website’s files are stored. Such computers are called servers, and they are offered as a service by hosting companies.
To create a website, seniors need both a domain name and web hosting. They need both of them to make any kind of website, whether it’s a personal, small business website, or an eCommerce store. However, it’s important for seniors to remember that they are two separate services, which can be purchased from two different companies.