Chapter 1 -
The Internet & World Wide Web

This chapter provides an overview of concepts related to the Internet and World Wide Web. Visit the links on this page to learn more about each topic.

New Top Level Domain Names (TLDs)

The following new sponsored TLDs are in the approval process at ICANN:

.post (sponsored by Universal Postal Union)
.travel (sponsored by Tralliance Corporation)
.jobs (sponsored by Employ Media)
.mobi (sponsored by Nokia/Vodafone/Microsoft)

Textbook Links

History of the Internet & Web
- A Brief History of the Internet
- Hobbes Internet Timeline
Internet Standards and Coordination
- Internet Society
- IETF
- IAB
- ICANN
- IANA
Web Standards & Accessibility
Internet Architecture
Internt & Web Trends

Emerging Trends in Social Computing

Blogger & Bloglines - Post your thoughts and opinions
RSS - Syndicate your site content
Podcasting - Host your own "radio" show (What is a podcast?)
Nielsen Netratings Podcast Survey Results
del.icio.us - Social bookmark manager
wikipedia - An encyclopedia anyone can edit
A humorous introduction to wikipedia
Build your own free wiki at PBwiki or WikiSpaces.
flickr - Store, search, share, and sort your photos
WEB 2.0:
The future of web design
Tim Berners-Lee's viewpoint
Video Overview (five minutes)
An Anthropology Professor's vision of Web 2.0 (five minutes)
The Next Web

The future is here -- it's just not widely distributed yet.
William Gibson

Wiki, Blog, and RSS Applications for Business

The collaboration and open communiation that wikis, weblogs and RSS feeds enable provide new opportunities for businesses and non-profit organization to utilize the knowledge of their workers. See Wharton for a brief interview of two leaders in the field on this topic.

The Internet & Web
Critical Thinking

Take a moment to think about some of the issues below:

1. Has the Internet changed the way that you communicate with your friends and family, work on school assignments, research and compare products? If so, how? Cite specific examples. How do you think it will impact these activities in the future?

2. Are you aware of a so-called "Digital Divide" -- the difference between individuals that use computers and those that do not? Do you think there really is a Digital Divide? Cite examples. What can be done to bridge this divide? Explore http://digitaldivide.org for further information.