The Internet was created in 1969 for the United States Department of Defense. The Internet is essentially a large group of computers that have been interlinked and are capable of sharing vast amounts of information. This Network of computer Networks is a physical system that allows information sharing on a global scale. This "loosely connected" Network links smaller Networks and individual computers by telephone line and satellite links.

Everyone is welcome on the Internet. As long as your machine is running a communications standard called TCP/IP. (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol). All types of machines can be interconnected regardless of their Make, Model, or Operating System.  (That means a "PC" and a "Mac" can both communicate on the 'Net!)  The Internet allows several different methods of communication protocols. E-Mail is one example, but there are others that are used including Gopher, Usenet, Telnet, FTP, and HTTP.

Of the protocols mentioned..., (for our purposes) we will be using E-mail, FTP, and HTTP.

The average user will access the Internet by telephone, but OU College Campus users will use the local (Campus) Network. (Accessing WebStudy information from the local Campus should be much "faster" than the telephone hookup because you are accessing the Local Communications Network)

Either way, information that is stored and managed at OU (or anywhere in the world) is available to you at the touch of a button. No other device or technology has ever been able to do this!