The "Hands-On Internet for Business" Workshop

Contrary to popular perception, the Internet is not a physical entity to which one connects computers and computer networks. It is a collection of computers and computer networks that are located all over the world and are connected together using a common set of protocols . A computer or computer network is not connected to Internet. It becomes a member of internet. To become a member of Internet, the computer or computer network can be connected to an existing member of Internet using the common set of Internet protocol.

Currently, members of Internet include computers at colleges and universities ; at federal, state, and local governments ; at libraries ; and at private businesses. Most of the major computer on-line services are also members of Internet.