The Friend in the Middle

Before the advent of the internet, two computers can be easily connected and share data using an Ethernet cable or wirelessly using Bluetooth systems. This is not limited to just computers, several computers could be connected to each other. But this raised an issue of complexity. Connecting 10 computers would require 45 cables and that can cause quite a hassle. To solve this problem, a Router was developed and a router function like this: imagine 10 friends in a circle and an 11th friend in the middle. If friend A wants to pass an information to another friend B at the other side of the circle, they pass the information to the 11th friend in the middle who in this case is the Router. Then the 11th friend finally passes the information to the other friend. So a Router is like a signaler and ensures that data is shared between several computers without requiring lots of cables.

We are Hydra

Now just connecting a few computers within a single building doesn't sound like fun now but it was a big deal few years ago. Several computers can be connected to a single router and then that router can also be connected to another router that also has several computers connected to it. But what if you want to connect with someone who's let say miles away, how do you do that? Well in the past connection were made using telephone cables but now we all have wireless mobile phones that can be used to connect. This is made possible by equipment in the mobile phone known as the Modem. The Modem converts information from outside networks into information that can be managed by the mobile phone's network provider i.e. Sprint, MTN. These network providers also function as Internet Service Providers (ISP). ISPs have special Routers that can also connect the Routers of other ISPs. So if you want to send an information from using one ISP it can easily be delivered to another person using another ISP. It is all connected.

Apples and Orange

The terms Internet and the Web are always used interchangeably. But that are two separate entities. The internet is an infrastructure that is used to connect several computers and networks together. The Web is a service built on that infrastructure. In my next article I will explain further what the web is and how it works. Thanks