Additional information: Summary
Every device that can be touched is hardware, for example, your laptop. But your hardware needs invisible digital instructions called software to function. Mobile phones can have many functions depending on their software applications (apps).
The internet is an information network made possible by wires buried in the ground and beneath the ocean floor. The internet is the plumbing on which the world wide web is built. The web is a network of online content that runs on millions of servers worldwide.
Before you can access the internet, you must have an internet service provider, such as BT or Virgin Media. Both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are wireless technologies, but only Wi-Fi can connect to the internet. The term ‘broadband’ refers to high-speed internet access.
You can access the world wide web using a program called a web browser. The web browser retrieves the content you’re looking for from a web server and then displays the resulting web page on your device. A search engine allows you to search for information without knowing the website address (URL). The search usually returns a list of websites to choose from.
Activity: Looking back on this Additioanl information section
Use this box to make notes on what you’ve learned in this section. Think about what was new to you and what you already knew.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
I can recognise the different parts of a computer.
I know how the internet works.
I can search for things on the internet.
You should now move on to Lesson 1 [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] .
Making your wireless network secure