Internet
Let an agent explain what the Internet is and how it works, relay history, governance and access statistics from authoritative sources, describe social and political dimensions with attribution, and distinguish the Internet from the Web and from specific access technologies.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain what the Internet is and how it works, relay history, governance and access statistics from authoritative sources, describe social and political dimensions with attribution, and distinguish the Internet from the Web and from specific access technologies.
The global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite to link devices worldwide, carrying the World Wide Web, email, messaging, streaming and countless services over fixed connections such as cable Internet access and mobile networks including the mobile web and technologies such as WiBro, with national and regional networks such as UAnet in Ukraine; the Internet has reshaped communication, commerce, culture including digital folklore, and politics including debates over data politics, governance and access.
What it is for: Global communication and information exchange.
It can be explain architecture and protocols; relay history and governance; relay access statistics; distinguish from the Web.
Distinguishing features
Packet switching and TCP/IP
Decentralised governance
Global reach
Layered services
What it looks like
Not a visible object; cables, routers, data centres and devices.
Physical character
users worldwide: about 5.5 billion - ITU 2024
ARPANET first link: 1969 year
TCP/IP adoption: 1983 year
How it is recognised
Global network of networks using TCP/IP
Fixed and mobile access, national networks, the Web and services on top
The World Wide Web is one application; intranets are private networks
Related models
is a kind of - in registry terms
carries - as its best known application
uses - TCP/IP
is governed by - and other multistakeholder bodies
In practice
Families and kinds
core infrastructure: backbones, exchange points, submarine cables
access technologies: cable, fibre, DSL, mobile, satellite, WiBro
the mobile web
national and regional networks such as UAnet
services and applications: Web, email, streaming, social media
Internet culture including digital folklore
Standards and regulation
IETF standards and RFCs
ICANN and regional registries for names and numbers
National telecommunications and content laws
Data protection and net neutrality rules
Failure modes and hazards
Outages and cable cuts
Cybercrime and misinformation
Digital divide
Presenting governance and data politics debates as settled
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Understand What the Internet is.
Definition.
Definition
Definition and architecture.
Definition
Definition.
- What is the Internet, how does packet switching work, and how do networks interconnect? definition
- Is the question about the Internet, the Web or a specific service or access technology? boundary
Access
Access technologies.
Access
Access.
- How do cable, fibre, mobile and satellite access work, and what was WiBro? definition
- Which entry fits the specific technology? action
Govern Governance and policy.
Attribution.
Governance
Governance.
Governance
Governance.
- Who governs the Internet, from IETF and ICANN to national regulators? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Politics
Data politics and debates.
Politics
Politics.
- What debates surround data politics, censorship, net neutrality and platform power, with positions attributed? provenance
- Is the presentation neutral? boundary
Measure Access and use.
Sources.
Statistics
Statistics.
Statistics
Statistics.
- How many people use the Internet, and how does access vary by region, from ITU data? measurement
- Which sources are cited? provenance
National
National networks.
National
National.
- How are national Internet segments such as UAnet organised? provenance
- Which entry fits the specific country? action
Context History and culture.
Context.
History
History.
History
History.
- How did the Internet develop from ARPANET through TCP/IP to the commercial and mobile eras? provenance
- Which entry fits the history of the Internet? action
Culture
Internet culture.
Culture
Culture.
- What is digital folklore, and how has the Internet shaped culture? provenance
- Which entry fits Internet culture? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should the World Wide Web and Internet governance be separate primary entries?
- How should ITU and IETF sources be linked?
- The registry entry has merged aliases naming access technologies and cultural topics; should they be split off?