What Internet is
The most important technological innovation of our generation, the Internet is actually a network of networks. Originally designed by the U.S. Department of Defense so that a communication signal could withstand nuclear war and serve military institutions worldwide, the Internet was first known as the ARPANet, the most robust communication technology. It is a system of linked computer networks, international in scope, that facilitates data transfer and communication services, such as remote login, file transfer (FTP), electronic mail (e-mail), newsgroups, and the World Wide Web. The Internet greatly extends the reach of each connected computer network (see: network effect, IP).
When you see "internet" written with a lowercase "i," it usually refers to a group of local area networks (LANs) that have been connected by means of a common communications protocol. Many internets exist besides the Internet, including many TCP/IP-based networks that are not linked to the Internet (the Defense Data Network is a case in point).
The meaning of Download
To transfer a file or files from one computer to another, for example, from a server to your desktop computer. Download is the opposite of upload. There are a few methods of downloading on the Internet: HTTP, FTP and e-mail attachments are the most common. When you "load" a Web page into your browser, you are essentially "downloading" the page from the server it is hosted on. One of the most resourceful functions of the Internet is that you can download almost any type of computer file or program. Many of these files are shareware, which means you can try them before you buy them. Want to try downloading something?
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