第16章电子信息类专业英语 (李白萍).pptVIP

　　In its first few years, this electronic highway provided a way of exchanging electronic mail service and linking on-line libraries to government agencies and universities. These agencies served as testers for the network’s integrity. In the early 1980s, the original ARPANET network divided into two networks, ARPANET and MILNET. The connection between the networks was called the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, Internet. In a short time, the name was shortened to Internet. 　　In 1986, the National Science Foundation encouraged non-defense use of the Internet by creating a special network called NSFNET, which connected five new supercomputing centers across the country. Universities all over the country then started connecting into NSFNET. As the United States continued to develop its national and local networks during the 1980s, other countries did the same. This gave rise to connections among different national networks. As time passed, more countries joined Internet access when they registered at their colleges. Since Internet has become easier to use, more individuals and businesses have accessed it. In 1991, only 376,000 computers were registered on the Internet, but a year later this number had increased to 727,000. Today, Internet is currently growing at a rate of 10 percent to 14 percent a month as more businesses and institutions become connected. 　　Given Internet’s tremendous influence, we have to wonder, “Who pays the bill?” The answer is simple: University and research organizations pay to maintain their branches. Companies, organizations, and individuals who want direct access to Internet also pay providers to connect. Finally, the government channels huge amounts of tax dollars through the National Science Foundation and various other governmental agencies such as NASA in order to help finance Internet. How Internet Works 　　In the past, Internet was difficult for the novice to use. However, Swiss researchers developed the World Wide