in-ter-net, n. An international network of computer networks. Also known as the net or cyberspace.

The Internet, a modern and important communication facility of the 1990s has been experiencing a rapid growth in the past years. From tens to thousands to millions of computers, this has been a major hit among almost everyone.

The Internet started when the military planners of the U.S Defence Department(Advanced Reserch Project Agency) sought to design a computer network that could withstand partial destruction(such as from a nuclear attack), yet still be able to function. Every computer on network should be able to communicate as a peer with other computers on the same network. Thus if part of the network was destroyed, the surviving part would be able to automatically reroute communications through a different path. This project eventually attracted networkers outside the military.

As of 1998, as many as 67 million internet users. This is expected to reach at least 142 million users by year 2000 due to an exponential growth of users on the Internet. This exponential growth demands for faster and newer networking technologies such as faster network backbones reaching speeds of 622 Mbps or above and a new address protocol to support more users.

The Internet has been a-part-of almost all of our everyday work. From communication to research work to socialising to entertainment.

A study held by the Advertising Age/Market Facts Study in 1996 has shown that most users gather information through the Internet(81%). About 80% send and retrieve email, 66% conduct research, 64% browse around, 38% post messages to bulletin boards, 25% IRC or chat, 24% play online games and 18% do shopping.

This is what we have found out about the future uses of the Internet:

		Make a selection ......... Princess Diana's Death Hong Kong Handover Asian Financial Crisis The Gulf War The Nuclear Tests The Internet Growth Comet Collision