[comp.mail.misc] What is "the Internet"

waters@dover.uucp (Mike Waters) (11/04/88)

I see the term 'the Internet' used freely in news items, but never a
definition of it. I assume that it refers to something other than the
standard RFC822 "internet" addressing scheme and the unique "internet"
number (neither capitalized).

I am intrigued by the extra capabilities that seem to be available and
would like to get our site onto it if we can. Currently we go through
either sun.COM or Berkeley.EDU, but both have their problems.

Can anyone enlighten me?
-- 
Mike Waters                 (for your EDIFication)
Motorola SMART CAD Group - EDIF support
Mesa, AZ   ...!sun!sunburn!dover!waters
          OR   moto@cad.Berkley.EDU

jordan@zooks.ads.com (Jordan Hayes) (11/09/88)

Mike Waters <waters@dover.UUCP> writes:

	I see the term 'the Internet' used freely in news items, but
	never a definition of it.

It doesn't really have a formal definition ... like lots of things, it
simply evolved.  I think the {I,i} distinction comes from the notion
that the Internet represents all IP-speaking swamps (initially
connected to the `ARPA-Internet') that can internetwork today, and
internet is a generic term for any n-networks that are connected (n >
1) ...

Example:

	I am on the Internet.  You may have an internet where you
	work.

/jordan