What equipment do you need to hook up to the internet?

Hardware for the internet can be defined as the tangible items needed to allow a user access either by direct connection or through a dial-up connection to a host computer. The first connections involved mainframe computers and telephone line connections. Since then the innovations in computer technology involving the personal computer, ISDN and cable lines to connect to the Internet have allowed for a tremendous increase in users and speed of connections. (On the web page I will include a timeline of the innovations that have greatly impacted the use of the Internet). Since connection speeds are now much faster than in the past, the designers of web pages have many more options available to them in designing their product with video and audio more likely to be used than in the first designed sites.

In researching hardware and its impact on the design of web pages, we have found that the type of hardware directly affects the type of software options one has, and therefore, the design possibilities of a web page. For instance, if one has a scanner, which allows inclusion of documents that are not currently on the computer to be added to a web page, one would also need compatible software to complete the task. In other Words, one without the other is not a functional product. Just as a computer is only a box until software is installed, the additional hardware is just a paperweight until it has the correct software that allows for its intended use.

The distinction between software and hardware is sometimes confusing as they are so integrally linked. Clearly, when one purchases a program, they are buying software. But to buy the software, one also buys the disk (hardware) on which the software is recorded. Software is divided into two broad categories. "Systems Software", which includes the "Operating System" and all the "Utilities" that enable the computer to function, and "Application Software", which include programs that do real work for users. For example, Word processors, spreadsheets, and database management systems fall under the category of application software. Software that has been written onto read-only memory (ROM) is called "Firmware." Firmware is both a combination of software and hardware.

NIC card, a PC, connection to the internet (cable)??