The Internet is a network that connects computers. There is nothing remarkable in thismost organizations with more than a handful of computers have a network. What makes the Internet unique are two things:
Size: Nobody knows for sure exactly how many computers are permanently connected to the Internet nor how many people have access to the Internet through those computers. Current industry estimates are that the total number of Internet users as of the end of 1999 is around 260 million worldwide, and that this number is doubling every 24 mo aa). Although the Internet has spread to cover many countries, access is still very much lopsided toward the developed world, with 80% of users being based in just 15 countries. In the United States, which is one of the world's most Internetconnected countries, it is estimated that over 40% of the population now have Internet access.
Decentralized organization: Because of its origins as a communication medium for institutions engaged in military research, the Internet was deliberately organized to be free of central administration as much as possible (by diffusing control, it is more protected from deliberate attack or malfunction). Thus, there is no central controlling body to set standards of content or acceptable use.
