The Internet - Past, Present, and Future

	During the mid-1960's, the Department of Defense was researching 
ways to insure that, in the event of nuclear holocaust, they could ensure 
that communications could continue.  The overall solution that they 
reached was to build a network of computers that was decentralized (ie 
not dependant upon one computer to keep the network running)  In order to 
test this concept of a network where all the computers on the network 
shared the work of keeping the network running, the DoD asked research 
facilities and universities to participate in the project.
	Thus was born the network that was the forerunner of what we now 
know as the Internet.  Today's Internet is vastly different from that 
original network, both in the technical details and in what is happening 
on the network.  During the 1970s and 1980s, the Internet grew steadily, 
with most of the computers on it belonging to university, research, and 
government organizations, and with most of its users being computer gurus 
and others who had extensive involvement with computers.  Now, as we move 
into the mid 1990s, all that is changing.  The Internet is growing at an 
explosive rate, with no sign of slowing down.  The people who are using 
the Internet today are no longer composed primarily of computer gurus.  
Today, the Internet is made up of a wide range of people.  And as 
companies like Exec-PC begin to make the Internet more available to the 
public, the trend will continue.
	The Internet is an amazing phenomenon.  Without any real central 
control or ownership of the network, it has managed to maintain itself
and grow at an incredible rate.  New systems are added to the network
daily, and the number of users grows by the second.
	The question is: How did the Internet accomplish this without
someone at the helm?  The answer is: cooperation.  While there are
voluntary groups that work to suggest standards and changes to the
Internet, it the the Internet community itself that dictates the
network's direction.  The Internet works because the individuals and
organizations that use it cooperate with each other, and always keep
the good of the network community in mind when they use the net.  Now,
as the number of people on the network grows at such incredible rates,
it is more important than ever to remember this.  As you traverse the
network, remember that you are able to do this only because so many
others have opened their systems up, and have volunteered to help make
the Internet work.  Be kind...

So, now that I'm here, what do I DO on the Internet?

	The Internet is your gateway to an incredible world of
knowledge, information, and communication.  It is much like the
interstate system of the cyberworld.  But, just as you must arm
yourself with the rules of the road and a good map before you hop on
the nearest expressway, you must also arm yourself with the tools of
"Internet Navigation" before you go diving into the Internet.
	To give you a good overview of the tools that are available
here to help you navigate the Internet, the help file entitled "Tools
on Exec-PC Internet" briefly touch upon the important parts of the
service here.  Please read this before you begin using the system.  In
addition, on the various menus for the individual tools you will use,
you will find help files which cover each tool in more detail.
	If you have a question about this system, you can send mail to
"help".  However, please try to find an answer to your question in the
help files first, as "help" is a very busy guy!
