You are not aware of this but your computer is and for the time it is connected your computer is the only computer in the world that has that very special number. For the time you are on line, your computer becomes a part of the Internet. When you use a software like Netscape or MS Explorer which both are Web Browsers to ask for information from a computer located at Microsoft, your ip address is sent with your request to that computer which could be located anywhere in the world. The Microsoft server will evaluate your request and attach it to your ip address and the Internet then uses this address to find your computer and return the information back to your software. Your software then displays the information based on formatting codes that is entered in the information by the creator of the information.
Email works much the same way.
The best method to learn the Internet is to use it. We offer classes several times a month for a modest fee to those who want to skip the trial and error method and learn the basics in a classroom. Copyright 1997 the NET connection, inc .