The Internet is a system of interconnected computer networks which provides a fast, cheap and convenient way to share information and ideas with people all over the world. It is open to everyone, and can be accessed from anywhere that has a telephone s ervice.
Electronic mail is perhaps the most immediately useful of the Internet's services.
It allows individual members and organisations to send messages to each other without regard to time or space, knowing that the message will be delivered quickly and accurately and in a convenient form for a reply or for further editing. Wider availability of equipment and growing awareness of the advantages are making this method of working increasingly co mon. Mailing lists may be one-way distribution lists used by the Secretariat or by officers of committees to send out papers which would otherwise have gone by post. The ICOM-Announce list which keeps members informed about ICOM developments is of this type. Alternatively, they may be forums for discussion to which any of the participants can send messages.