Internet

The Internet is a global electronic system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet Protocol Suite (TCP/IP) to serve computer users worldwide. It is a “network of networks” that consists of private, public, academic, business, and government networks, of local to global scope, linked by a broad array of electronic and optical networking technologies (Hine 2005). The Internet carries a vast range of information resources and services, such as the interlinked hypertext documents of the World Wide Web and the infrastructure to support electronic mail. The Internet has accelerated new forms of human interactions through instant messaging, Internet forums, and social networking. Online shopping has increased for both major retail outlets and small artisans and traders. Business-to-business and financial services on the Internet affect supply chains across entire industries (Kling 1997).

Keywords: globalization; internet and new media