The Internet has revolutionized many aspects ofour daily lives. It has affected the way we do business as well as the way we spend our leisure time. Count the ways you've used the Internet recently. Perhaps you've sent electronic mail (e-mail) to a business associate, paid a utility bill, read a newspaper from a distant city, or looked up a local movie schedule-all by using the Internet. Or maybe you researched a medical topic, booked a hotel reservation, chatted with a fellow Trekkie, or comparison-shopped for a car. The Internet is a communication system that has brought a wealth ofinformation to our fingertips and organized it for our use. The Internet is a structured, organized system. We begin with a brief history ofthe Internet. We follow with a description ofthe Internet today.