What is the Internet?
--From 1994 Census CounterParts, Employee Newsletter
By Gisele Asher (TSD)
You may have heard the term “Internet” mentioned in your office, the hallway, or a meeting; or, possibly you’ve seen it in memos, electronic mail, or news articles.
By now many employees are wondering, “What is the Internet? …How are Census Bureau employees using it?…How can I get access to it?”
What is the Internet?
The Internet is basically the biggest local area network (LAN) you can imagine. It’s a world-wide network—or collection of networks—that support commercial, educational, and governmental user communities.
This network has evolved from an experimental network in the 1970’s to the single, largest data highway system in the world. Using the Internet, it’s possible to send a message to a colleague in Australia or transfer a file from the library at Oxford University in England.
What makes the Internet so incredible is that users communicate from many types, makes, and models of computers. They use software which provides a common set of networking standards (protocols) and allow the computers to function and communicate through the network.
Who Uses the Internet?
Many agencies are already on the Internet, such as the military (where it started), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service, NASA, FBI, IRS, and the Census Bureau. Many universities and businesses also use the Internet.
Each computer on the Internet has an address that allows others to access it. Each user must also have an individual address and password. Even the White House has a computer on the Internet, and the President has his own address.
How Do Census Bureau Employees Use the Internet?
At the Census Bureau, you can get your Internet address through your network or LAN administrator. If you don’t know who that is, call the Telecommunications Office at 301-763-7718. You and your division chief must sign an Internet Access Agreement.
Who’s Exploring the Internet?
John Rotegard and Gisele Asher, Technical Services Division (TSD), use the Internet to communicate with RIT Research Corporation in Rochester, NY. They are the Bureau’s joint partner in data capture equipment research and development work for the 1995 Census Test and the 2000 census.
Bob Hammond, Computer Assisted Survey Information Collection (CASIC), uses the Internet to communicate with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, and with optical character recognition (OCR) vendors throughout the United States and Europe.
Gary Goldberg, Systems Support Division (SSD), uses the Internet to retrieve software updates and to talk with other systems administrators about problems and solutions he encounters in integrating open systems hardware and software.
Paul Ratliff, Telecommunications Office (TCO)/LAN Admin. Staff, also uses the Internet for network administrative support. He accesses support groups to keep up-to-date on the latest software and hardware fixes and upgrades.
Liane Rozzell, Public Information Office (PIO), uses an electronic forum (known as a “list”) which is an ongoing “conference” of the Internet users. She discusses video production techniques and equipment with others involved in video production. Liane says, “These lists are one of the best features of the Internet since they give me access to hundreds of minds, not just information.”
If you’re worried about other people’s access to Census Bureau confidential data files, the Bureau’s Internet computer has a “firewall,” which prevents unauthorized access to the Census Bureau’s internal machines. A firewall is an electronic communications tool designed to enforce the rules defined by an organization.
For information about meetings of the Internet User Group, contact Bob Hammond on 301-763-XXXX or by cc: Mail.
The next time you meet someone new, instead of asking for a phone number, ask for an Internet address…It will look something like this—gasher@info.census.gov.