Computer engineers have been finding ways to connect computers and their devices in different ways. Computer networks have gone hand in hand with other bodies of knowledge such as telecommunications, information technology, and computer engineering. Many things have been possible thanks to computer networks. It has helped people to live an easier life in many ways through the personal area network, the local area network, the metropolitan area network, and the wide area network.
A great example of a wide area network is the champion of all networks, the Internet. It is the largest network in the world and billions of data (maybe even trillions) are transferred every day. So much information is being exchanged and it has practically changed the way we live our lives.
Online education
The usual way to get your education is to enroll in a school and go to its classes on a fixed schedule. Today, we can obtain a university degree and a master’s degree through the Internet. Many reputable universities now offer their courses online because they understand how difficult it is for some students to juggle between a job and their education. Depending on the program, you may have your own hours, and generally you will only have to submit work on or before a particular deadline. Sometimes you would have real time chatting with your teacher and your “classmates”, sometimes even with a webcam. The great thing about this is that you no longer have to go through the hassle of commuting. The good news is that companies have accepted many applicants with this type of education, but there are still some who are too traditional.
Video games galore
What started out as simple 2-dimensional games is now a multi-billion dollar industry and has spawned a new form of social interaction. Thanks to the Internet, players can now interact with people from all over the world and play the same game at the same time. This is great because video games were once viewed as antisocial activity. This is no longer true and now players can not only play together but can also chat and make new friends. Internet games have also created a new genre of games called “massively multiplayer online role-playing games” or MMORPGs. This is a supercharged type of RPG where thousands of players can play together in a particular game at the same time.
Social media
Today, many websites allow people to interact and socialize with each other with their different tools and services. Some of them are focused on dating, where users can create their own profile and indicate their particular tastes. Other websites are dedicated to people uploading images and sharing them with other users. This has been a great way to connect with long-lost friends and make new ones too.
It’s great that computer networks have helped us bring the Internet to us. With it, life has become more convenient and we can learn so many new things every day just by connecting to it. With the Internet, there will certainly be more new things to come.