Main Points

The computer's ancestors were machines that performed mathematical calculations.
By the 1970s, personal computers using packaged software went on the market.
The Internet is a network of computer networks. It was started by the U. S. Department of Defense and in its early years was used primarily by scientists. The current Internet started in the 1980s thanks to the efforts of the National Science Foundation.
The main features of the Internet are e-mail, newsgroups, and the World Wide Web.
AOL Time Warner, Microsoft Network, and Prodigy are three companies that operate online information systems.
The introduction of broadband Internet connections will encourage the growth of streaming video, interactive TV, and microcasting.
The Internet has had a beneficial impact on the national economy, and e-commerce continues to grow.
Some websites are profitable, but many have yet to make any money.

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