NAME NYASHA

SURNAME MADHIRI

PROGRAMME HONOURS DEGREE IN

ACCOUTANCY

REG NO C1213595B

MODULE ITCA CUIT112

LEVEL1 SEM1
WHAT ARE THE SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE DEVICES REQUIRED
FOR ONE TO CONNECT TO THE INTERNET? [30 MARKS]
SOLUTION

The internet is a huge wide area network made up of smaller networks that are linked together
like a spider web.Inorder to connect to this network one needs to have the following a computer,
Modem and Telephone line or a data line, Web browsing software, Internet connection and an
Internet service provider(ISP).

HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS

Hardware for the internet can be defined as tangible items needed to allow the user access to the
net, either by direct connection or dial up connection to a host.

COMPUTER, TELEPHONE LINE, MODEM, NETWORKCARD

COMPUTER
The is essential as it is the one that holds the internet protocol (IP)address that allows it to be
reached on computer the internet. The IP address is a number that creates a unique address for
the computer within the network

MODEM
Modem (Modulator/Demodulator) is a device that takes a digital signal from the computer,
converts it into an analog signal that the chosen carrier (egphone line) can recognize and
transmits the signal through the phone line to another modem that is connected to another
computer.  The receiving modem then converts the analog signal back to its original digital
format then sends it to the computer for processing. Depending on the speed of the modem, the
transmission could be fast or slow. Most modems today transmit at speeds of up to 56K or
56Kbps. If there is more than one computer a router may be used that is a device that splits
requested data to each computer.The splitting of the signal can be achieved through network
cables that go from the router to each individual computer or, as it has become increasingly
popular in recent times, in a wireless fashion. If there is only one computer this device is not
required. Sometimes a gateway is used instead of a modem and a separate router. a gateway is a
multi-use device that includes a modem and a router, all in one. So it can take the internet signal ,
demodulate it, and distribute it to more than one computer, wired or wirelessly.

NETWORKCARD
THE computer must have a network card to be able to plug a network cable coming from the
modem, router or gateway (or a wireless network card to receive the wireless signal if the router
or gateway is capable of supplying a wireless signal). The only exception to this is if a dial-up is
being used, since there are internal modems that are in the computer and that will connect
straight to a phone jack through a normal telephone cable for internet connectivity.

SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS.

Software for the internet refers to instructions or programs and their associated documentation
which allow computer systems to operate and access the internet.

BROWSER, OPERATING SYSTEM SOFTWARE

Operating system software. It is a set of programs that manage and control the computers’
resources including the CPU and peripheral devices like modems. It is the minimum software
that the computer must have for it to be functional. All the program run under the control of the
operating system including web browsers and drivers provided by the service providers to access
the internet.

Apart from the operating system software to connect to the Internet two lots of software are also
needed. The first is the software that connects the user to the Internet Service Provider (ISP)for
example ECONET,TELECEL,POWERTEL. This type of software is different for each ISP.
Some Internet Service Providers will give a disk with the connection software on it. Modems
usually come with preloaded firmware and drivers which automatically install by themselves as
soon as they are plugged to a computer. Firmware is set of instructions programmed to a
hardware device. It provides the necessary instructions for how the device communicates with
the other computer hardware. This software makes it easy and fast for the computer to access the
internet.

Other Internet Service Providers will use the connecting software that comes with the operating
systems Windows 95, OS7 and OS8. They issue out the settings to put into this software.

BROWSERS
A web browser is a program designed specially to display text and graphics on the screen.  The
browser reads the Hypertexts Markup Language (HTML) code embedded on the page and, as
any application does, runs whatever the code references.  The result is the information seen on
the display or heard from the speakers. For example, if the HTML code references a form, a
form will be displayed on the monitor. If the code calls for a JavaScript code to be executed, the
resulting action will be viewable on the screen to see. The two most popular and commonly used
browsers are Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer. These browsers also provide
the software for e-mail and to read Usenet newsgroups. Other examples of browsers are opera,
Mozilla fire fox and safari
In conclusion for all the above mentioned hardware devices and software programs to actually
connect to the internet they must be a connection. A connection refers to the ability of a network
line of two or more computers to share a single Internet connection. The minimum requirements
for one to connect to the internet vary from one service provider to another and also the level of
technology in place or that is being used by the user