By the end of this topic you should be able to:

• describe the characteristics and relative advantages of network and stand-alone computers
  
  
• describe the difference between a Local Area Network and a Wide Area Network
  
  
• define the Internet
  
  
• define and give examples of Intranet, Extranet;
  
  
• show an understanding of the Internet and its uses, including: benefits and developments, communications, sharing data and ideas, accessing information

You also need to be able to talk about the benefits, disadvantages and dangers of email (services such as voice mailboxes, address books, group sending, file attachments); FTP (definition and purpose); newsgroups; chatrooms; on-line shopping; on-line databases accessing information; search engines (selection and appropriate use).