[originaltext] Ladies and gentlemen, (30) when we talk about getting on lin

Ladies and gentlemen, (30) when we talk about getting on line we mean being connected to the internet, a giant network of computers that connects people and information all over the world. The internet has a lot in common with other forms of communication.  Like the US postal service the internet allows anyone who knows your internet address to send you an electronic mail or email. Like the telephone the internet allows you to chat with other people by participating in online discussion groups. Like the library the internet contains information on almost any topic you can imagine in many formats, including books, articles, videos, and music recordings. In addition to words, one part of the internet, (31) the world wide web is especially interesting to people because it includes pictures and sounds. The internet began in the 1960s as  a  US department of defense  communication network. Soon after university researchers and professors began to use it to communicate with others in their fields. Internet use really took off in the early 1990s with the arrival of the web, which made it easier to find and view information on line.  (32) No one, no country, organization, or company is in charge of the internet. It’s growing and its form and content is being changed by its users everyday.  A computer that is connected to the internet allows you to turn your home, community center, local library, or school into a place of unlimited information and communication.