Blogging is an activity that works only on the Internet, specifically on the World Wide Web.

What is the internet?

The Internet is a giant network made up of millions of computers. This means that every computer that is connected to the Internet is considered to be part of the network. So, when you log onto the Internet, you instantly have access to an almost infinite number of computers that are simultaneously linked all around the world. These computers are all connected by phone lines, coaxial cables, satellites, fibre optic lines, and wireless connections. All the computers use a common language, called Internet Protocol, to communicate with each other. A network protocol defines a set of rules and conventions for communication between network devices. The IP family includes all higher-level protocols built on top of it, such as TCP/IP, which is the main protocol of the Internet. There are several ways to connect to the Internet. Popular connection methods include subscription with an ISP. You can easily get a wireless connection to the Internet using a notebook computer or a hand-held PC.

The Internet services

The Internet offers a great variety of services. Just to mention a few, it allows users to exchange electronic mail, to post information for others to access, and to update it frequently, to have audio and video conversations with people all around the world thanks to VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol).

E-mail

E-mail (electronic mail) allows a message to be sent from one person to another, or to many others, via computer. At the user end there is a piece of software known as an “e-mail client“, which allows the user to create mail messages and to read incoming mail. At the other end from the client there is the “e-mail server“, a computer that is dialled up when messages are sent or received.

The World Wide Web

The World Wide Web is undoubtedly one of the most significant services offered by the Internet. It allows the creation and use of elegant point-and-click hypermedia presentations, linked across the Internet in a way that create a vast open knoweldge repository, through which users can easily browse.

FTP

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a set of conventions allowing easy transfer of files between host computers.

 

The Internet and its technologies continue to have a deep effect in promoting the sharing of information, making rapid transactions among possible businesses, and supporting global collaboration among individual and organizations.

Blogging: a popular Internet Activity

“Blog” is the shortened version of the word “weblog”, that is, a personal website meant to be like a diary or journal. So “blogging” essentially means creating and updating a blog, with the purpose of sharing information and experiences on a particular subject. Blogs are designed to be very easy to add new entries to, so the infomation on a blog is updated much more frequently in comparison with a traditional site. As the blogger adds entries to the blog, the viewers can add comments to the entries, so the blog becomes and interactive site.

What is WordPress

WordPress is a Content Management System (CMS). A CMS is a software that can be installed on a web server and allows to manage posts and comments in a very easy way. WordPress also allows an advanced graphic design management and a lot of add-ons called Plugins. It’s an open source project and is the most common CMS used both by expert and beginner bloggers.

Types of blogs

The personal blog is the traditional, most common blog. Personal bloggers usually take pride in their blog posts, and blogs often become more than a way to just communicate: they provide an opportunity to reflect on life, or works of art. There are different types of blogs, depending on the subject they focus on. So there are political blogs, travel blogs, fashion blogs, education blogs, art blogs, music blogs, and legal blogs. A blog featuring discussion especially about home and family is called a mom blog. Vlogs are blogs including videos, while the one comprising photos are called photoblogs. There are also Fail Blogs, which consist of pictures, videos and stories of people who are attempting to do something and are failing miserably. My blog is a Geek Blog. A Geek is a sort of Nerd that only loves technology and is not the typical figure of the 80s nerd. GrecTech talks of technology and includes tutorials, reviews and retrocomputing posts.

Personal and Corporate Blogs

In most case blogs are private, or personal, but they can also be for business purposes. Corporate blogs, for example, are blogs used internally to enhance the communication and culture in a corporation.

 

Whatever type they may be, blogs undobutedly represent a huge part of the Internet culture of our days.