How is the Internet functionally different from television or radio broadcasts?
In: Engineering
TV and radio broadcasts are one way communication only. The TV or Radio station send out a signal and the TV or radio picks up the signal. Importantly, It’s a communication from one source to any number of users, and all the users get the same signal. In other words, every radio within range of the transmitter and tuned to the same station is getting the same signal at the same time.
The internet on the other hand is both 2-way communication, communication between multiple points, *and* user specific. Unlike radio and TV where only one source broadcasts a signal, the internet is *multiple* computers and servers, and they’re talking back and forth to each other constantly exchanging information. Also, unlike TV or radio, with the internet, you only get the data that *you* *specifically* requested. So everyone on the internet at the same time can be doing different things, even on the same website.
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