Douglas Comer is a Distinguished Professor at Purdue University in the departments of Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering. He has created and enjoys teaching undergraduate and graduate courses on computer networks and Internets, operating systems, computer architecture, and computer software. One of the researchers who contributed to the Internet as it was being formed in the late 1970s and 1980s, he has served as a member of the Internet Architecture Board, the group responsible for guiding the Internet’s development. Comer is an internationally recognized expert on computer networking, the TCP/IP protocols, and the Internet, who presents lectures to a wide range of audiences. In addition to research articles, he has written a series of textbooks that describe the technical details of the Internet. Comer’s books have been translated into many languages, and are used in industry as well as computer science, engineering, and business departments around the world. He is a Fellow of The Association for Computing Machinery (the major professional society in computer science) and editor of the scientific journal, Software — Practice and Experience. Professor Comer had dial-up Internet access from his home in the late 1970s, has enjoyed a direct connection with twenty-four hour per day service since 1981, and uses the Internet daily. He wrote this book as a response to everyone who has asked him for an explanation of the Internet that is both technically correct and easily understood by anyone. An Internet enthusiast, Comer displays INTRNET on the license plate of his car.
"""This is an excellent text for a thorough but non-technical introduction to the Internet, its usage and how it works. Comer takes a complex topic and through everyday examples and analogy makes the information clear and accessible for readers who may have no background in technology."" - Adam R. Albina, PhD, Assistant Professor, Saint Anselm College"