Few of those engaged in teaching or research can still be unaware of the existence of the Internet, a global network which has been created by the interconnection of computers in universities, research bodies, commerical organizations, and government: departments from all over the World. This network of networks has become known as the 'information superhighway'; it is growing exponentially, acquiring new users by the minute, and expanding, in unexpected and exciting ways, the speed of dissemination, and the format and presentation, of scientific information. This article attempts to put this burgeoning growth in a historical context, and seeks to identify some starting points for Internet/World Wide Web exploration for medical and scientific researchers who wish to harness this uniquely important instrument for their own purposes.
