This document discusses different types of computer networks and their uses. It describes personal area networks (PANs) which connect devices within 1-100 meters of a person. Local area networks (LANs) connect computers within a limited area like a home or office using Ethernet or Wi-Fi. Metropolitan area networks (MANs) span a larger geographical area like a city using technologies like FDDI and have transmission speeds between PAN/LAN and WAN. Wide area networks (WANs) connect locations over 50km using technologies like the Internet and have the lowest transmission speeds of all. Computer networks allow sharing of devices, files, software and accessing information remotely.