Final answer:
The incorrect statement is that computers and devices communicate successfully regardless of network standards. Compatibility with network standards is crucial for device communication, and the Internet's development exemplifies the need for standardization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that is NOT true about network standards is: D. Computers and devices successfully communicate on networks regardless of the standards used.
Network standards play a critical role in ensuring that communication between computers and devices is possible. The standards define how computers access a network, the type of hardware that can be used, and the data transmission speeds. Compatibility with these standards is essential for devices to communicate effectively on a network. Without adherence to established network standards, seamless interoperability between different systems and devices cannot be guaranteed.
The development of the Internet is a clear example of the importance of standardization in networking. Researchers and programmers worked together to establish common protocols, which laid the foundation for the expansive network of networks we have today. These protocols include the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite, which became standardized in 1982, paving the way for the birth of the Internet and the World Wide Web.