Internet instructor: Shayna Keces , ext. 441 Computer Basics for Seniors, Part 2 The Internet April 2004
Agenda Definition of internet Internet functions Browsing Chat Other Internet browsers/Internet explorer
What is the Internet? Network of networks No overall organization Content determined by participants Today synonymous with WWW
Most popular uses of the internet
Browsing Research Finding people Playing games Reading newspapers and magazines Banking Government information Job searching Shopping Downloading programs or files
Electronic mail Non-secure Client software – company or ISP Resides on computer Needs special program (eg. Outlook, Eudora, Netscape Messenger) Not available in public libraries Advantage re contacts on web pages "Ottawa Public Library contacts, " "Ottawa Public Library contacts, " ( ndex.htm)
(cont.) Web-based Program resides on web page Free service Available from any internet computer Must go to website to send/receive mail Attached files may be problem
Chat Used most often by children and teens Safety precautions necessary Wide variety of chat rooms/subjects dir.yahoo.com/computers_and_internet/inter net/world_wide_web/chat/ Should monitor first IRC, web-based and instant messenger
Web-based chat Most common with improvements in bandwidth Kind used in libraries Need plugin or applet to use so not all will work Available from many websites
Other functions Usenet Newsgroups (groups.google.com)groups.google.com Telnet Joining another computer system Often used for receiving non web-based Ftp Site set up to distribute files (called anonymous ftp)
Browsers Way to view html documents (URLs) Often needs plugins for multimedia applications 3 main browsers Internet Explorer (Microsoft) Netscape Navigator (Communicator) Opera (independent company known for efficient design, linked to Qualicum)
Web Pages Effects and display different in different browsers Applications not always available on public computers URL (address) starts with name of server or host computer separated from the domain name (sponsor of the site) by a period. After domain name have a period and then the type of domain (eg. gov mean U.S. government, mil mean U.S. military, com refers to commercial site, edu a university site, org a non-profit organization and gc.ca Canadian federal government)
Web pages cont. Frames Scroll bars within page (up and down and side to side) Address in address bar belongs to host site instead of displaying actual address Printing will print frame unless text clicked on before printing.
Internet Explorer Ways to access a Web page or URL Address bar (type in or use drop-down menu) Open file (website or file) Hypertext links (look for hand cursor) Bookmarks/Favourites (not available in library) Personal links (not available in library)
Internet Explorer menu bar File New (CTL +N) – New window View two pages at once or waiting for new page Keep to minimum Open (CTL +O) – File or web page Saving web pages Html (open in browser) Text (for word processor and ) Print – Page one to see no. of pages or selection (new version of IE has Print Preview)
Practice Open a new screen Use File menu to open eful.html Save this web page as an HTML file on your desktop
Internet Explorer menu bar (cont.) Edit Find (CTL-F) View Go To Stop (ESC) Refresh (F5) Source Text size Encoding (for non roman alphabets)
Practice A Minimize the screen Open How Can You Find Anything web page which you saved on the desktop Find the words EDGAR Click on that hyperlink
Practice B Type the following URL in the address bar Click on Stop after a few seconds to halt downloading graphics
Tool bars Back and forward buttons Stop Refresh Home (choose wisely) Search History Print
Bookmarks/Favourites Way to keep track of useful websites Not available on library machines Should have organizational structure Personal links for heavily used sites
Bookmarks/Favourites (cont) Add to favourites Create in (choose folder or create a new one) Make sure correct folder is highlighted when creating subfolder or favourite Press create in If you already see the list of folders you only have to highlight the relevant folder and click on the OK button
Further study Carroll, Jim. Canadian Internet new user's handbook C319c 1999 The Internet handbook for writers, researchers, and journalists I Snell, Ned. Sams teach yourself Internet and web basics all in one S6715s Kent, Peter. The complete idiot's guide to the Internet K
Further Study : Videos The interconnected world of Internet basics V I61 Teach yourself Internet Explorer 5.0 V I5v Internet getting on-line V I616 An Introduction to Microsoft Internet Explorer V I5Lib
Further Study : Websites Internet Exploring the Web Browsing Basics – Internet Explorer avfram.htm avfram.htm