1. A Brief Introduction to the Internet

2. The Internet
The Internet is a massive, world wide connection of independent networks that choose to be connected together.
It connects many millions of users in many countries on any given day. No one group "owns" the Internet.

3. The World Wide Web
The World Wide Web (WWW) is a body of information of various types available in a hypertext format through the Internet
Hypertext is text that links documents together
Users point and click on text to move to the new document
Access is enhanced by search tools to help find hypertext documents.

4. History of the Web Invented by Tim Berners-Lee at CERN
His work eventually let to the founding of the World Wide Web Consortium
A Little History of the World Wide Web at W3C outlines World Wide Web efforts

5. How does Hypertext work?
Web documents are built using hypertext
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is the language for hypertext
Language allows text in documents to be linked to the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of another document
URL is the address of a Web Document
Text that links to another document is highlighted (often in a color and with an underline)
User points and clicks on the text and the new document is retrieved

6. Reading Hypertext Documents
Printed material has a sequential order
Author assumes you read from beginning to end
Hypertext connects documents in ways which allow reading the text in various ways
May result in for selective reading on the part of the user
A hypertext document may offer more freedom to the reader in choosing the order of reading
Order links are followed is the user's choice, allowing tailored access to the information

7. Reading Hypertext (Continued)
Hypertext is probably not the first choice for preparing documents intended to be read completely
Primarily due to disadvantages of reading from a computer screen compared to reading from paper
Readings a screen is slower than traditional text
Screens cause more eye strain
Screen size often does not match document style and size
Search tools often promote selective reading by placing the searcher in the middle of a document
Readers should be careful to read Web material in a way to get full meaning and proper context

8. Uniform Resource Locators
Documents on the Internet are identified by a Uniform Resource Locator.
There are four parts to this "address".
Method of transfer, usually http (Hypertext Transfer Protocol).
Domain - the network location identifier
Path to reach the document on the server where it resides (set of folders)
Name of the document

9. What is Available on the Internet and the Web?
Users communicate using electronic mail and interactive conferences.
Information of many types is posted on the WWW in easy to access formats, including online databases
Users can access news on various topics
Users download files for a variety of purposes
Web information can be found on virtually any topic

10. The Browser Browser is a typical Windows application
Uses typical Windows menus and buttons
Built to be run at the same time as other applications
Links to other window resources, such as printers
Provides built in and online help
Browser supports hypertext - text that links to another document on the Internet
Hypertext allows users to access information without knowing specific location addresses
User is allowed to focus on the information without shifting to the mechanics of following trails of information
Result is content focus and "surfing“

11. More on the Browser Browser Buttons The location bar Print Options
If at any point the user wants to start over, the HOME button is available
BACK moves to the previous page viewed
Forward goes to a following page that was previously viewed
History buttons allow the user to find previously viewed content
Favorites and Bookmarks save web addresses
The location bar
URLs appear in this box, even though the user can function without knowing them
Print Options
Allow the user to print pages and document the source location

12. More on the Browser Conventions for Hypertext
Text is highlighted and underlined to indicate a link to another document
When the mouse rolls over a hyperlink, the URL may be displayed on the status bar
Previously visited links may appear in a different color
Complete conventions are user selectable in the browser
The user can save any location URL as a bookmark (favorite)
Creates a personal menu of sites to visit
CACHE - The browser keeps records of where the user has been so only documents that have changed are brought across the Internet, saving time

13. Bookmarks and Favorites….Saving Your Place
Bookmarks (called favorites in the Internet Explorer) are an important part of using any browser
Bookmarks allow the user to save important locations for future reference
Bring the location to the screen and accessing ADD BOOKMARK (or favorite) from the menu
The site can then be easily accessed by choosing that item from the bookmark menu

14. Determining the Quality of WWW Resources
Just because you find a document on the World Wide Web is no reason to use it as a source
What makes a site authoritative?
Official work of a reputable organization
Based on competent authority
Work of a properly qualified expert (an individual or organization)
A page that links to pages that all have the previous qualities
Even one improper item disqualifies the page
Special consideration should be given to the work of those individuals and organizations who discover and implement ideas when choosing among authoritative works
The following site may be useful: