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Introduction to the Internet

 

 

What is the Internet?

 

The Internet consists of thousands of connected networks around the world.  A network is a collection of computers that are connected to share information.

 

There were 103 million active Internet users in the United States as of April 2001.

 

What does the Internet Offer?

 

                    á Information - The Internet gives access to information on any subject imaginable (including text, pictures, music and video clips).

 

                    á Electronic Mail - (e-mail)

 

                    á Programs - Thousands of programs are available on the Internet including word processors, spreadsheets, games, and much more.

 

                    á Entertainment - (games, review of current movies, interactive conversations with celebrities, can read movie scripts, etc.)

 

                    á Online Shopping - order goods and services on the Internet

 

                    á Discussion Groups - meet people around the world and share ideas

 

History of Internet

 

                    á 1980s - Internet used mostly by scientists and researchers

                    á 1990s - companies began to offer Internet service to home users

                    á 1993 - first publicly accessible Web site was created

 

World Wide Web

 

                    á              The World Wide Web is part of the Internet.  The Web consists of a huge collection of documents stored on computers around the world.

Future of Internet

 

                    á  The Internet is growing and changing at an extraordinary rate.  In the future there will be new ways to access the Internet and different types of information available. 

 

What is a browser?

 

A browser is a program that allows you to ÒbrowseÓ and explore information on the World Wide Web.

 

                  × Netscape Communicator

                  × Internet Explorer

 

Netscape Communicator Basics

HyperLink

A word (or words) or pictures that help you maneuver from one web page to another.  When the pointer is moved over a link,  the arrow symbol will change to a pointing hand.

 

 

Title Bar

Located at the very top of the browser window.  It contains the name of the current Web page.

 

 

 

 

Tool Bar 

Row of buttons located below the title bar. 

 

 

 

 

 

                  × Back--takes you to the last page visited

                  × Forward--takes you forward through the page(s) you have already visited

                  × Home--takes you to your designated home page

                  × Reload--opens a fresh copy of the web page you are on.  If something goes wrong during the transfer process, click Reload to try to get the information to load again.

                  × Print--sends a copy of the current page to the printer.

                  × Stop--halts the download process.  If you click Stop you may see a message that says Transfer Interrupted!  Just click the Reload button to try again.

 

 

 

 

Netscape Logo

The Netscape logo serves as a status indicator.  When you go to a new webpage, shooting stars fall through the sky.  This means that Netscape is downloading information to your computer.  When the shooting stars stop, the download process is complete.

 

Location Field

Indicates the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) or address of a web page

 

 

 

 


Each URL (web address) is unique.  You can tell the type of organization or the location you are connecting to by looking at the URL. 

 

            .com    Commercial (business)                        .mil      Military

            .edu     Education                                            .net      Network

            .gov     Government                                        .org      Nonprofit Organization

            .int       International

 

            Or they can be countries instead:

 

            .au       Australia                                             .ca        Canada

            .nz       New Zealand                                       .us       United States

           

 

 

 

 

 

Bookmarks

When you find a web page that you would like to ÒmarkÓ so you can go back to it in the future, you can create a bookmark.  A bookmark will only appear on the computer it is created on. 

 

 To create a bookmark:

 

                  × Go to the web page you wish to bookmark

                  × Select Bookmarks from the menu, click Add Bookmark

 

To delete a bookmark:

                  × Select Bookmarks from the menu, select edit bookmark

                  × Select the bookmark to be deleted and press delete on the keyboard

 

To use a bookmark:

                  × Select Bookmarks from the menu

                  × Click on the bookmark for the web page to open

 

 

Learn to be a Powerful Searcher

-see attached handout

 

Additional Search Tips

                    á be specific (use keywords instead of long phrases)

                    á use quotation marks around the keywords to narrow the search

                    á most online search engines come with instructions or a help area..check it out

                    á try different approaches using keywords

                    á use different search engines..you will usually get different results

                    á watch your spelling

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copy & Paste Information from Web Pages

                  × Select the desired text (click, hold and drag mouse over text)

                  × From the Edit, menu select copy

                  × Open a document in AppleWorks (or other application) and switch to that application

                  × From the Edit menu, select paste