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Internet Basics
By
Carol Y. Mull
All terms mentioned in this text that are known to be trademarks or service
marks have been appropriately capitalized. Use of a term in this text should not
be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark.
P r ev i ew
iii
Introduction
Browsers
Examples of Browsers
Using Your Browser
E-mail
Other Internet Services
How to Get Technical Help on the Internet
Plug-ins
SELF-CHECK ANSWERS
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Contents
THE INTERNET
Internet Basics
THE INTERNET
Introduction
In the 1950s, people who entered the inner sanctum of their
organizations computer area encountered large mechanical
machines that filled entire roomsoften in a windowless
basement. Flashing lights, punch cards, and printouts of
indecipherable data gave the impression that computers
and those who programmed and operated them possessed
strange and profound powers. Today, few people find these
machines as mysterious or as menacing as theyve been
portrayed to be in Hollywood movies.
Who would have guessed in 1951, when the first computer
the UNIVAC Iwas introduced, that computers would be
the center of a worldwide revolution in business, education,
research, travel, and communication. Computers today are
easy to use, affordable, and extremely portable. Theyre purchased for the home as well as for the office. And as demand
continues to rise, technologies continue to expand and consumers move with the tides of change.
Today, one of the major reasons for a computer purchase is
to obtain access to the Internet. What is the Internet? How is
it related to the World Wide Web? Are they one in the same?
How did they get started? How do you travel on the Web?
Internet Basics
Internet Basics
How It Works
How does the Internet work? As mentioned, the Internet is a
global network of networks. Its not maintained by any person
or entity. To get linked, you must have a computer, specialized
software to communicate with the Internet (such as a browser
to view Web pages), and a means of connection (telephone lines,
wireless, cable, or direct access). Lets look at the work your
browser performs.
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Browsers
A browser is a type of software installed on your computer
that enables you to access and view Web pages. Browsers
interpret the data so we can see pictures and graphics as
well as words. Microsoft Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google
Chrome, Opera, Safari, and Bing are a few of the more
popular browsers.
For a browser to work, it must connect to the Internet. One
way to connect is through an Internet service provider, or ISP.
An Internet service provider is a regional or national business
that sets up Internet services for you, providing you with
access to the Internet. You register with an ISP, pay them a
monthly or yearly fee, and you receive unlimited access to the
Internet.
Many consumers still use telephone connections called dial-up
access, but cable companies also offer Internet connections.
If you get your television signals through a satellite dish, you
may be able to get an Internet connection through the dish
as well. Ask the company that services your dish. These connections are generally more expensive, but youll receive and
send information faster than through a phone connection.
When you become the customer of an ISP, the ISP will provide
a browser as part of the introduction and sign-up process.
When you buy a new computer, a browser is usually part
of the software that comes with the computer. If youre
using a computer at work and your company wants you
to be able to access the Internet, theyll provide you with a
browser. Another way to connect to the Web is through an
online service provider (OSP). OSPs, such as AOL (America
Online) have been around for many years and at first differed
from ISPs by offering a multitude of services, including
browsing, e-mail, search engines, Web services, and more.
You dont have to use the browser supplied to you by your
ISP or OSP. Browsers are typically available to download and
use free of charge. Its often a good idea to have at least two
different browsers. Thats because no browser is perfect. If
you have trouble accessing a Web site with one of them, it
sometimes works to try accessing the site with another.
Internet Basics
Examples of Browsers
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Microsoft Internet Explorer (Figure 3), which is available at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/
default.aspx, is built into Windows so youll usually find this
as your default browser on your PC. A characteristic of
Internet Explorer is that this browser supports a wide variety
of plug-ins, such as Java Script, Shockwave, and Flash. (A
plug-in is a piece of software that enhances another piece of
software or enables another piece of software to perform an
addition function.)
Google Chrome
Google Chrome (Figure 4) is expected to have great speed due
to its JavaScript engine. Google Chrome can be downloaded
at http://www.google.com/chrome/.
Internet Basics
FIGURE 4Google
Chrome
Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox (Figure 5), which can be downloaded at
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/, has two positive
characteristics: its an open-source license and the browser
can be extensively individualized to a users tastes.
Internet Basics
Opera
A small Norwegian company developed Opera (Figure 6),
which is available at http://www.opera.com. Opera lets
you open multiple windows, which is very useful for those
who use the Internet to do research or compile information.
A criticism of this browser is that its ad-sponsored.
FIGURE 6Opera
Safari
Apple created Safari (Figure 7) to compete with Microsoft
Internet Explorer. You can download Safari, which is
available not only for Apple but also for Windows, at
http://www.apple.com/safari/download/.
Internet Basics
FIGURE 7Safari
Bing
The opening screen of Bing (Figure 8) is an image that
changes each day. There are links scattered across the image
to trivia and information about the image. The selling point of
Bing is the results of the search is organized to make easier
decisions. Bing is available at http://www.bing.com/.
FIGURE 8Bing
Internet Basics
Setting Preferences
Once youve installed your browser, youll find that by setting
preferences, youll be able to use the software more efficiently.
To set preferences, you must first access the function on
your browsers home page. It may be found on a dropdown
menu or on a button.
Setting preferences is easy. Your software will give you
step-by-step instructions. Examples of preferences include
Storing passwords
Setting security levels
Selecting your preferred news groups and Web browser
Changing the look of your e-mail
Setting audio and video
Organizing your e-mail
Setting chat member lists
Besides these basic preferences, there are many other choices
that you can make about the appearance and operation of
your browser. A beginner doesnt have to make many of the
decisions. There are default settings already established when
the program is installed on your computer. For the most part,
these defaults work fine. Occasionally, you may find yourself
wishing that your browser worked differently. In that case,
resetting the preferences can make a big difference.
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www.planet.com/
domain name
travel/index.htm
path name
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http:// Most URLs begin with this prefix, which stands for
hypertext transfer protocol.
www. The letters www tend to be a standard part of a Web
address, but theyre not always present. They stand for World
Wide Web.
planet.com. This is the domain name, or the name of the
host computer where the site is located. The .com suffix is
short for commercial. Youll also encounter other suffixes:
.orgAn organization, usually nonprofit
.eduA university or college
.govA government organization
.milA U.S. military agency
.netA network
.intAn international organization
Because of the phenomenal growth of the Internet, domain
suffixes have been expanded. The following seven are newer:
.aeroAir transportation
.bizRestricted to business
.coopCooperatives
.infoInformation services providers
.museumMuseums and related
.namePersonal Web sites, individuals only
.proLicensed professionals such as doctors, lawyers,
accountants, and so on
These functions are under consideration and may be
approved:
.artsEntertainment and cultural organizations
.firmFirms and businesses
.recOrganizations for recreation
.storeBusinesses that sell goods
.webOrganizations related to activities of the WWW
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Another part of the URL that you may not have noticed or
seen is the country code. As the Internet became global and
larger and larger, it became necessary to expand domain
names to include the country of origin. If youre in the United
States and go to a Web site originating from a network server
in this country, its unnecessary for you to key in the country
code of .us. The next time you navigate to a site originating
in another country, look for the country code.
Examples of other countries codes are
.ukUnited Kingdom
.deGermany
.auAustralia
.caCanada
.frFrance
/travel/index.htm This is an extension. It tells the computer
which particular page to look for.
Concerning URLs, you should also know that the most recent
versions of most browsers dont require you to type the
http:// part of the address. You can start with planet.com.
The latest versions will allow you to simply type in the letters,
such as at&t, and it will search its database to find the correct
address for the AT&T corporation. Some URLs are case sensitive. If the URL appears in all capital or lowercase letters,
you must type it that way. If theres already something in the
address box, youll have to click once to darken the address
box, then type right over it.
Another point about URLs: Be sure to type them as they are,
with every slash, colon, letter, and period in place. URLs
rarely end with a period. However, if you see a URL at the
end of a sentence, the period is there for punctuation.
Remember: If you dont enter a URL exactly as it should
be, your browser wont be able to go to the site, or you
may go to a completely unexpected site.
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Once you key in the URL in the address box, you can either
click on the Go button on your toolbar or hit the Enter or
Return key on your keyboard. You can also pull down on the
word File at the top of the toolbar. Select Open and type the
URL in the space provided. Click on Open. Dont let this confuse you. All of these methods take you to the same place.
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FIGURE 10Using the Back and Forward buttons is an easy way to return to one page at a time
without having to key in URLs. The center button opens a list of recent site visitsjust click on the
one you want.
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Bookmarks
Youll often find a site you would like to visit frequently, or
one that you want to return to at some other time. To save
yourself the trouble of remembering its address and retyping
it each time, use the Bookmark feature. Some browsers refer
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Save, youll have a similar choice, but you may create a different file name for it. If you click on Copy, you can copy the
image temporarily and paste it someplace else, like a document in Word or an e-mail message.
Downloading Files
The Internet has a wealth of informationtext, videos, music,
photosthat you might like to acquire and keep on your own
computer. The materials run the gamut from those listed to
document and database files and software available both
free of charge and for a price. Downloading is simple. For
the most part, the site providing the download will attach
instructions that walk you through the process.
To make downloading simpler, you should have a download
folder and two key pieces of softwareAdobe Acrobat Reader
and file compression software such as WinZip or 7-Zip.
Adobe Reader and 7-Zip Adobe Acrobat and WinZip. Both
are available free of charge on the Web. You may already have
them on your computer.
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E-mail
The Internets most-used feature is electronic mail (e-mail).
E-mail takes the work out of written correspondenceno
envelopes, stamps, formal constructionjust straight-to-thepoint communication delivered instantly. Its also useful for
transmitting photographs and documents that otherwise
would have to be packaged in overnight-mail pouches. Using
e-mail takes much of the work out of keeping in touch.
E-mail is much faster than the U.S. Postal Service, known as
snail mail by the Internet crowd, and theres never a charge
for extra weight. No matter how many documents you create,
the price doesnt go up.
To exchange e-mail, youll need an e-mail program. If you
use Internet Explorer, you probably already have Microsoft
Outlook, and if you use Netscape Navigator, then you also
have Messenger. These are both powerful programs, but
theyre not the only good e-mail programs. There are also several e-mail programs that are available for free online. Some
of these free programs have restrictions regarding the size of
the messages and the number of attachments, but otherwise
they function like the e-mail programs bundled with your
browser or your Internet access software.
The following are several advantages to having such an
e-mail account:
Even if you change Internet service providers, your
e-mail address doesnt have to change.
If the account resides on the Internet, youll always be
able to access your e-mail from any computer or cell
phone connected to the Internet.
Because its free, theres no reason you cant open more
than one account. Thus, you can have a personal e-mail
account and one dedicated to your job.
Its anonymous. You can correspond without revealing
anything about yourself.
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E-mail Addresses
Your ISP or e-mail provider will supply you with your e-mail
address. Theyll probably let you pick your own as long as somebody else hasnt already chosen the same name. When choosing
an e-mail address, pick one thats not too complicated. People will
have trouble keying it. If they dont key it correctly, you wont get
your mail.
Also keep in mind that your e-mail address is a reflection on
you. A racy e-mail address probably isnt one you would want
to use to correspond with your childs school teacher, for
example.
Suppose you wanted to write to the President of the United
States. You would address mail to president@whitehouse.gov.
We can use that address to understand how to pick our own.
The first half of the address is usually your name or your
nickname. Bill Gates e-mail address, for instance, might be
bill@microsoft.com. Bill is a pretty common name. Most
Bills, and other people with common names, cant use their
first name only, so many of them tag on their last name. For
instance, you can correspond with famous writer Tom Clancy
at tomclancy@aol.com. Think carefully about what you would
like to use for an e-mail address before you let your e-mail
provider know your decision.
The last half of the e-mail address is the location of your
account on the Internet. It will usually involve the name
of your ISP along with the kind of organization it is. As we
already discussed, besides .com, which usually stands for
commercial, theres .edu (education), .gov (government),
.mil (military), .net (network), and .org (organization,
usually nonprofit), as well as others.
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How do you let the world know that you have an e-mail
address? There are several directories on the Internet
that allow you to search for e-mail addresses. One is
http://www.people.yahoo.com. Another site for
addresses is http://www.addresses.com.
Directories rely on people registering and updating their own
listings, so theyre nowhere near complete. If you would like to
make your e-mail address available, register it with a directory.
If you subscribe to AOL, for example, you can also create a
Profile for yourself. Youll automatically become listed among
the members, but unless your e-mail address is your full
name, chances are people wont be able to find you unless you
create a Profile. The easiest way to share e-mail addresses is
still pretty low-techjust ask people what their address is and
write it down.
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:)
Smiley face
:X
Dont tell
:(
:*
A kiss
;)
<vbg>
<tic>
Tongue in cheek
:-0
A shouting face
Address Books
Just as you have a book listing all your important phone
numbers and street addresses, youll want to use an e-mail
address book to keep your e-mail contacts handy. Most
browsers come with them. Adding an address is easy.
Generally, there are two ways. You can open the address
book and simply type in a new contact, or, when you receive
an e-mail from someone, click on the Address Book icon on
the toolbar while the message is open. It will automatically
add the address to the book.
If youre serious about keeping up with your e-mail correspondence, youll make sure you enter all your important
e-mail addresses in the address book. Its also worth your
time to open the address book and insert the full names,
titles, and phone numbers of your contacts.
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Newsgroup Names
Each newsgroup has a unique name such as news.answers
or alt.antiques or soc.libraries.talk. Though these names may
look somewhat cryptic at first, theres a definite method in
how newsgroups become named. The groups all make use of
a type of catalog of predefined namesabbreviations really.
The abbreviations are called dot designations, and they all
describe something about the groups they name. (The word
dot refers to the period (.) that appears after the abbreviation.) We list several dot designations below.
comp. Groups dealing with computer-related topics
rec. Groups involving recreational topics
soc. Groups dealing with social issues
talk. Groups concerned with scientific topics
news. Groups discussing Usenet and its uses
alt. Groups discussing alternate topics
misc. Groups concerned with odds-and-ends topics that
dont have a separate category
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The word blog comes from Weblog. Originally created to provide users with a means of expressing their opinions about
Web sites by keeping an updated log of favorite links for others to follow, the use of blogs is expanding. Today people use
blogs to
Get help with and solicit comments on their writing
(essays, poems, novels, etc.)
Publish personal diaries
Reveal inner thoughts
Let others know about breaking news
Express personal opinions about any topic
Get feedback about whatever theyre publishing on
their blog
Post photos
Add audio files
Blogs have actually been around for years. It has only been
in the past several years that everyday Internet users have
caught on to their versatility. Every day, more and more
people are creating their own blogs, and theyre coming up
with new and inventive ways to use them. Users enjoy reading feedback from others who are from virtually all over the
world.
How do you go about creating your own blog? If you perform
a search by keying in blog, youll get back many results that
can lead you to a provider. Some blogs are free; some require
a monthly fee. One of the most popular blog providers is
Blogger (Figure 20). Blogger is a Google Tool. Setting up a
blog is easy. The provider that you choose will walk you
through the steps quickly.
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FIGURE 20Blogger is
one of the most popular
free Weblog providers.
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Your ISP. One criterion when choosing an ISP is the availability of live technical support. Some of the big ISPs prefer that
you first turn to their e-mail support, but that can be slow. A
good reason for signing on with a small ISP is that it may have
people who will talk you through your access problems 24
hours a day. AOL offers live online support, as well as phone
support. But obviously, if you cant get online, you cant get
e-mail help.
Computer sales and repair shops. Today theres an increasing number of independent computer technicians who can
assist you in setting up your computer, installing software,
and resolving many kinds of technical issues. If you purchased
equipment from them, theyll often answer quick questions
at little or no charge.
Community colleges and technical training centers. You
may find computer classes for beginners offered at virtually
every continuing-education center. Taking a class removes
much of the confusion and mystery.
Newsgroups. Popular products have newsgroups associated
with them. There are always people online and willing to share
their expertisefree.
FAQs. Many sites include Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
to provide quick help for users who need it. If you become confused while at a Web site and you see FAQ somewhere on the
site, click on it and it may solve your problem.
Plug-ins
Sometimes youll visit a Web site and click on a link, and a box
will pop up that says, Sorry, you dont have the right plug-in
to see this information. What do you do about this? Go find
the plug-in that you need, download it, and install it.
A plug-in is a piece of (usually free) software that allows you
to access files of particular types. Plug-ins expand your basic
browsers capabilities. In many cases, the basic plug-ins that
youll need to listen to music, watch movies, or view animation
or other graphics on the Internet will come included in the
newer versions of the software youre likely to use. However,
if youre using an older version, here are the basic procedures
for downloading a plug-in.
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FIGURE 21Clicking on the FAQs link in WinZip will bring you to WinZips Frequently Asked Questions
page, as shown here.
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Self-Check 1
At the end of each section of Internet Basics, youll be asked to pause and check your understanding of what youve just read by completing a Self-Check exercise. Answering these
questions will help you review what youve studied so far. Please complete Self-Check 1 now.
1. What are the names of the two most popular browsers?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
2. Label these parts of the URL:
http://
atlasvideo.com
/products
__________________________________________________________
3. Assuming that your Internet service provider is AOL, construct an e-mail address
for yourself.
__________________________________________________________
4. Define plug-in and name one that will let you listen to music online.
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
5. Why would you save a copy of something that you see online and how would you save it?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
6. What Is a Favorite or a Bookmark and why would you want to make one?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
(Continued)
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Self-Check 1
7. Where can you go for help when youre having trouble with your computer?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
8. What type of organizations do the following domain suffixes denote?
com
__________________________________________________________________
nte
__________________________________________________________________
edu
__________________________________________________________________
org
__________________________________________________________________
pro
__________________________________________________________________
name __________________________________________________________________
9. True or False? E-mail you send and receive at work is your property and protected
by privacy laws.
10. Define the following terms:
a. ARPANET ____________________________________________________________
b. www ________________________________________________________________
c. URL__________________________________________________________________
d. http__________________________________________________________________
e. newsgroup ____________________________________________________________
f. mailing list ____________________________________________________________
g. blog ________________________________________________________________
Check your answers with those on page 65.
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1. Boolean
The term Boolean refers to a system of logical thought
developed by the English mathematician and computer
pioneer, George Boole. In boolean searching, an and
between two words, for example, Egypt and mummy
searches for documents containing both of the words
(Figure 22). An or operator between two words, Egypt
or United States, searches for documents containing
either of the words. Putting the operator not between
two words, mummy not Egypt will give you documents
that include the word mummy, but not the word Egypt.
FIGURE 22Performing
an AND Search on
Dogpile
You can also limit the distance between the words. For
instance, the Boolean operator w/3 can limit a search
for Egyptian mummies by typing Egyptian W/3 of
mummy. That tells the search engine that youre looking
only for documents that have the words Egyptian and
mummy within three words of each other.
2. Double Quotes ( )
Double quotes tells the search engine that youre looking
only for single phrases. A search for Egyptian mummy
without quotes will yield very different results from a
search for Egyptian mummy with quotes. The first
search will find all the documents that contain both
words; the second will yield only those documents that
have the two standing together as a phrase.
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Google http://www.google.com
Like all modern search engines, Google is free. Besides offering
searching services, Google, along with other top search
engines, is always expanding its services. Go to the Google
Web site and navigate through its pages by clicking on the
many buttons (Figure 23). Youll find out that Google provides
you with many online goodies, such as giving you different
ways in which to search, tools such as Blogger, a language
translator (English to French, Spanish to German), and API,
which is used by developers to program in their favorite programming language.
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FIGURE 23Google isnt just a search engineit offers a wide variety of other tools and services,
as well.
HotBot http://www.hotbot.com
HotBot offers multiple search options, including the use of
advanced Web filters (Figure 24). In its more sophisticated
searches, it offers features not found in most engines. It
allows you to restrict your search in terms of how long the
pages have been on the Web. It even allows you to restrict
your search to Web sites that have specific geographic origins
(for instance, North America, Africa, and so on). You also can
restrict your search by domain type (for instance, .com, .gov,
.org, and so on). There are limited Boolean-like choices in
pull-down boxes. Search terms in the title result in a significantly higher ranking, and this can have the obvious impact
on the usefulness of what you find.
All in all, HotBot is a great search engine, and you should
spend some time exploring all the options it has to offer.
Because of all the special ways of searching available on the
site, its practical for broad-category and for topic-specific
searching. Also, because it can return results published
within a specified time frame, its especially good for research
on current topics.
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FIGURE 24HotBot
Home Page
Yahoo! http://www.yahoo.com
Yahoo! is one of the most popular Web sites used today. Yahoo!
isnt really a search engine, its an index (Figure 25). Human
indexers decide what goes in it and then they organize and catalog the material. Yahoo! has cataloged sites into categories and
subcategories. Searching Yahoo! is as easy as entering a keyword (or keywords). Every page in the Yahoo! directory includes
a search text box. You also have the option of combining the
searching and browsing features. For example, if you click to
browse the News and Media category, youll then have the
option of searching only within that category. If your query gets
no hits in this manner, Yahoo! offers you the option of searching only within Yahoo! or you can search the entire Web. Yahoo!
is also case insensitive, so if what youre looking for should be
in capital letters, type it in that way. If you know what youre
looking for, Yahoo! is a great place to search. Yahoo! also offers
e-mail, instant messaging, Web hosting, radio, games, and
shopping. It has become a portal to the Web for many users.
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Multiple-Search or Meta-Search
Engines
You dont have to use just one search engine at a time. Turn,
instead, to a search engine that sends your query to several
different search engines. The advantage to using these types
of search services is that you can cover more ground per
query. No single search engine can have a complete listing of
all the sites on the Web. In theory then, using a multiplesearch engine could return total results you wouldnt be able
to duplicate using only particular search engine. Multiplesearch engines are actually particularly good for finding the
right individual search tool. When you put your query in,
some search engine will return few or no results. Others will
come back with dozens or hundreds of results. You then
rewrite your query to better target it and again query those
search engines that brought you the most results.
Ask http://www.ask.com
Ask (Figure 26) was previously known as Ask Jeeves. To use
this search engine you type in a questions in simple English,
and the search engine presents an answer to you. This
search engine was an attempt at natural language inquiries.
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Dogpile http://www.dogpile.com
Dogpile (Figure 27) will simultaneously send your query to
multiple search engines and present the results to you.
Dogpile starts with the search engine that provides the most
focused results, allows you to select which search engines
you want to use, and allows advanced-syntax searches.
FIGURE 27Dogpile
Home Page
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MetaCrawler http://www.metacrawler.com
This meta-search engine queries the Webs most popular
engines for you, and then MetaCrawler (Figure 29) collates
and verifies the results. MetaCrawler also offers statistics
about what everyone in the world is searching, e-mail, maps,
horoscopes, classifieds, and searches of public records.
MetaCrawler charges a fee for many of these services.
FIGURE 29MetaCrawler
Home Page
WebCrawler http://www.webcrawler.com
WebCrawler uses meta-search technology to search through
top search engines such as Google and Yahoo. WebCrawler
(Figure 30) offers its own unique set of tools, including
spelling correction, preferences settings such as an adult
content filter, and showing results by search engine.
FIGURE 30WebCrawler
Home Page
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Excite http://www.excite.com
Excite claims access to millions of Web pages, as well as hundreds of thousands of selected Web sites in the Excite Web
Guide. Excite uses a patented technology called Intelligent
Concept Extraction, or ICE. This technology allows you to
search not only for the exact word or phrase youve entered,
but also for related concepts. For example, if your keywords
were ancient civilizations, Excite would search for these exact
words as well as for related concepts such as old, very old,
cultures, and societies. This ICE technology should help
make searching with Excite more productive, as the engine
is essentially predicting specific words that Webmasters
might have used when indexing the content of their sites
(Figure 31).
Subject Directories
The following is a list of subject directories that will help
you search the Internet. Many popular search engines also
provide subject directories, as youve learned.
About http://www.about.com
Originally called the Mining Co., this unique and very helpful
service offers a network of sites devoted to hundreds of different
topics. A guide, an individual with expertise or keen interest
in a particular topic, maintains each site. The topic sites are
annotated for ease of use, and the content is updated periodically by the site guides. This is the place for quickly finding
the best Internet sites on a topic.
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Special Utilities
Because you have a seemingly endless variety of engines to
search with online, youll often face a very long, not wellorganized list of results. Search tools can be a lot of help, as
theyre usually easy to understand and use. They can group
links according to category, eliminate repeat and dead links,
and even put the links you find into a cache or file so you
can refer to them at a later time.
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How do I subscribe?
Once you decide you want to join a mailing list that interests
you, you need to subscribe to it. Instructions on how to subscribe to specific lists vary, but once you find a list, youll
receive directions on how to subscribe. Most often, youll
need to send an e-mail message to the mailing list server,
usually from the account where you want the list sent.
To ensure youre added to the mailing list, enter the subscription message exactly as youre told to do. Dont add
any additional spaces or characters.
Most subscription messages go to an automatic responder
that will send a message back to you within a couple of minutesusually a welcome message that tells you a little more
about the list you just subscribed to and how to unsubscribe
from it if you ever choose to. You should save this message,
or at least the information about how to unsubscribe, for
future reference.
Sometimes the auto-responder sends back a subscriptionverification e-mail with, for instance, a special code. The
auto-responder wont add your address to the mailing list
until it receives back that special code. Thats to ensure you
really wanted to join the list and somebody didnt just sign
you up without your knowledge.
How do I get involved in a mailing-list discussion?
Most mailing lists serve as a forum for the subscribers to
voice their opinions on issues. If you want to add something
to the topic in such a mailing list, or if you want to begin a
discussion of a certain topic, you post an e-mail message to
the appropriate address. The mailing list will provide all the
details.
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Internet Basics
Banking
Chances are your bank will allow you to bank online. That
means you can access your account, check your balances,
move money from one account to another, and pay your
billsall from the comfort of your home computer. The next
time youre at the bank, ask about online banking.
Shopping
The number of stores and manufacturers with online sites
expands every day. Choices range from clothing, CDs, and
books to major appliances, jewelry, and even automobiles.
Gifts of flowers, candy, or specialty items can be delivered
directly to the recipient. Try doing a search for an unusual
product or specific type of business from which you would
like to buy, and see if theyre available. Chances are, youll
find what youre looking for.
Online auctions such as eBay offer an unimaginable selection
of antiques, collectibles, and everyday items that are up for
bid. You can follow the instructions on how to place a bid or
sell your own items through the site.
Health
Telemedicine is increasingly popular. Many hospitals have
Web sites that describe their services and even provide health
professionals to answer questions that people e-mail to them.
Online pharmacies are also popular. See if your doctor can
recommend a health-care site to you.
Libraries
Many public libraries have opened their card catalogs to
online customers. Through the Internet you can search for
a book from a public library. If you find a book you want,
you can usually request it through your local librarian, as
long as you have a local library card. You dont even have to
live in the community where the library is located to borrow
the book. Your librarian can arrange for the book via an
interlibrary loan.
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Education
Online courses are becoming increasingly common. Most colleges and universities now offer online programs, and there
are institutions that operate only in cyberspace. Use a search
engine to find the Web site of an institution that you would
like to attend (Figure 32). From there you can e-mail and find
out if they offer online classes.
FIGURE 32Many choices in career and degree programs are available online.
Newspapers
Newspapers both big and small now have their contents
online. While you may prefer to subscribe to the paper version of your local newspaper, its fun to look at out-of-town
newspapers for news of different areas. Find a state-by-state
index of newspapers at http://www.usnpl.com/.
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Travel
The Internet is the very best way to find travel information
prices, fares, hotel reservationseverything you need to know
to make a trip efficient and fun. Start by searching for your
destination. If the results are too numerous, limit them by
adding the word hotel to your search.
Popular sites such as Travelocity, Hotels.com, Priceline, and
Expedia are helping consumers book hotels, air travel, and
rental cars without the help of a travel agent.
Social Networking
Social networking is a relatively new facet of the internet,
Beyond e-mailing friends and acquaintances, you can meet
new people and share your life via social networking sites
such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and YouTube.
On Facebook you can create a profile, post pictures and messages and friend and unfriend other members. MySpace is
similar to Facebook but caters to musicians and other
artists. Twitter allows users to tweet one another. Tweets are
short messages of 140 characters or so which are sent by
computer or by telephone. On YouTube you can easily share
and view media such as videos.
Online Gaming
Online gaming is another topic that could be a course in
itself. From the internet you can download games to play on
your computer. You can go online and participate in a game
with other users. The games vary in complexity from solitaire
and Mahjong to fantasy role playing.
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Internet Reliability
You may wonder how reliable the Internet is as a source of
information. To gauge the reliability of online sources, think of
the Internet as a virtual library, and apply the same evaluation
tools you currently use to rate more traditional reference materials. Theres a catch, however: Libraries sort and classify
publications as fiction, nonfiction, and reference. On the
Internet, youll have to distinguish fiction from nonfiction yourself. It will take a critical eye and certain evaluative skills to
separate the treasure from the trash, the jewels from the junk.
Here are some important points for you to follow that will
help you evaluate the validity of the information you find
on the Internet.
Be discerning. This isnt really an evaluative method or a
tool as much as a frame of mind. Remember that the Internet
isnt one particular publication. Its a network of millions and
millions of publicationssome are reliable as sources of
information and some arent. The Internet doesnt bar anyone
from developing a Web site and publishing his or her opinions.
So, as rational and literate adults, we need to question
extraordinary claims like Giant Elephant Squashes Tall
Buildings in New York City. If the same headline appeared
on the front page of a tabloid magazine, chances are you
would laugh at it. Of course, some stories may seem more
plausible than that without being true. So dont believe a
source simply because it exists online.
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If an article sounds unlikely or an e-mail request sounds suspicious, there are Web sites like http://www.scambusters.org/
that attempt to quash rumors and urban legends and reassure
Web users.
Phishing is a scam that has, unfortunately, become very common. You may receive an e-mail supposedly from your bank
claiming that theres a problem with your account. To fix the
problem, the bank needs you to confirm your account number
and pin number. Dont give that information out. Contact your
bank directly. A bank representative will be more than happy
to confirm or deny the validity of the e-mail.
Evaluate the author. Before you invest time, energy, or
money at a Web site, ask yourself the following questions
about the author of the Web page.
1. Have you ever heard of this person before, or has your
instructor or someone with recognized credentials ever
mentioned this author?
2. What are the authors qualifications and credentials?
3. Are his or her credentials appropriate for the
subject matter?
4. Is the author considered an expert in the content area?
5. Does he or she mention others whose names and
credentials are familiar to you?
6. Is this author associated with a reputable organization,
a corporation, educational institution, or governmental
body, for instance? If so, what are the organizations
goals?
Another way to evaluate the author is to look for potential bias
in your sources. For example, suppose youre researching
whether lenient gun control laws contribute to violence in a
society, and you find an essay written by an official from the
National Rifle Association. The author may not give you both
sides of the story. Neither would someone writing for the Web
site of Handgun Control, Inc. Bias isnt always easy to spot,
but you should be able to catch and recognize any obvious
sources of it.
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Netiquette
No study of the Internet is complete without learning about
acceptable online behavior. Because the Internet isnt controlled
or presided over by any person, organization, government, or
other entity, its users serve as the arbiters of behavior. But
some problems have arisen (Figure 33).
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Below are some tips for you to follow as you travel the world
online.
Safeguard all personal information. Use an alias or nickname in chat rooms and other public online places.
Never give out personal information such as your social
security number, street address, or financial information
without careful considerationor not at allonline.
Give authors credit for their material. If youre reporting to
others in a formal research document, cite all references,
not just the ones from traditional printed materials.
Be brief in your e-mail messages. Long messages and
large file attachments quickly fill the recipients mailbox.
You may also be wasting others time by not getting to
the point quickly.
Never read someone elses private e-mail or try to enter a
site without proper security clearance.
Beware of downloading attachments, both from people
you dont know and from those you do know. Using
e-mail attachments is one of the most common ways
of spreading computer viruses.
Dont answer spam, even when the message offers to
allow you to unsubscribe from its listthats often a
trick used to confirm addresses. Its best to delete it
without opening it, if you can guess by the address or
subject that its spam.
Remember that in all your online communications (e-mails,
chat rooms, instant messages, newsgroup postings, and
so on) youre communicating with real human beings with
feelings and opinions. Respect those feelings, as well as
peoples time and privacy.
Now, before you take the examination, please complete
Self-Check 2.
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Self-Check 2
1. Name two of the better general-purpose search engines.
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
2. Name two meta-search engines.
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
3. Explain what a mailing list is and why you might want to join one.
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
4. What is push technology?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
5. How do you decide whether information on the Internet is reliable?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
6. What is Netiquette?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Check your answers with those on page 66.
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Self-Check 1
1. Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator
atlasvideo.com
domain name
/products
path name
A n s we r s
2. http://
protocol
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Self-Check 2
1. Any two of the following: HotBot, Google, and Yahoo!
2. Any two of the following: DogPile, Ask, Internet Sleuth,
MetaCrawler, WebCrawler, Excite
3. A mailing list is a list of people who affiliate to discuss
issues and share information via e-mail. People join
them for fun, to conduct business, and to get and give
information.
4. Push technology sends usually unsolicited information to
your computer, often via e-mail, that you may have interest in based on your interests in other things.
5. Be discerning, evaluate the author, evaluate the source
of the Web page, evaluate the writing, and evaluate any
publication data.
6. The online code of acceptable behavior
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Self-Check Answers