Using Information Technology Chapter 2 The Internet & the World Wide Web : Exploring Cyberspace

The Internet & the World Wide Web : Exploring Cyberspace 2.1 Choosing Your Internet Access Device & Physical Connection: The Quest for Broadband 2.2 Choosing Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) 2.3 How Does the Internet Work? 2.4 Sending & Receiving Email 2.5 The World Wide Web 2.6 The Online Gold Mine: More Internet Resources

2.1 Choosing Your Internet Access Device & Physical Connection: The Quest for Broadband
Bandwidth = an expression of how much data can be sent through a communications channel in a given amount of time Baseband = Allows only one signal at a time Broadband = Several signals can be sent at once Download = to transmit data from a remote computer to a local computer Upload = to transmit data from a local computer to a remote computer Telephone (Dial-Up) Modem: Low Speed but Inexpensive & Widely Available Modem = a device that sends and receives data over telephone lines to and from computers There are two types of modems = internal and external High-Speed Phone Lines: More Expensive but Available in Most Cities ISDN = hardware and software that allows voice, video, and data to be communicated over traditional copper-wire telephone lines DSL = uses regular phone lines like ISDN, a DSL modem, and special technology to transmit data in megabits per second. T1 = a traditional trunk line that carries 24 normal telephone circuits and has a transmission rate of 1.5 Mbps. Wireless Systems: Satellite & Other Through-the-Air Connections Communications satellite = a space station that transmits radio waves called microwaves from earth-based stations.

 Other wireless connections = towers transmit radio waves. They can send data up to the speed of 155 Mbps. Used to operate local cellular phones.

2.2 Choosing Your Internet Service Provider (ISP)

ISP = a company that connects you through your communications line to its servers, or central (host) computer, which connect you to the internet via another companys network access points

2.3 How Does the Internet Work?

1. You connect to the ISPs POP using a telephone number that your ISP provides. A point-ofpresence (POP) is a collection of modems and other equipment in a local area. 2. ISPs connect to a backbone to access remote web servers. Backbones are high-speed, high capacity transmission lines that use newest communications technology. TCP/IP, the Internet Society, and ICANN Protocol is a set of conventions that govern the format of data transmitted electronically. They ensure that all data is exchanged in a consistent format. TCP/IP is a protocol that enables all computers to interpret and use data transmitted over the internet. ISOC (Internet Society) provides leadership in addressing issues that confront the future of the internet. ICANN was established to regulate human-friendly internet domain names 2.4 Sending & Receiving Email Incoming email is stored on a mailbox on the server. Outgoing email is sent to a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) server. Email Software & Carriers Get an email program (browser) as part of other computer software Get email software as part of your ISP package Get free email services Buy email software Email Addresses Joe_Black@earthlink.net.us User name/ID : Joe_Black Domain name : earthlink Top-level domain : .net Two-letter country extension : .us

 Parts of an Email Message and Attachments The three parts of an email message are the (1) address of the recipient, (2) subject of the message, and (3) message content. In addition, the files on a computer can be attached to an email message. The person receiving the attachment must have the same software that created the attachment. Other Ways of Communicating Instant messaging (IM) = allows any user on a given email system to send a message and have it pop up instantly on the screen of anyone else logged onto that system Mailing Lists = Email-based discussion groups Listserv = is an automatic mailing-list server that sends email to subscribers participating in discussion topics Netiquette: Appropriate Online Behavior Consult FAQs Avoid flaming Do not SHOUT Be careful with jokes Avoid sloppiness Do not send huge file attachments Quote with relevant portion, when replying Do not overforward Spam: Unwanted Junk Email Delete without opening the message Never reply to a spam message! Enlist the help of your ISP or use spam filters Fight back Keeping Email Private Install security software Do not put any sensitive or embarrassing information in the email Even deleted mail can be traced on your hard disk

2.5 The World Wide Web

1. What makes the Web graphically inviting? o Multimedia 2. What makes the Web easily navigable? o Hypertext

 The Web & How It Works A computer with a domain name is called a website Example: www.barnesandnoble.com Web pages = the documents on a website A web page is a document on the World Wide Web that can include text, pictures, sound, and video. Web browser = software that enables users to view web pages and to jump from one page to another Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator are most commonly used browsers URLs addresses for web pages The URL is a string of characters that points to a specific piece of information anywhere on the web The URL consists of the web protocol, the name of the web server, the directory on that server, and the file within that directory Using Your Browser to Get Around the Web The five basic elements of a web browser are: o Menu bar o Toolbar o URL bar o Workspace o Status bar Starting out from home = the start up page is the home page Personalizing your home page = a home page can be personalized according to the users choices Getting around = Back, Forward, Home, and Search features History list = allows you to return to a page you have recently visited Bookmarks or favorites = let you store the URL of web pages you frequently visit so that you do not have to remember or retype the URLs Interactivity = hyperlinks, radio buttons, and fill-in text boxes Radio buttons = little circles located in front of various options; selecting an option with the mouse places a dot in the corresponding circle Scrolling = Navigating up and down a web page using scroll arrows Frames are independently controllable sections on a web page. They allow looking at the two pages simultaneously. Web Portals: Starting Points for Finding Information Web portal = a gateway website that offers a broad array of resources and services, such as: o online shopping malls o email support o current news and weather stock quotes o travel information

o links to other popular subject categories Examples www.yahoo.com; www.msn.com; www.aol.com After logging on, you can: o Check the home page for general information o Use the directory to find a topic o Use keyword to search for a topic Four Types of Search Engines Human-organized search sites Computer-created search sites Hybrid search sites Metasearch sites Tips for Smart Searching Choose search items well with the correct spelling Use phrases with quotation marks Put unique words first in a phrase Use operators Use wildcards Read the Help or Search Tips section Try an alternate general search site or a specific search site Multimedia on the Web Plug-in = a program that adds a specific feature to a browser, allowing it to play or view certain files Developing multimedia = applets, Java, and Visual Studio.NET Text and images Streaming video Animation Audio Video Download and listen Download and view Streaming audio Push Technology & Webcasting Push technology = software that automatically downloads information to your computer Webcasting = a result of push technology, where customized text, video, and audio are sent automatically on a regular basis The Internet Telephone & Videophone Internet telephony - using the Net to make phone calls, either one-to-one or for audio conferencing Internet telephone software Netscape Conference, Microsoft Net meeting

 Designing Web Pages There are professional web designers who develop websites. Menu-driven programs, such as Microsoft FrontPage or Macromedia Dreamweaver can be used to design websites.

2.6 The Online Gold Mine: More Internet Resources

More internet resources: FTP (File Transfer Protocol) = for copying all the free files you want Telnet = to connect to remote computers More Internet Resources Newsgroups = for online typed discussions on specific topics Real-time chat = typed discussions among online participants Telnet = a protocol that allows you to connect to remote computers on the internet by using a user name and a password and to run programs on those computers. FTP = a protocol that allows Your Personal Cyberspace Blogs = web logs, accessible to other users Relationships = online matchmaking Education = distance learning Health = patient self-education Entertainment = amusing yourself on the internet Trade and Commerce E-commerce Auctions = linking individual buyers and sellers Online finance = trading, banking, and e-money Online job hunting B2B commerce Concept Check 1. What is the term for using the Net to make phone calls, either one-to-one or for audio conferencing? o Internet telephony 2. Which program allows you to connect to remote computers on the internet using a username and a password? o Telnet 3. Which type of search site sends your query to several other different search tools and compiles the results?

4.

5. 6.

7. 8.

9. 10. 11. 12.

13. 14. 15. 16.

17.

18. 19.

o Meta search site What is the method whereby you can connect to a remote computer and transfer files from it to your own microcomputers hard disk? o FTP (File Transfer Protocol) Which language consists of tags, and is used to create web pages? o Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) What are the four components of a URL? o The web protocol o The name of the web server o The directory on that server o The file within that directory What is the name given to online education programs? o Distance learning What is the term for writing an online message that uses derogatory, obscene, or inappropriate language? o Flaming What is the term for keyboard-produced pictorial representations of expressions? o Emoticons What is netiquette? o Network etiquette = guides to appropriate online behavior What is the term for an independently controllable section of a Web page? o Frame What is the term for a website such as Yahoo! that groups together popular features such as search tools, email, electronic commerce, and discussion groups? o Portal What is broadband? o Very high speed connection, where several signals can be sent at once What is the term for the transmission of data from a remote computer to a local computer? o Download What is the first component of a URL? o The protocol (for example, http) What method of interaction with a web page consists of little circles in front of user-selectable options? o Radio buttons What type of program adds a specific feature to a browser, allowing it to play or view certain files? o Plug-in What is the term for unsolicited email in the form of advertising or chain letters? o Spam What does RTC stand for? o Real-time chat, a typed discussion among online users