Living Online Module Lesson 25 — Internet Essentials Computer Literacy BASICS

Living Online ModuleLesson 25 — Internet Essentials

Computer Literacy BASICS

Computer Literacy BASICS2

Objectives

Explain the origin of the Internet. Explain how to connect to the Internet and how it

works. Understand how to use a browser to surf the

Internet. Understand how to customize browser settings. List the major features of the Internet and

explain what they do.


Objectives (cont.)

Access a recently visited Web site using the History feature.

Refresh a Web page by reloading it directly from the Web site.

Explain how a Web site’s security makes it possible to safely provide private information.

Understand how to troubleshoot problems encountered when browsing Web pages.


Vocabulary

Browser Cache Cookies Domain name

File transfer protocol (FTP)

Home page Hyperlink


Vocabulary (cont.)

Hypertext markup language (HTML)

Hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP)

Newsgroup Uniform resource

locator (URL) Web server


Origins of the Internet

The Internet is a worldwide network of smaller networks.

The Internet evolved from the ARPANET.– The ARPANET was the first large-scale

network and was developed around 1969 as part of a government research project.

– ARPANET ceased to exist in 1990, but its functions continue through the Internet.


Origins of the World Wide Web

The World Wide Web (WWW) began in 1989 when a European organization called CERN created a program that allowed pages to be “linked” through a HTML.

The first Web browser, Mosaic, was released in 1993, and there was a 340% increase in Internet use during that year.

The Internet is still growing at a fast rate.


The Internet’s Impact on Society

The Internet has changed how many organizations operate.

More than two-thirds of Americans use the Internet at work, home, or school.

The Internet is a primary research resource for many students.


The Internet’s Impact on Society (cont.)

People with disabilities can use the Internet to visit places they cannot physically get to.

The world is becoming increasingly interconnected in large part because of the Internet and its almost instant communications.


The Internet Is Always Changing

The Internet is constantly changing and reshaping itself.

It is a loose association of many networks that connects millions of computers around the world.

Interoperability means that all brands, models, and makes of computers can communicate with each other on the Internet.


Protocols Allow Communication

All these different types of computers communicate with each other because they follow an established set of rules that make the communication possible.

This set of rules is called a protocol, which creates a standard format for transferring data between two devices.


The TCP/IP Protocol

Computers communicate using TCP/IP protocol.

TCP/IP is the international standard for transmitting data.– TCP establishes a connection between two host

computers.– The IP protocol allows you to enter an address of

a computer and send something to that address.– You can enter an address as a domain name.


The Domain Name

Internet computers all have a unique address.

The domain name identifies a site on the Internet and allows a computer to connect to the site’s address.

An example of a domain name:

www.microsoft.com


Accessing the Internet from Home

There are a variety of ways to connect to the Internet for the home user:

A telephone line, with a dial-up modem or a dedicated high-speed telephone line

A cable modem and cable television connection A wireless connection


Accessing the Internet from a Business or Public Location

If you connect to the Internet from an office, aca-demic setting, or public venue, such as a library, you may connect to the Internet in other ways:

A local area network and a network interface card (NIC) in your computer

A high-speed leased line, such as ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) or DSL (Digital Subscriber Lines)

A wireless connection


Connecting to the Internet: Step 1

Locate an Internet service provider (ISP) or an online service. – ISPs provide a connection or “on ramp” to the

Internet. – Online services are large companies, such as

America Online and MSN.



Install some type of telecommunications software to enable your computer to connect to another computer.– Your ISP or online service company will

provide this software.– Or you may be able to use software already

installed on a newer computer, especially if it is set up for a wireless connection.



You will need a software application called a Web browser to access the Web.– Most computers purchased today come with a

browser already installed. Then you simply launch your browser to

connect you to your ISP’s computer, which in turn connects you to the Internet.


Browser Basics

A browser is a program that lets you retrieve documents from the Web.

The browser is an interface between you and the Internet.

Browsers can display text and images, and newer browsers contain multimedia support as well.

Popular browsers are Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator/Communicator.


Browser Basics (cont.)

The browser sends a message to the Web server to retrieve your requested Web page.

Then the browser render the HTML code to display the page on your computer.

HTML is the language used to create a Web document.

You navigate through the Web by using your mouse to point and click on hyperlinked words and images.


The Internet ExplorerBrowser Window

Title bar

Menu bar

Address bar

Access indicator

Document window

Toolbar

Go button

Scroll bars


Browser Window Terminology


Launching the Browser

You can usually launch your browser and connect to the Internet by double-clicking the browser’s icon on your desktop.

You will see your default home page when you connect to the Internet.

To view a particular site or page, enter the uniform resource locator (URL) for the page in the address bar and press Enter, or click the Go button.


Customizing Browser Settings

You can change some settings on your browser, such as privacy settings and the default home page.– It is easy to change your browser’s home page so you

can display a Web page you want to view frequently. Internet Explorer provides access to browser settings

from the Tools menu on the browser toolbar.– Select the Internet Options menu entry to open a

dialog box with tabs that display settings for security, privacy, connections, and the programs your browser automatically uses for Internet services such as e-mail, newsgroups, and online conferencing.


Advanced Browser Settings:Cookies

As you become an experienced Internet user, you may want to change how your browser handles cookies.

Cookies are small text files that are created by some Web pages when you visit the site.

You must balance the ease of use provided by cookies, which remember Web sites and settings for you, with security issues and storage space available.


Advanced Browser Settings:The Cache

Some Internet files are temporarily stored in a folder called a cache on your hard disk as you view them.

The cache is useful because it speeds up the display of pages you frequently visit.

– Internet Explorer opens these files directly from your hard disk instead of from the Web.

You can set the size of the temporary Internet files folder or empty the files stored in it by clicking the Settings button in the Temporary Internet files section of the General tab in the Internet Options dialog box.


Using the Internet’s Services

The Internet is made up of many parts. Some of the more popular services include

– E-mail (covered in Lesson 24)– World Wide Web– Chat rooms– Mailing lists– FTP– Newsgroups– Bulletin boards


The World Wide Web

The World Wide Web is NOT the same thing as the Internet.– The Web is an application that uses the Internet.

The Web consists of millions of electronic files called Web pages.

A related collection of Web pages is a Web site. Web sites can be created by businesses,

organizations, and individuals.


The Smithsonian Institution’sWeb Site Home Page


What Makes a Web Page Work

Web pages usually contain hyperlinks.– A hyperlink can transport you to another page or

site just by clicking on the hyperlink. The Web has its own underlying protocols that

make it possible for all kinds of computers all over the world to view Web pages in similar formats.– HTTP is the protocol that defines how Web pages

are formatted and transmitted.


Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)

You can send and receive Web pages over the Internet because Web servers and Web browsers both can understand HTTP.

A Web server is a computer that contains Web pages.– Every Web server has its own IP address,

and most have a domain name that identifies the IP address.


Uniform Resource Locators (URLs)

Every Web site has a unique address called a Uniform Resource Locator or URL.

The first part of an URL indicates the protocol required to access the page.

The second part of an URL specifies the IP address or a domain name.

The top-level domain at the end of the URL indicates the type of organization or business.


The Parts of an URL

http://www.smithsonian.org

The protocol indicates what rules are used to transmit and interpret the Web page codes.

This indicates that the site is on the Web.

The domain name

The domain extension indicates what type of organization sponsors the Web site.


Domain Extension Abbreviations

Web sites for organizations outside the United States may include a domain abbreviation that includes a country code, such as uk for the United Kingdom, jp for Japan, or ca for Canada.


Chat Rooms

Chat rooms allow you to talk in real time to one or more people using the computer instead of a telephone.

When someone in the chat room sends a message, it appears on the screen for everyone else in that room.

Chat rooms provide a place for people with common interests to communicate, but be cautious and do not give out personal information.


Mailing Lists

A mailing list is group of people with a shared or common interest.

Their e-mail addresses are collected into a group identified by a single name.

When someone in the group posts a message, it is sent to everyone in the group.

You subscribe to a mailing list just like you subscribe to a magazine.

A list owner is the person who manages the list.


Newsgroups and Bulletin Boards

A newsgroup is a discussion forum or type of bulletin board.

Members post messages or responses to other messages.

Some newsgroups have a moderator who reviews messages before posting them.

Messages are stored on a news server.

examplehttp://www.electronichouse.com/comments

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/newsletters/


Online Conferencing

Online conferencing allows people to connect online for a class, a meeting, or even a family reunion. – Freeware and commercial versions of software,

such as CU-SeeMe, provide a chat setting with audio and video.

– Hardware requirements include a microphone and speakers for audio and a digitizing camera for video.


Online Conferencing (cont.)

Online conferencing offers many benefits:– People all over the world can meet without

travel costs.– It allows equal time for all participants.– It creates a permanent record of the meeting.


File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

File transfer protocol (FTP) is used to download and upload files over the Internet.

When you download a browser plug-in file, you are likely using FTP.

Some FTP servers require IDs and passwords to access the files on that server, but others permit anonymous access.

Files you might want to download from an FTP server include software updates for your printer, an instruction manual, or a new program to test.


The History Pane

Your browser tracks sites you have visited for a certain period of time.

To see a list of sites you have visited recently, click the History button on the toolbar to open the History pane.

The list of sites you have visited is organized by date, and the Web addresses in the list are hyperlinks.

You can clear the History list by clicking the Clear History button on the General tab of the Internet Options dialog box.


Reloading and Refreshing

If you get a message that a Web page cannot be displayed, click the Refresh button on the browser’s toolbar to reload the page directly from the Web site.

Sometimes your cache has an outdated version of a page that is loaded when you try to access a site, so the Refresh button is available to update the page.


Secure Web Pages

Web sites used for financial transactions or e-commerce are more secure than sites that simply provide information.

Web sites are secured through encrypted communication.

Some Web sites require you to log in with a username and a password.


Secure Web Pages (cont.)

You may see a padlock icon or another indicator in the status bar of a Web page to indicate the information is secure.

If you get a message questioning the security of a site, read the information carefully before deciding whether or not to provide sensitive information.


Problems Accessing Web Pages

A common problem when browsing the Web is a Page Not Found error, which may provide advice about how to trace a link.

If you encounter slow or interrupted page loading, you may be using an outdated browser or the page may have many graphics or special features.


Problems Accessing Web Pages (cont.)

Spyware is programming that is installed on your computer without your knowledge to gather information about your Web browsing habits or allow “remote control” access to your computer by a hacker.

A firewall and other security measures can prevent spyware gaining access to your computer.


Summary

Origins of the Internet can be traced to the U.S. Department of Defense. The original name for the Internet was ARPANET.

Mosaic was the Internet’s first browser, providing a graphical interface to information on the Web.


Summary (cont.)

To connect to the Internet from a business or academic setting, you probably have a direct connection via a local area network and a network interface card.

For the home user, the most common types of Internet connection include a modem and telephone line, a cable modem connection, and a wireless connection.


Summary (cont.)

To connect to the Internet, you need an Internet connection, telecommunications software, and a browser.

A browser is a software program you use to retrieve documents from the World Wide Web.

Interoperability means that all brands, models, and makes of computers can communicate with each other.


Summary (cont.)

A protocol is a standard format for transferring data between two devices. TCP/IP is the agreed-on international standard for transmitting data.

The domain name identifies a site on the Internet.

Microsoft’s Internet Explorer and Netscape’s Navigator/Communicator are two of the most popular Web browsers.


Summary (cont.)

The HTTP protocol defines how Web messages are formatted and transmitted.

Web pages are linked through hypertext. The Web site address is referred to as the

URL, or Uniform Resource Locator. Every Web page on the Internet has its own unique address.


Summary (cont.)

Your home page is the first page that displays when you launch your browser.

The Web and e-mail are two important applications that make use of the Internet. Other features of the Internet include chat rooms, mailing lists, newsgroups and bulletin boards, online conferencing, and file transfer protocol.


Summary (cont.)

You can access a list of recently visited Web sites by clicking the History button on the browser toolbar.

The Refresh button on the toolbar reloads a Web page directly from the Web site to provide the most up-to-date version of the page.


Summary (cont.)

Secure Web sites encrypt information and require you to provide account information and/or a password for access to protect private data.


Summary (cont.)

Problems accessing Web pages can involve compatibility issues with your software, Web pages that are no longer available, and spyware, a kind of software installed on your computer without your knowledge that can track your Web use or even control your computer.

Documents

Living Online Module Lesson 25 — Internet Essentials Computer Literacy BASICS