Internet instructor:

1
Computer Basics for Seniors, Part 2

• The Internet

April 2004
2
Agenda

• Definition of internet
• Internet functions
• Browsing
• Email
• Chat
• Other
• Internet browsers/Internet explorer

3
What is the Internet?

• Network of networks
• No overall organization
• Content determined by participants
• Today synonymous with WWW

4
Most popular uses of the internet
5
Browsing

• Research
• Finding people
• Playing games
• Reading newspapers and magazines
• Banking
• Government information
• Job searching
• Shopping
• Downloading programs or files

6
Email

• Electronic mail
• Non-secure
• Client software company or ISP
• Resides on computer
• Needs special program (eg. Outlook, Eudora,
  Netscape Messenger)
• Not available in public libraries
• Advantage re contacts on web pages
• "Ottawa Public Library contacts, "
  (http//www.library.ottawa.on.ca/english/contact/i
  ndex.htm)

7
Email (cont.)

• Web-based email
• Program resides on web page
• Free service
• Available from any internet computer
• Must go to website to send/receive mail
• Attached files may be problem

8
Chat

• Used most often by children and teens
• Safety precautions necessary
• Wide variety of chat rooms/subjects
• dir.yahoo.com/computers_and_internet/internet/worl
  d_wide_web/chat/
• Should monitor first
• IRC, web-based and instant messenger

9
Web-based chat

• Most common with improvements in bandwidth
• Kind used in libraries
• Need plugin or applet to use so not all will work
• Available from many websites

10
Other functions

• Usenet
• Newsgroups (groups.google.com)
• Telnet
• Joining another computer system
• Often used for receiving non web-based email
• Ftp
• Site set up to distribute files (called anonymous
  ftp)

11
Browsers

• Way to view html documents (URLs)
• Often needs plugins for multimedia applications
• 3 main browsers
• Internet Explorer (Microsoft)
• Netscape Navigator (Communicator)
• Opera (independent company known for efficient
  design, linked to Qualicum)

12
Web Pages

• Effects and display different in different
  browsers
• Applications not always available on public
  computers
• URL (address) starts with name of server or host
  computer separated from the domain name (sponsor
  of the site) by a period. After domain name have
  a period and then the type of domain (eg. gov
  mean U.S. government, mil mean U.S. military, com
  refers to commercial site, edu a university site,
  org a non-profit organization and gc.ca Canadian
  federal government)

13
Web pages cont.

• Frames
• Scroll bars within page (up and down and side to
  side)
• Address in address bar belongs to host site
  instead of displaying actual address
• Printing will print frame unless text clicked on
  before printing.

14
Internet Explorer

• Ways to access a Web page or URL
• Address bar (type in or use drop-down menu)
• Open file (website or file)
• Hypertext links (look for hand cursor)
• Bookmarks/Favourites (not available in library)
• Personal links (not available in library)

15
Internet Explorer menu bar

• File
• New (CTL N) New window
• View two pages at once or waiting for new page
• Keep to minimum
• Open (CTL O) File or web page
• Saving web pages
• Html (open in browser)
• Text (for word processor and email)
• Print Page one to see no. of pages or selection
  (new version of IE has Print Preview)

16
Practice

• Open a new screen
• Use File menu to open http//www.ithaca.edu/librar
  y/training/useful.html
• Save this web page as an HTML file on your desktop

17
Internet Explorer menu bar (cont.)

• Edit
• Find (CTL-F)
• View
• Go To
• Stop (ESC)
• Refresh (F5) www.globeinvestor.com
• Source
• Text size
• Encoding (for non roman alphabets)

18
Practice A

• Minimize the screen
• Open How Can You Find Anything web page which
  you saved on the desktop
• Find the words EDGAR
• Click on that hyperlink

19
Practice B

• Type the following URL in the address bar
  http//www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/
• Click on Stop after a few seconds to halt
  downloading graphics

20
Tool bars

• Back and forward buttons
• Stop
• Refresh
• Home (choose wisely)
• Search
• History
• Print

21
Bookmarks/Favourites

• Way to keep track of useful websites
• Not available on library machines
• Should have organizational structure
• Personal links for heavily used sites

22
Bookmarks/Favourites (cont)

• Add to favourites
• Create in (choose folder or create a new one)
• Make sure correct folder is highlighted when
  creating subfolder or favourite
• Press create in
• If you already see the list of folders you only
  have to highlight the relevant folder and click
  on the OK button

23
Further study

• Carroll, Jim. Canadian Internet new user's
  handbook. 004.678 C319c 1999
• The Internet handbook for writers, researchers,
  and journalists. 004.678 I612 2000
• Snell, Ned. Sams teach yourself Internet and web
  basics all in one. 004.678 S6715s
• Kent, Peter. The complete idiot's guide to the
  Internet. 004.678 K37 2001

24
Further Study Videos

• The interconnected world of Internet basics
  V004.678 I61
• Teach yourself Internet Explorer 5.0 V005.713769
  I5v
• Internet 1-2-3-- getting on-line V004.67 I616
• An Introduction to Microsoft Internet Explorer
  V005.71369 I5Lib

25
Further Study Websites

• Internet 101 http//www.internet101.org/internet10
  1.html
• Exploring the Web http//www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/int
  ernet/explore.htm
• Browsing Basics Internet Explorer
  http//www.websearchguide.ca/tools/IE5Win/navfram.
  htm