Computer, Internet, Web, and E-Mail Basics

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Computer, Internet, Web, and E-Mail Basics
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Chapter Contents

• Section A Computer Basics
• Section B Internet Basics
• Section C Web Basics
• Section D E-Mail Basics

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Section A Computer Basics

• A Computer Is
• Computer Categories
• Personal Computer Systems
• Data, Information, and Files
• Application Software and Operating System Basics

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A Computer Is

• Device that accepts input, processes data, stores
  data, and produces output

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A Computer Is

• A stored program means that a series of
  instructions for a computing task can be loaded
  into a computers memory
• Allows you to switch between tasks
• Distinguishes a computer from other simpler
  devices

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Computer Categories

• Computers are categorized based on criteria such
  as usage, cost, size, and capability
• Microcomputer
• Personal computer
• Desktop computer
• Notebook computer
• Tablet computer

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Computer Categories

• Handheld computer
• PDA
• Workstation
• Computer network
• LAN
• Videogame console
• Nintendos GameCube
• Sonys PlayStation
• Microsofts Xbox

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Computer Categories

• Mainframe computer
• Processes data for hundreds of thousands of users
• Supercomputer
• One of the fastest computers in the world
• Server
• Supplies client computers with data

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Personal Computer Systems

• A computer system refers to a computer and all
  the input, output, and storage devices that are
  connected to it

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Personal Computer Systems
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Personal Computer Systems

• Peripheral devices enhance the functionality of a
  computer

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Data, Information, and Files

• Data becomes information when it is presented in
  a format that people can understand and use
• Digital format
• A file is a named collection of data that exists
  on a storage medium
• Data and executable files
• File names and file extensions

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Application Software and Operating System Basics

• Application software
• Set of computer programs that helps a person
  carry out a task
• System software
• Helps the computer system monitor itself and
  function efficiently
• Operating systems
• Microsoft Windows
• Mac OS

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Application Software and Operating System Basics

• Two of the most popular personal computer
  platforms are PCs and Macs
• PCs
• Based on the design for the IBM PC
• Macs
• Based on a proprietary design for the Macintosh
• PC and Mac platforms are not compatible

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Section B Internet Basics

• Internet Resources
• Internet Connections
• Internet Service Providers
• User IDs and Passwords

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Internet Resources

• The Internet is a collection of linked computer
  networks
• Main communication routes referred to as the
  Internet backbone
• TCP/IP

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Internet Resources

• Web sites
• Search engines
• Downloads and uploads
• P2P file sharing

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Internet Resources

• E-mail
• Bulletin boards
• Usenet
• Blogs
• Chat groups and instant messaging

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Internet Resources

• Internet telephony
• E-commerce
• Broadcasting
• Remote access and control

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Internet Connections

• Dial-up connection
• Simple and inexpensive
• Signals travel over phone lines
• Voiceband modem
• Cable Internet service
• Computer signals travel over cable TV lines
• Cable modem
• Always-on connection

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Internet Connections

• ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)
• Speeds are marginally better than dial-up
• DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)
• Up to 125 times faster than dial-up
• DSS (Digital Satellite Service)
• Average seed is 500 Kbps

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Internet Service Providers

• Maintains equipment to provide Internet access to
  subscribers
• Where to locate a list of ISPs
• Yellow Pages
• www.thelist.com
• Your computer maycontain a directory

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Internet Service Providers

• How to choose an ISP
• Geographical coverage
• Type of service
• Quality of service
• Cost of monthly service
• Cost of equipment and installation
• Extra services
• Customer service

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User IDs and Passwords

• Designed to provide access for authorized users
• A user ID serves as a persons unique identifier
• A password verifies your identity
• Case sensitive

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User IDs and Passwords

• Choosing a secure password

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Section C Web Basics

• The World Wide Web
• Browsers
• Search Engines

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The World Wide Web

• Collection of files that can be linked and
  accessed using HTTP
• The World Wide Web consists of
• Web pages
• Links
• Web sites
• Web servers

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The World Wide Web

• Every Web page has a unique address, or URL
• HTML is the standard format for Web documents

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Browsers

• Web browsers help you access Web pages
• Microsoft Internet Explorer
• Netscape Navigator
• Mozilla Firefox

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Browsers

• Common browser features

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Browsers

• Browsers fetch and display Web pages
• HTML tags tell the browser how to display
  information on the Web page

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Browsers
To copy a passage of text from a Web page,
highlight the text, click the Edit menu, then
select Copy. Next, switch to your own document
and use the Paste option.
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Search Engines

• Web site that helps you find information
• Different search engines return different results

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Search Engines

• A query describes the information you want to
  find
• Keywords describe the information youre trying
  to find
• Search operators describe the relationship
  between keywords

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Search Engines

• A topic directory is a list of topics and
  subtopics
• Arranged in a hierarchy

CLICK TO START
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Search Engines

• Search forms help you enter complex queries

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Search Engines

• Some search engines accept natural language
  queries
• Where can I find a review of The Producers?

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Section D E-Mail Basics

• E-mail Overview
• Netiquette
• Spam
• E-mail Technology

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E-Mail Overview

• Any person with an e-mail account can send and
  receive e-mail messages

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E-Mail Overview

• Basic e-mail activities
• Writing
• Reading
• Replying
• Forwarding

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E-Mail Overview

• E-mail attachments are files that travel with an
  e-mail message
• E-mail software converts e-mail attachments to
  MIME
• HTML-compliant e-mail software
• Additional e-mail features

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E-Mail Overview
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Netiquette

• Internet etiquette
• Meaningful subject
• Use uppercase and lowercase letters
• Check spelling
• Be careful what you send
• Be polite
• Be cautious with sarcasm and humor

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Netiquette

• Use smileys and text messaging shorthand
  cautiously
• Use the Bcc function for group mailings
• Dont send replies to all recipients
• Dont send huge attachments
• Explain attachments
• Stay alert for viruses
• Notify recipients of viruses

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Spam

• Unwanted electronic junk mail
• Dont reply
• Dont link
• Guard your e-mail address
• Use spam filters
• Automatically routes advertisements and other
  junk mail to appropriate folder
• Report spam
• Change your e-mail address

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E-mail Technology

• E-mail systems carry and manipulate e-mail
  messages
• E-mail servers
• Based on store-and-forward technology
• Three types of e-mail systems widely used today
• POP
• IMAP
• Web-based e-mail

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E-mail Technology

• Web-based e-mail accounts allow you to use a
  browser to access your e-mail messages

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E-mail Technology

• A POP server is a computer that stores your
  incoming messages until they can be transferred
  to your hard disk
• E-mail client software
• SMTP server