Whats So Great About The Internet

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Whats So Great About The Internet?

• Center for Rural Studies, 1998
• http//crs.uvm.edu

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Session Overview

• Electronic Mail (E-Mail)
• Mailing Lists (Listserv)
• News Groups (UseNet)
• The World Wide Web

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Electronic Mail (E-mail)

• Method of sending and receiving information
  electronically
• Fast and convenient
• E-mail can provide a quick and affordable way to
  communicate information between groups of people
  without the restrictions of many of the other,
  more traditional communication methods.

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The E-mail Address

• Like the normal mail system, to send electronic
  mail to someone, they must have an address or
  post box to receive it.
• The form is significant.
• Example mhathawa_at_zoo.uvm.edu

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Anatomy of an E-mail Message

• Header who, when, what
• Body text of the message
• Signature files attached to the base of the
  message
• Attachments can be fully formatted documents

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Examples of Applications

• Person to Person Communication
• Distribution Lists
• Information Requests

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E-mail Considerations

• Attaching Files
• Need to consider the size of the file, and the
  ability of the recipient to receive and view the
  file.
• Checking Mail
• Once you obtain and start to distribute your
  E-mail address you need to commit to checking
  your E-mail on a regular basis.

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Mailing Lists (Listserv)

• Method for discussion of common hobbies or
  interests.
• Users can subscribe to lists allowing them to
  post messages as well as receive all messages
  posted by other subscribers.
• Literally thousands and thousands of Lists
  available.

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Mailing Lists (Listserv)
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Mailing List Applications

• TOWNS List hosted by UVM
• Subscription Information
• Send message to LISTSERV_at_LIST.UVM.EDU
• In the body of the message type
• subscribe towns yourname, yourtown, yourposition
• Host a List for you town or office?
• Personal Interests?
• Find lists at http//www.liszt.com/
• Searchable index of over 89,000

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News Groups (UseNet)

• World-wide distributed discussion system.
• Consists of newsgroups with names classified by
  subject
• Ability to post and view messages and
  articles
• Approximately 60,000 Newsgroups in existence
• UseNet can be accessed through newsreader
  software, most WWW browsers, and E-mail.
• Can access any news group as long as you have a
  news reader.
• To access the information on and participate in a
  mailing list, you need to subscribe.

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News Groups (UseNet)
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News Group Applications

• Search for Newsgroups related to
• Access issues (ADA)
• Land use etc.
• Start a Newsgroup for your town or office?
• Personal Interests?
• Check with your ISP about a news server

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The World Wide Web

• System that allows users to interact with
  documents stored on computers around the world.
• The WWW is client/server based.
• Allows for graphics, sound, video, and
  client/server interaction. .

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Browsing The World Wide Web

• A WWW browser is the software that enables you to
  use your computer (client) to look at documents
  on another computer (server).
• Several different browsers available, such as
  Netscape and Internet Explorer
• Most will have the same basic functions and
  features

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Basic Browser Functions and Features

• A window displaying the current WWW page
• A row of buttons at the top of the window.
• Home button
• Back and Forward buttons
• Stop button
• Options/Preferences Menu.
• Bookmarks/Favorites

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State and Local Information Resources

• State of Vermont http//www.vt.state.us
• State agencies, departments, legislatave and
  judicial branches
• Secretary of State http//www.sec.state.vt.us
• Elections, guides, Municipal Monthly, Municipal
  Web Sites
• Center for Rural Studies http//crs.uvm.edu
• Economic, education, and community development
• VermontWeb http//www.vermontweb.com
• One of several comprehensive indexes of Vermont
  sites
• Maybe your town on the Web?
• Town offices http//www.vermont-towns.org/
• Chamber of Commerce

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Searchable Databases and Interactive Resources

• Searchable Databases
• Secretary of State Elections, Lobbyists, Notary
  Publics, Businesses
• General Code Publishers Corp
• http//www.generalcode.com
• Searchable index of municipal ordinances
• GIS Interactive Mapping
• School Report Mapping System
• http//geo-vt.uvm.edu/schlrpt
• Interactive Mapping of VT School Report data
• Census Data http//www.census.gov

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Learning Opportunities

• Courses over the Web
• Learning On Line University http//www.lolu.org
• Virtual University http//www.vu.org
• Guides Tutorials

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Searching

• Subject Indexes
• Yahoo http//www.yahoo.com
• Search Engines
• AltaVista http//www.altavista.digital.com
• Concept Searching
• Excite http//www.excite.com
• People/Maps/Driving Directions
• Yahoo http//www.yahoo.com
• Infospace http//www.infospace.com
• Mapquest http//www.mapquest.com

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Conferencing

• Web Conference
• Much like Newsgroups
• More control/protection
• Example http//geo-vt.uvm.edu/enter.htm
• Audio Visual Conferencing
• Ability to have voice and video
• Application Sharing
• Live time chat

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Cool Useful Stuff

• News
• MSNBC http//www.msnbc.com
• CNN http//www.cnn.com
• Newspapers http//www.gt.kth.se/publishing/news.h
  tml
• Sports
• ESPN http//espn.sportszone.com/
• Weather
• Eye on the Skyhttp//www.genghis.com/fairbanks/mu
  seum/neweather.htm
• LSC http//apollo.lsc.vsc.edu/weather/vtwx.html
• Weather Channel http//www.weather.com

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Cool Useful Stuff

• Commercial Enterprise
• Realestate
• Automotive
• Specialty Products
• Books
• Live Cameras
• Tommy's List of Live Cam Worldwide
• http//chili.rt66.com/ozone/cam.htm

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Cool Useful Stuff

• Finding More
• Yahoo http//www.yahoo.com
• Infoseek http//www.infoseek.com