Internet instructor: Shayna Keces 236-0302, ext. 441 Computer Basics for Seniors, Part 2 The Internet April 2004.

Internet instructor: Shayna Keces

236-0302, ext. 441

Computer Basics for Seniors, Part 2

The Internet

April 2004

Agenda

Definition of internet

Internet functionsBrowsing

Email

Chat

Other

Internet browsers/Internet explorer

What is the Internet?

Network of networks

No overall organization

Content determined by participants

Today synonymous with WWW

Most popular uses of the internet

Browsing

ResearchFinding peoplePlaying gamesReading newspapers and magazinesBankingGovernment informationJob searchingShoppingDownloading programs or files

Email

Electronic mailNon-secureClient software – company or ISP

Resides on computerNeeds special program (eg. Outlook, Eudora, Netscape Messenger)Not available in public librariesAdvantage re contacts on web pages

"Ottawa Public Library contacts, " (http://www.library.ottawa.on.ca/english/contact/index.htm)

Email (cont.)

Web-based emailProgram resides on web page

Free service

Available from any internet computer

Must go to website to send/receive mail

Attached files may be problem

Chat

Used most often by children and teens

Safety precautions necessary

Wide variety of chat rooms/subjectsdir.yahoo.com/computers_and_internet/internet/world_wide_web/chat/

Should monitor first

IRC, web-based and instant messenger

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

Other functions

UsenetNewsgroups (groups.google.com)

TelnetJoining another computer system

Often used for receiving non web-based email

FtpSite set up to distribute files (called anonymous ftp)

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)

Web PagesEffects and display different in different browsersApplications not always available on public computersURL (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)

Web pages cont.

FramesScroll 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.

Internet Explorer

Ways to access a Web page or URLAddress 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)

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 pagesHtml (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)

Practice

Open a new screen

Use File menu to open http://www.ithaca.edu/library/training/useful.html

Save this web page as an HTML file on your desktop

Internet Explorer menu bar (cont.)

EditFind (CTL-F)

ViewGo To

Stop (ESC)

Refresh (F5) www.globeinvestor.com

Source

Text size

Encoding (for non roman alphabets)

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

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

Tool bars

Back and forward buttons

Stop

Refresh

Home (choose wisely)

Search

History

Print

Bookmarks/Favourites

Way to keep track of useful websites

Not available on library machines

Should have organizational structure

Personal links for heavily used sites

Bookmarks/Favourites (cont)

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

Further study

Carroll, Jim. Canadian Internet new user's handbook. 004.678 C319c 1999The Internet handbook for writers, researchers, and journalists. 004.678 I612 2000Snell, Ned. Sams teach yourself Internet and web basics all in one. 004.678 S6715sKent, Peter. The complete idiot's guide to the Internet. 004.678 K37 2001

Further Study : Videos

The interconnected world of Internet basics V004.678 I61 Teach yourself Internet Explorer 5.0 V005.713769 I5vInternet 1-2-3-- getting on-line V004.67 I616 An Introduction to Microsoft Internet Explorer V005.71369 I5Lib

Further Study : Websites

Internet 101 http://www.internet101.org/internet101.html

Exploring the Web http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/internet/explore.htm

Browsing Basics – Internet Explorer http://www.websearchguide.ca/tools/IE5Win/navfram.htm