Internet

What is the "INTERNET"?

Many computers all over the world inteconnected by phone lines, data lines, fiber optics, etc

Why is the Internet useful?

Computers connected to the internet contain software programs, information in the form of text, pictures, spounds, movie clips, etc., that can be accessed by anyone else who has a computer connected to the internet. (Electronic Library)
E-mail is sent over the internet.

How do you access the "Internet"?

Your computer must be connected to internet, through a modem, high speed line, etc.
In many cases you need the "address"of the remote computer you want to access.
You must have a computer program which allows you to access to internet.

What are some of these computer programs which allow you to access Internet?

Telnet
Fetch
Gopher
Mosaic
Mac Web
Netscape
FTP(File Transfer Protocol)
- At a prompt (FTP>) you must type a series of commands.
- The first command requires you to know the "address" of the remote computer.
- Next you must "log on" to the remote computer.
- Once logged on, other commands such as "dir", "read", "get", and "put" allow you to see what information is on the computer, transfer documents to your computer or transfer documents from your computer to theirs.

What is a "Web Browser"?

A computer program which allows you to browse the internet (Graphical User Interface).
Point and click operations.
It has "search engines", "bookmarks" and other navigating tools to keep you from getting lost.
Brings the information to you in an organized, graphical way through "homepages".
Each remote site writes and maintains their own homepage.
Homepages contain whatever information the author wants to convey.
All homepages are interconnected to other homepages by "links".
A click of the mouse on a "link" gets you to another homepage.