Chapter 2

A. The Internet a. The Internet, also called the Net, is a worldwide collection of networks that links millions of businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, and individuals. b. The Internet has its roots in a networking project started by an agency of the U.S. Department of Defense. The goal was to build a network that allowed scientists at different locations to share information and work together on military and scientific projects and could function even if part of the network were disabled or destroyed by a disaster such as a nuclear attack. This became known as the ARPANET, which was functional in September 1969, linking researchers across the U.S. c. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) oversees research and sets standards and guidelines for many areas of the Internet. B. How the Internet Works a. Connecting to the Internet i. Dial-up access takes place when the modem in your computer uses a standard telephone line to connect to the Internet. It is slow-speed technology. ii. A cable modem allows access to high-speed internet services through the cable television network. iii. Fixed wireless high-speed Internet connections use a dish-shaped antenna on your house our business to communicate with a tower location via radio signals. iv. A Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) network uses radio signals to provide Internet connections to wireless computers and devices. v. A satellite modem communicates with a satellite dish to provide high-speed Internet connections via satellite. vi. Hot spots provide Wi-Fi Internet connections to users with mobile computers or devices. b. Access providers i. An access provider is a business that provides individuals and companies access to the Internet free or for a fee. Some Wi-Fi networks provide free access while others charge a per use fee. ii. An ISP (Internet service provider) is a regional or national access provider. A regional ISP usually provides Internet access to a specific geographic area. A national ISP is a business that provides Internet access in cities and towns nationwide. c. How data travels the internet i. The Internet backbone is a collection of major carriers of network traffic. d. Internet addresses

i. An IP address, short for Internet Protocol address, is a number that uniquely identifies each computer or device connected to the Internet. It usually consists of four groups of numbers, each separated by a period. ii. The domain name is the text version of an IP address. iii. A top-level domain is the last section of the domain name. It identifies the type of organization associated with the domain. C. The World Wide Web (www) a. Browsing the web i. A Web browser, or browser, is application software that allows users to access and view Web pages. ii. A home page refers to the first page that a Web site displays. iii. Downloading is the process of a computer receiving information, such as a Web page, from a server on the Internet. iv. Tabbed browsing is where the top of the browser displays a tab for each Web page you open. b. Web addresses i. A Web page has a unique address, which is called a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) or Web address. c. Navigating Web pages i. A link, short for hyperlink, is a built-in connection to another related Web page or part of a Web page. They allow you to obtain information in a nonlinear way. d. Searching for information on the Web i. Subject directories 1. Classifies Web pages in an organized set of categories and related subcategories. ii. Search engines 1. A program that finds Web sites, Web pages, images, videos, news, and other information e. Types of Web sites i. Portals 1. A Web site that offers a variety of Internet services from a single, convenient location ii. News 1. Contains newsworthy material including stories and articles iii. Informational 1. Contains factual information iv. Business/Marketing 1. Contains content that promotes or sells products or services v. Educational 1. Offers exciting, challenging avenues for formal and informal teaching and learning vi. Entertainment

1. Offers an interactive and engaging environment vii. Advocacy 1. Describes a cause, opinion, or idea viii. Blog 1. Short for Weblog, is an informal Web site consisting of time-stamped articles in a diary or journal format 2. Blogosphere refers to the worldwide collection of blogs 3. Vlogosphere refers to all vlogs worldwide ix. Wiki 1. Collaborative Web site that allows users to create, add to, modify, or delete the Web site content via their Web browser x. Online social networks 1. Also called a social networking Web site, is a Web site that encourages members in its online community to share their interests, ideas, stories, photos, music , and videos with other registered users xi. Content aggregator 1. Business that gathers and organizes Web content and then distributes, or feeds, the content to subscribers for free or a fee xii. Personal 1. A private individual or family not usually associated with any organization may maintain a personal Web site f. Evaluating a Web site g. Multimedia on the Web i. Graphics 1. Digital representation of nontext information such as a drawing, chart, or photograph 2. A thumbnail is a small version of a larger graphic. ii. Audio 1. Includes music, speech, or any other sound 2. The MP3 format reduces an audio file to about one-tenth its original size, while preserving much of the original quality of the sound. 3. The digital rights management (DRM) is a strategy designed to prevent illegal distribution of music and other digital content. 4. A player is special software that allows you to listen to an audio file on your computer. 5. Streaming is the process of transferring data in a continuous and even flow. iii. Video 1. Video consists of full-motion images that are played back at various speeds. 2. MP4 defines a popular video compression standard. iv. Virtual reality

1. The use of computers to simulate a real or imagined environment that appears as a three-dimensional space. v. Plug-ins 1. A program that extends the capability of a browser. h. Web publishing i. The development and maintenance of Web pages ii. Steps to Web publishing is as follows: 1. Plan a Web site. 2. Analyze and design a Web site. 3. Create a Web site 4. Deploy a Web site 5. Maintain a Web site i. E-commerce i. Short for electronic commerce, is a business that occurs over an electronic network such as the Internet ii. An electronic storefront contains product descriptions, graphics, and a shopping cart. iii. An online auction is when users bid on an item being sold by someone else. D. Other Internet Services a. E-mail i. Short for electronic mail, is the transmission of messages and files via a computer network ii. An e-mail program is used to create, send, receive, forward, store, print, and delete e-mail messages. iii. An e-mail address is a combination of a user name and a domain name that identifies a user so he or she can receive Internet e-mail. iv. An address book contains a list of names and e-mail addresses. b. FTP i. FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is an Internet standard that permits the process of file uploading and downloading with other computers on the Internet. ii. Uploading is the process of transferring documents, graphics, and other objects from your computer to a server on the Internet. c. Newsgroups and message boards i. A newsgroup is an online area in which users have written discussions about a particular subject. ii. A message board is a popular Web-based type of discussion group that does not require a newsreader. d. Mailing lists i. A mailing list is a group of e-mail names and addresses given in a single name. ii. To unsubscribe means that you are removing your name from the mailing list. e. Chat rooms i. A chat is a real-timed typed conversation that takes place on a computer.

ii. Real-time means that you and the people with whom you are conversing are online at the same time. iii. A chat room is a location on an Internet server that permits users to chat with each other. f. Instant messaging i. Instant messaging (IM) is a real-time Internet communications service that notifies you when one or more people are online and then allows you to exchange messages or files or join a private chat room with them. g. Internet telephony i. It is also called Voice over IP (Internet Protocol). It enables users to speak to other users over the Internet. E. Netiquette a. Short for Internet etiquette is the code of acceptable behaviors users should follow while on the Internet. b. Golden Rule: Treat others as you would like them to treat you. c. Netiquette: i. In e-mail , newsrooms, and chat rooms: 1. Keep messages brief. User proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation. 2. Be careful when using sarcasm and humor, as it might be misinterpreted. 3. Be polite. Avoid offensive language. 4. Read the message before you send it. 5. Use meaningful subject lines. 6. Avoid sending or posting flames, which are abusive or insulting messages. Do not participate in flame wars, which are exchanges of flame wars. 7. Avoid sending spam, which is the Internets version of junk mail. Spam is an unsolicited e-mail message or newsgroup posting sent to many recipients or newsgroups at once. 8. Do not use all capital letters, which is the equivalent of SHOUTING! 9. User emoticons to express emotion. 10. Use abbreviations and acronyms for phrases. 11. Clearly identify a spoiler, which is a message that reveals a solution to a game or ending to a movie or program. ii. Read the FAQ, if one exists. Many newsgroups and Web pages have a FAQ. iii. Do not assume material is accurate or up-to-date. Be forgiving of others mistakes. iv. Never read someones private mail.