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INTERNET
The Internet is a system that lets computers all over the world talk to each other.

The Internet was originally developed by the US Dept. of Defense to be a military communication system that could survive a nuclear war.

Today, however, support for the Internet comes almost entirely from commercial sources.

Although some agencies and countries try to regulate the Net it is largely an example of anarchy... at its best and worst.
 

ADVANTAGES OVER OTHER COMMUNICATION SOURCES
POSTAL MAIL (Snail Mail) takes days or weeks to deliver letters and requires stamps, envelopes, mailboxes, delivery personnel, etc.

TELEPHONE: The other person has to be there to answer and available to talk

FAX: Faxes are delivered in hardcopy which is often hard to read and hard to work with on computer.

PUBLIC LIBRARY: You have to go there to find information and very often the material you require is checked out.

NEWSPAPER: The paper decides what is released as news and they often put their spin on it.
 


OTHER ADVANTAGES OF THE INTERNET
  • Its democratic nature
  • People can carry on communication even if they are never at their computers at the same time
  • It is text based, forcing people to communicate in writing
  • Relatively low cost
  • Lack of geographic boundaries
  • Capacity to bring people together with similar interests
  • Offers instant gratification
    • SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE INTERNET
  • Electronic Mail (e-mail)
  • Newsroups or Bulletin Boards - messages posted at a site... you can respond
  • Mailing lists - everyone in the group has a common interest and all get e-mail
  • Capability to log onto other computers
  • Access to files from remote computers
  • Online database searching
  • Discussions with other people
  • Access to the information system of the 21 Century: The World Wide Web
  • Multimedia broadcasts
  • Internet radio
  • Video and/or Voice conferencing
  • Secure financial transactions
  • Wireless connections
    • WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO WITH THE INTERNET
  • Send messages worldwide at almost no cost
  • Learn the latest developments in countless fields of interest
  • Discuss major and minor issues of the day
  • Search card catalogues of the world's greatest libraries
  • Get instant information on every conceivable topic
  • Meet new people
  • Keep track of what the government and other agencies and countries are up to
  • Shop Shop Shop
  • Find a Job or Employee
  • Take classes
  • Express yourself... Low cost publishing
    • GETTING STARTED

    All you need is an Internet connection and a program called a Web browser. The browser displays the various types of info on the web and navigates you through it.
    HYPERTEXT LINKS are buit into webpage documents. They appear in a distinct colour and/or are underlined. When you click on a hypertext link, your Web browser displays the document that the link points to.

    Back to
    Internet for Educators Contents Page
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