Computer Basics for Seniors, Part 2

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

2. Agenda • Definition of internet • Internet functions • Browsing • Email • Chat • Other • Internet browsers/Internet explorer

3. What is the Internet? • Network of networks • No overall organization • Content determined by participants • Today synonymous with WWW

4. Most popular uses of the internet

5. Browsing • Research • Finding people • Playing games • Reading newspapers and magazines • Banking • Government information • Job searching • Shopping • Downloading programs or files

6. Email • Electronic mail • Non-secure • Client software – company or ISP • Resides on computer • Needs special program (eg. Outlook, Eudora, Netscape Messenger) • Not available in public libraries • Advantage re contacts on web pages "Ottawa Public Library contacts, "(http://www.library.ottawa.on.ca/english/contact/index.htm)

7. Email (cont.) • Web-based email • Program resides on web page • Free service • Available from any internet computer • Must go to website to send/receive mail • Attached files may be problem

8. Chat • Used most often by children and teens • Safety precautions necessary • Wide variety of chat rooms/subjects dir.yahoo.com/computers_and_internet/internet/world_wide_web/chat/ • Should monitor first • IRC, web-based and instant messenger

9. 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

10. Other functions • Usenet • Newsgroups (groups.google.com) • Telnet • Joining another computer system • Often used for receiving non web-based email • Ftp • Site set up to distribute files (called anonymous ftp)

11. 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)

12. Web Pages • Effects and display different in different browsers • Applications not always available on public computers • URL (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)

13. Web pages cont. • Frames • Scroll 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.

14. Internet Explorer • Ways to access a Web page or URL • Address 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)

15. 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 pages • Html (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)

16. 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

17. Internet Explorer menu bar (cont.) • Edit • Find (CTL-F) • View • Go To • Stop (ESC) • Refresh (F5) www.globeinvestor.com • Source • Text size • Encoding (for non roman alphabets)

18. 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

19. 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

20. Tool bars • Back and forward buttons • Stop • Refresh • Home (choose wisely) • Search • History • Print

21. Bookmarks/Favourites • Way to keep track of useful websites • Not available on library machines • Should have organizational structure • Personal links for heavily used sites

22. Bookmarks/Favourites (cont) • Add to favourites • Create in (choose folder or create a new one) • Make sure correct folder is highlighted when creating subfolder or favourite • Press create in • If you already see the list of folders you only have to highlight the relevant folder and click on the OK button

23. Further study • Carroll, Jim. Canadian Internet new user's handbook. 004.678 C319c 1999 • The Internet handbook for writers, researchers, and journalists. 004.678 I612 2000 • Snell, Ned. Sams teach yourself Internet and web basics all in one. 004.678 S6715s • Kent, Peter. The complete idiot's guide to the Internet. 004.678 K37 2001

24. Further Study : Videos • The interconnected world of Internet basics V004.678 I61 • Teach yourself Internet Explorer 5.0 V005.713769 I5v • Internet 1-2-3-- getting on-line V004.67 I616 • An Introduction to Microsoft Internet Explorer V005.71369 I5Lib

25. 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