Technology In Action

Technology In Action

Technology In Action Chapter 3 Using the Internet: Making the Most of the Web’s Resources

Topics • Internet communications • Internet multimedia • E-Commerce • Online annoyances • Web browsers • URLs • Hyperlinks

More Topics • Search engines • Web site evaluation • Internet data • Internet service providers • Internet basics • Origin of the Internet • Future of the Internet

Internet Communications • The Internet • The largest computer network in the world • A network of networks, connecting billions of computer users • It is thought that nearly 150 countries have some form of connection to the Internet • Internet Uses: • Communication – Primary usage • Shopping • Searching for information • Fun

Internet Communications • Instant Messaging • Voice over Internet (VoIP) • Weblogs • Podcasts • Webcasts and Wikis • Chat Rooms • Newsgroups • E-mail

Instant Messaging • Programs that enable you to communicate in real time with others who are also online • When you use IM • You set up a list of contacts • Buddy list • To communicate with someone from your buddy list, that person must be online at the same time

Instant Messaging • When someone is trying to communicate with you when you are online • You are notified • You can then accept orreject the communication • You can also holdsimultaneous individual conversations • If you all want to talk together you can create custom IM chat rooms

Voice over Internet Protocol • VoIP – A form of voice-based Internet communication that turns a standard Internet connection into a means to place phone calls, including long distance phone calls • Uses technology similar to e-mail to send voice data digitally

Voice over Internet Protocol • Requires • Speakers • A microphone • An Internet connection • A VoIP provider • www.skype.com • Requires that both the person placing the call and the person receiving the call have its free software installed on their computers • www.vonage.com • Lets you use your own telephone (instead of the speakers and microphone system) by connecting your phone to a special adapter that the company provides

Voice over Internet Protocol • Services differ • Free services require an account on both ends • Paid services connect phone to computer • Cable and DSL providers offer phone through broadband • WiFi IP phones call through Internet hotspots and wireless networks

Weblogs (blogs) • Personal logs, or journal entries that are posted on the Web • Available to the public • Simple to create, read, and manage • Entries listed on a single page with themost recent entry at the top • Searchable • Some are personal • Many are focused on a topic

Podcasts • Video blog (vlog) • A clip of audio or video content that is broadcast over the Internet using compressed audio files such as MP3s • Radio shows • Audio books and magazines • Educational programs

Podcasts • You must subscribe to be able to access the most current version of the online content which is delivered to your computer automatically so that you can listen to the content when you want

Podcasts • You can listen to the content on your computer by using a media player • RealPlayer • Windows Media Player • You can transfer the content from your computer to a portable device • iPod

Podcasts • Uses RSS (Really Simple Syndication) technology • An XML-based format that allows frequent updates of content on the World Wide Web • Requires “aggregator” software to gather podcasts • Software programs that go out and grab the latest update of Web material according to your specifications

Podcasts • Can be found all over the Web • Most newspapers, TV news, and radio sites offer podcasts of their programming • Some popular TV shows are available via Podcasts • Some web sites allow you to download entire books so that they can be listened to anywhere

Podcasts • Education • Many schools are beginning to recognize this format as a means to supply students with course content updates • Instructors are creating podcasts of their lectures

Webcasts • Webcasts • Broadcast of audio/visual content over the Internet • Not updated automatically • The most current content must be located manually by the user and then downloaded • Use streaming media technology to facilitate the viewing and downloading process of large audio and video files.

Webcasts • Webcasts • Can include noninteractive content • A simulcast of a radio or TV broadcast • Recently webcasts have initiated interactive responses from the viewing or listening audience • Also used in the corporate world to broadcast annual meetings and in the educational arena to transmit seminars

Wikis • Wikis • A Web site that allows anyone to change its content by adding, removing, or editing the content • www.wikipedia.org • The content is updated continuously and kept accurate by the many expert eyes that view the content • In late 2005, Wikipedia content was measured for accuracy in its scientific content and was found to be as accurate as the Encyclopedia Britannica

Wikis • Wikis • Provide an excellent source for collaborative writing both in and out of the classroom • Like blogs, wikis can be used to express thoughts and opinions about certain topics • Unlike blogs, wikis can be edited and therefore maintain a more “common” opinion, rather than the direct expressed opinion of the initial individual writer

E-mail • Electronic mail • A written messagethat is sent and received over electronic communication systems • The message can beformatted and enhanced with graphics as well as include other files as attachments • The primary method of electronic communication because its fast and convenient and reduces the cost of postage and long-distance phone calls

E-mail • What is needed • A computer • An Internet connection • An e-mail account

E-mail • E-mail software • Client-based • Accessible only from the computer on which it is installed • Web-based • Accessible from any computer with Internet access • Spam • Prevention

Chat Rooms • An area on the Web where many people come together to communicate online • The conversations occur in real time and are visible to everyone in the chat room

Chat Rooms • Focus on specific topics or interests • Identity protection • Username • Password

Chat Rooms Vs IM • When you use IM services, you have private conversations with people you know • With Chat Rooms, anyone who enters the chat room can take part in the conversation

Chat Rooms • General rules of etiquette (Netiquette) • Obvious standards of behavior • Introducing yourself when you enter a chat room • Specifically address the person you are talking to • Users are also expected to refrain from • Swearing • Name calling • Using explicit or prejudiced language • Harassing other participants • Users cannot post the same text repeatedly with the intent to disrupt the chat

Newsgroups • Online discussion forums in which people create threads, or conversations • In a thread, a newsgroup member will post messages and read and reply to messages from other members of the newsgroup

Newsgroups • Newsgroup directory • www.tile.net/news

LISTSERVS • Electronic mailing lists of e-mail addresses of people who are interested in a certain topic or area of interest • Listservs have been replaced to some extent by newsgroups

Social Networking • Social networkingsites like MySpace.com • Members share common interests • Members communicate by voice, chat, instant message, video, and blogs • Members create personalized profiles • Growth has been explosive • Risks must be recognized and reduced

Web Entertainment • Multimedia: • Involves forms of media and text • Graphics • Audio • Video • Streaming audio and video • Plug-in

Web Entertainment • Streaming Audio and Video • Continuously feeds an audio file and a video file to your browser so you avoid having to wait for the entire file to download completely before listening to it or viewing it

Web Entertainment • Plug-In • To view and hear some multimedia files on the Web, you a need special software program called a plug-in • Page 104 • For plug-ins you don’t have, the Web Site requiring the plug-in usually displays a message on the screen that includes links to a site where you can download the plug-in free of charge

Web Entertainment • Plug-In • Most plug-ins and players will alert you to check for and download upgrades when they are available

Web Entertainment • Plug-In • When a browser requires a plug-in to display particular web content, it usually automatically accesses the plug-in, generally without asking you for consent to start the plug-in • This automatic access can present security risks • To minimize such risks, update your plug-ins and browser software frequently so that you will have the most up-to-date remedies against identified security flaws

Web Entertainment • Loading Multimedia Files Faster • Your browser keeps track of the Web Sites you’ve visited so that it can load them faster the next time you visit them • This cache can make your Internet surfing more efficient, but it can also congest your hard drive • To keep your system running efficiently, delete your temporary internet cache periodically

Suppliers Retailer Manufacturer Conducting Business Over the Internet • E-Commerce (Electronic Commerce) • The business of conducting business online for purposes ranging from fund-raising to advertising to selling products • Grows in importance every day with billions of dollars worth of transactions B2B E-commerce

Suppliers Retailer Manufacturer Conducting Business Over the Internet • E-Commerce: • Business-to-consumer (B2C) • Transactions that take place between businesses and consumers • Purchases at online stores • Business-to-business (B2B) • Businesses buying and selling goods and services to other businesses B2B E-commerce

Suppliers Retailer Manufacturer Conducting Business Over the Internet • E-Commerce: • Consumer-to-consumer (C2C) • Consumers selling to each other through online auction sites B2B E-commerce

E-Commerce Safeguards • When you buy something over the Web, you most likely use a credit card • The exchange of money is done directly between you and a bank • Because online shopping eliminates a sales clerk or other human intermediary from the transaction, it can actually be safer than the traditional retail transaction • Because online shopping Spam – electronic junk mail

E-Commerce Safeguards • Businesses still must have some form of security certification to give their customers a level of comfort • Businesses hire security companies to certify that their online transactions are secure • VeriSign • If the Web site displays the VeriSign seal, you can usually trust that the information you submit to the site is protected

E-Commerce Safeguards • Another indication that a Web site is secure is • the appearance of s small icon of a closed padlock • The beginning of the URL of the site will change from http:// to https://, with the s standing for “secure”

E-Commerce Safeguards • To ensure that your online experience is a safe one: • Shop at well-known, reputable sites • www.bbb.org • www.bizrate.com • www.webassured.com • When you place an order, print a copy of the order and make sure you receive a confirmation number

E-Commerce Safeguards • To ensure that your online experience is a safe one: • Make sure the company has a phone number and street address in addition to a Web site. • Always pay by credit card • Check the return policy

Online Annoyances • As the Internet has grown, so have the annoying things on it • Some of these are dangerous and some merely annoying

Online Annoyances • Spam – electronic junk mail • Companies find your e-mail address either from a list they purchase or with software that looks for e-mail addresses on the Internet • If you’ve used your e-mail address to purchase anything online or to open an online account • If you’ve participated in a newsgroup or chat room • Create a free Web-based e-mail address that you use only when you fill out forms on the Web

Spam • Junk e-Mail • Spam filters • Can catch up to 95% of spam • Check incoming e-mail subjectheaders and sending addresses against databases of known spam

Technology In Action