|
THE
WORLD AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Series: TECH.WOMAN. With so much news about the Internet, it's hard to ignore. And maybe you haven't. Perhaps you're already a wired woman like Donna Cunningham and Bethany Swain, who describe their on-line experiences below. But if you're among those who have yet to log on, here's a primer to send you out into the wired world. WELCOME TO THE WEB Getting connected First things first: You have to be connected to the Internet to get anywhere. There are many different ways to connect. Here are some options: - Dial-up modem (via phone line). Cheapest but slowest. - ISDN (integrated services digital network). Faster speeds at a reasonable price. - DSL (digital subscriber line). Faster than ISDN, wider bandwidth. - Digital cable connection. One of the fastest, not widely available. - Satellite. Very fast option for people in rural areas; very expensive, not widely available. Choosing an ISP Now that you have a connection to the Internet, you will need an Internet service provider (ISP). An ISP provides access to the Internet and other services like e-mail and Web site hosting. Some ISPs, like Juno and NetZero, offer free access. Web browsers Where ISPs allow you to log on to the Web, browsers let you point and click your way around. Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Explorer are two of the most popular browsers and typically come preinstalled on your computer. Once you find interesting Web pages, you can print them or bookmark them so you can return later. Surfing the Web So now you're on-line. Where do you want to go? If you know a Web site address, you can type it into your browser's address line and go directly there. This Internet address is called a URL, uniform resource locator. It includes a domain name (an identifying Internet name on the Web) and usually ends in .com (for commercial sites), .net (for networks), .org (for organizations) or .edu (for educational institutions). Search engines If you don't know a site's URL, you can look for it using a search engine. There are many free search engine sites available on the Internet, such as AltaVista, Lycos, Google, Northernlight and Mamma. Engines search the Web by looking for keywords. Want to learn about Western horseback riding? Type those words into a search engine like AltaVista, and you'll get hundreds of sites to explore. Found it, now download it Once at a web site, you can pull down the computer files (called downloading) to your machine. You can download pictures, programs or even music. Audio/video streaming technology allows you to play a song or video while you download it. On-line shopping Many Web sites are virtual storefronts for companies selling everything from books to camping gear. You can view products, check out sales and even buy on-line. E-commerce is a quick and easy way to shop. However, it's extremely important to make sure that the site you purchase from is secure, meaning that the data is encrypted to keep others from viewing your credit card information, for example, as it is transmitted. Send e-mail, save 33 (cents) Electronic mail (e-mail) allows you to send messages to users all over the Internet. E-mail addresses always include the @ sign and a domain name. Some companies, like Hotmail.com, offer free e-mail accounts. You can even append other computer files and send them along with your e-mail. These are called attachments. Electronic magazines also can be delivered as e-mail. Viruses Viruses are programs specifically designed to harm your computer files. Opening some e-mail attachments could infect your computer with a virus that erases all your files or disables your hard drive. To protect against a virus, install an up-to-date virus-checking program. You can buy anti-virus programs at computer stores or on- line. And don't open e-mail attachments from someone you don't know. On-line communities Interested in a specific subject like quilting, skiing or small business? Chances are there is an Internet newsgroup devoted to any subject you want to discuss. A newsgroup is an on-line discussion site or bulletin board. Messages are posted to a central Internet site and then redistributed to newsgroup users. Messages is usually sorted according to topic. Newsgroup users are expected to know basic Netiquette (Internet etiquette). Capitalizing all letters (the equivalent of shouting); spamming (sending out unsolicited mail to a large group); or flaming (giving someone a verbal lashing) is usually discouraged. Newsgroup users are asked to read the FAQ (frequently asked questions) before jumping into a group discussion. Modems Nearly every new computer comes with a 56K modem already built in. The K stands for 1,000, so that's 56,000 kilobytes of data being transferred per second at peak capacity. That might sound fast, but an industrial-strength T1 line transfers at almost 12 times that speed. WIRED WOMEN . . . LIFE ON-LINE Donna Cunningham, 34 Independent sales and management consultant in Hinsdale HIGH-TECH INVENTORY: Dell Dimension Desktop, Dell laptop, HP DeskJet printer, fax machine, Zip drive, cell phone, pager. Dial-up Internet service with e-mail. NEXT TECHNOLOGY PURCHASE: Wireless Palm organizer and scanner ("I'll use the scanner to scan in logos for my business, and pictures for my friends and family. I'll buy a Palm Pilot personal organizer so I can check my e-mail without having to carry around my laptop.") LIFE WITH TECHNOLOGY: "I absolutely couldn't imagine life without a computer. All my information is on there, like my phone and address books and all my financial stuff. I use e-mail more than I use a phone to keep in touch with people. I talk to my parents and sister all the time now through e-mail. I use the Internet for research, like when my dog had inflammatory bowel disease. I knew the questions to ask before going to the veterinarian. Ten years ago, I might have gone to the library, but the Internet saves me time and a ton of phone calls. To keep in touch with my clients, I put out a newsletter via e-mail, which saves me printing and mailing costs. I use Stamps.com so I don't have to go to the post office. I use Peapod for groceries." Bethany Swain, 28 Media and e-content sales representative for Perceptual Robotics, Inc. in Evanston HIGH-TECH INVENTORY: IBM ThinkPad 570 laptop for home and work, Nokia 6160 cell phone, Palm Vx, DSL Internet connection at home, laserprinter at home. NEXT TECHNOLOGY PURCHASE: Computer monitor for home, maybe a desktop computer for home. LIFE WITH TECHNOLOGY: "With the cameras, I live in front of the Web. I have a little Webcam on me at work, so I get e-mails from people all over the world saying, `Hey, wave to the camera.' My mom checks on me, and then e-mails me, saying, `Bethany, I can't believe you're wearing that at the office.' I order my groceries through Peapod on-line. Recently, I ran out of milk, and I realized that Peapod would take two days to deliver it, and I thought, how am I going to get milk? Then it occurred to me, oh, I can go to a store-- what a novel idea. I don't feel isolated by the computer or Internet. I do a lot of external things, so the Internet is more of a complement. I don't understand people who aren't on-line. I've been at bars talking to guys, and if they say they don't like computers I'll walk away thinking I don't think I can communicate with them. I never like giving out phone numbers, so I'll say, `Give me your e-mail address,' and if they don't have one, then too bad. It's a nice way to filter. Someone doesn't have to be actively using it, but at least I want to know they're willing. Once when my hairdresser said the Internet was a fad, I immediately switched salons. I'm very biased to it."
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission |