If you're new to the Internet, you
may be confused at many of the terms that come with it, such as hyperlink or
URL. Here's a brief glossary so you won't be lost reading about the Internet.
The Internet is a system connecting millions of computers
around the world. Its best known feature, the World
Wide Web, presents rich content,
including multimedia clips and even live radio and video. You view this content
on Web pages by using a Web browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer.
Typically the top-level page of a Web site is called the home page,
from which other pages branch off. When you start Internet Explorer, the first
page you see is also called your home page.
Getting around on the Internet
Each Web page has a specific address, sometimes known as a URL (uniform
resource locator). You can type the address to go directly to the page. It
indicates a number of things: for example, with http://www.microsoft.com, HTTP
(Hypertext Transfer Protocol), tells your computer how to communicate with the
Internet computer. (Hypertext is a method of writing content for the Internet.) WWW indicates
that the site is on the World Wide Web. The .com suffix indicates a commercial site (as .edu is used for educational institutions, or .org for
other organizations).
The commonest way to move around the
Web is by clicking text or pictures called links, or hyperlinks, which have addresses coded into them. Your
mouse pointer changes to a hand shape when it passes over a link. You can
either browse (surf) the Web at random or search for a page of
interest to you by using a search service, which can search the Internet for words you
specify. Also, portal sites (such as msn.com) contain preselected
links to popular pages.
Using the Internet safely
You may find pictures, sounds, or programs to download
(install) to your computer from the Internet. Security settings in Internet
Explorer help you download safely, to avoid unreliable software or viruses, and
to make online shopping or e-mail communication more secure. Also, because some
information on the Web may not be suitable for everyone, with Internet Explorer
you can control what sites are viewable from your computer.
Communicating on the Internet
In addition to the well known e-mail, you can use chat rooms
and newsgroups to connect with people around the world. In a chat room you conduct a
real-time typed conversation with one or more people, and in newsgroups
(sometimes aptly called bulletin boards) you read messages that have been posted, or
post your own. You can even make Internet phone calls using your computer!
Addresses:
From Today’s Papers
From Adverts, on TV or Radio – existing Interests, Business, purchases
Email Web Based Looking
for Info Using A Search Engine