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INTERNET FACILITIES |
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There are many facilities offered by the Internet some of which are described below.
The World Wide Web
WWW or simply Web, is a way of accessing information over the medium of the Internet. It is an information-sharing model that is built on top of the Internet. The Web uses the HTTP protocol, only one of the languages spoken over the Internet, to transmit data. Web services, which use HTTP to allow applications to communicate in order to exchange business logic, use the Web to share information. The Web also utilizes browsers, such as Internet Explorer or Netscape, to access Web documents called Web pages that are linked to each other via hyperlinks. Web documents can also contain graphics, sounds, text and video.Many people think the Internet and World Wide Web are the same thing but they are not. You can find out the difference if you click here.
Electronic mail
E-mail is the system that enables transmission of messages from computer to computer over the Internet. You will find a full explanation on the e-mail Webpage.Telnet
A software program that allows you to log in to other remote computers on the Internet to which you have access. Once you are logged into the remote system, you can download files, engage in conferencing and perform the same commands as if you were directly connected by computer. You need an Internet account to be able to use a telnet program. Most I.S.Ps. offered TELNET/SHELL access as a standard feature in a webhosting package in 1994. Gradually this has become used less because it takes a lot more monitoring of web servers to maintain security.Usernet
A worldwide bulletin board system that can be accessed through the Internet or through many online services. The USENET contains more than 14,000 forums, called newsgroups, that cover every imaginable interest group. It is used daily by millions of people around the world.FTP
This is an acronym for File Transfer Protocol - a very common method of transferring one or more files from one computer to another. FTP is a specific way to connect to another Internet site to retrieve and send files. More information here.FTP was developed in the early days of the Internet to copy files from computer to computer. With the advent of the World Wide Web, and web browser software, you no longer need to know arcane FTP commands to copy to and from other computers. In your browser, you can use FTP by typing the URL into the location box at the top of your screen. For example, typing ftp://name.of.site/directory/filename.zip transfers the file filename.zip to your computer's hard disk. Typing ftp://name.of.site/directory/ gives you a listing of all the files available in that directory. If your web browser doesn't have built-in FTP capability, or if you want to upload files to a remote computer, you will need to use an FTP client program to transfer files. To use FTP, you need to know the name of the file, the computer where it resides, and the directory it's in. Most files are available via "anonymous FTP," which means you can log into the machine with the user name "anonymous" and use your e-mail address as your password.
Gopher
Gopher is a menu-driven Internet client. It allows the user to find information by clicking on a selection of choices. These may be links to other servers, directories or files. It indexes the many databases, online library catalogues, bulletin board systems and campus-wide information services available on the Internet, by subject, type of service or geographic location. Gopher finds data you want. You need a Gopher client program to run Gopher but if you don't have one there are public Gopher sites.Internet Relay Chat
This service provides a way of communicating in real time with people from all over the world. It consists of various separate networks of IRC servers, machines that allow users to connect to IRC. The largest nets are EFnet (the original IRC net, often having more than 32,000 people at once), Undernet, IRCnet and NewNet. Generally, the user (such as you) runs a program (called a "client") to connect to a server on one of the IRC nets. The server relays information to and from other servers on the same net. Recommended clients: UNIX/shell, Windows, Macintosh. Once connected to an IRC server on an IRC network, you will usually join one or more "channels" and converse with others there. Conversations may be public (where everyone in the channel can see what you type) or private (messages between only two people, who may or may not be on the same channel). IRC is not a "game" you should treat people you meet on IRC with the same courtesy as if you were talking in person or on the phone. Each user is known on IRC by a "nick" such as "smartgal" or "FunGuy".The Mailto Uniform Resource Locator
A facility which allows you to pre format a message by supplying the address of the person to whom you are sending the message, the subject, the body of the message, also preset mailto:URLs of people you wish to send a copy (cc) and/or other preset mailto:URLs of people whom you wish to send a blind copy (bcc). If you wish to send a message on a preset form click: please send e-mail.I used JavaScript to generate the "mailto" preset message. To learn more about how I achieved this please visit this excellent site: http://www.webreference.com/js/tips/001023.html
The simplest use is to specify the address to where the e-mail should be sent. If you would like to send me an e-mail to let me know what you really think of my Website please click on my mailto: URL [email protected].
Bookmarks
A way of storing Website addresses to enable them to be found quickly at a later date. On Netscape they are called "Bookmarks" but on Microsoft Internet Explorer they are referred to as "Favorites".Local Files
In networks, "local" refers to files, devices, and other resources at your workstation. Resources located at other nodes on the networks are "remote". Local-area networks (LANs) are computers which are geographically close together, for instance in the same building.Mailing List
A mailing list is a way of having a group discussion by electronic mail and distributing announcements to a large number of people. A mailing list is very much like a conference on a Bulletin Board System, except that the conversation comes to you in your e-mail box. Each time you or any member of the list posts a reply to the conversation, it is distributed to the e-mail box of every member of the list. All of this traffic is automated and managed by programs called mailing list managers (MLMs). The two most frequently used programs are Listserv and Majordomo. An example of the use of a mailing list can be seen if you click here.File Compression
A facility which reduces the size of a file, which will then take less time to download. Compression software replaces the data with smaller codes that take up less room. To view compressed files, you need a compatible decompression program that can read these codes and convert the data back to its original form.The most common compressed files are those with extensions such as .zip, .sit and .tar.
To decompress a .zip file you need an utility like WinZIP or PKUNZIP.
For more details click file compression.
Open Access Remote Servers
A server that is dedicated to handling users that are not on a Local Area Network but need remote access to it. The remote access server allows users to gain access to files and print services on the LAN from a remote location. For example, a user who dials into a network from home using an analog modem or an ISDN connection will dial into a remote access server. Once the user is authenticated he can access shared drives and printers as if he were physically connected to the office LAN.The ability to log onto a network from a distant location. Generally, this implies a computer, a modem, and some remote access software to connect to the network. Whereas remote control refers to taking control of another computer, remote access means that the remote computer actually becomes a full-fledged host on the network. The remote access software dials in directly to the network server. The only difference between a remote host and workstations connected directly to the network is slower data transfer speeds : ACCESS REMOTE SERVERS
Newsgroups
To participate in a newsgroup you must first subscribe to it. There are tens of thousands of newsgroups (also called forums) and some have been in existence since the Internet began. They enable people to post questions and answers to each other on almost any subject. Newsgroups enable people to get together on the Internet and discuss specific subjects which interest them e.g. wireless technology, gardening, kite flying, astronomy - in fact every topic under the sun! You can read what others have written then post your own reply.Some illustrations and explanations can be seen in a document by clicking newsgroups. Useful information explaining how to use Newsreaders to navigate Newsgroup threads can be found on an excellent Website called www.learnthenet.com.
Netiquette
Netiquette is a set of rules which guide Internet users how to behave on the Internet. You can read all about these rules by visiting: The Netiquette Guide.Internet use in Commerce
Commerce is now dependant on the Internet for communication with customers and suppliers. Advertising on the Internet is used by most successful businesses. A Website is essential for companies, first of all to let people know about the goods and services they have to offer, then taking orders from customers.Dedicated Web Server
This is a single computer devoted to the needs of one cumstomer. This allows faster access to information and provides better security. Dedicated servers are more reliable than a shared server because there is not a large number of other Websites competing for the use of a CPU, memory or hard disk. Therefore the Website is loaded quicker and is more secure.Most companies find e-commerce is the best way to run a successful enterprise in this modern environment. It is therefore essential to have an efficient Website. Complex Websites need a dedicated server to provide speedy connections and maximum security. Online customers expect quick service and complete security.
More information can be found at: www.dedicated-server-colocation-uk.com/
Website Support Offered by ISPs
Most Internet Service Providers provide free webspace but if you need a large site they will charge you a fee. Some ISPs provide web building tools to create a website. Technical support can be obtained from ISPs by e-mail or telephone.Intranet
What is the difference between Internet and Intranet? The internet is a worldwide network of computers all sending information back and forth. An intRAnet is an internal company network. Many companies operate intranet sites that are designed to help information flow within a company. However, because quite often information on an intranet is of no use, little interest or confidential to outside users, they aren't usually accessible to Jo public. To make matters more confusing there are also EXTRAnets, which I think are intranets just between two company sites that are apart from each other (eg an office in N.Y. and an office in London). These use more impressive technology like VPN (virtual private networks) to keep information between the two private and inaccessible to others. You can read more interesting information about the Intranet if you click here.Copyright Laws
There are gray areas when it comes to copyright laws in cyberspace. When constructing a website and you want to pass on information you have gained from another website to visitors to yours, it is legitimate to link to the other website. You can do this without permission although netiquette dictates that you notify the administrators or creators of the site that you are linking to their page.Graphics and animations are protected by copyright laws but if you get permission from the copyright owner they can be used.
If you would like more information go to Megalaw.com.
