internet basics

Connect to the World!

Internet and the World Wide Web:The Basics

Thousand Oaks Library

Our goal is to answer these questions

• What is the Internet?• What is the World Wide Web?• What can I find on the Web?• Why should I use the Web?• What is a Web browser?• What is a hyper link?

… and help you …

• Use browser tools• Learn how to surf the Web

…and inspire you …

• To get online • and have fun!

A Network of Networks

The Internet is the largest group of

computers ever linked together.

Network of Computers - Serving out Information

Anarchy by DesignWorks!!

Client/Server Architecture

TCP/IP Protocol

A Connected Community

Cities and Towns =

Networks and

Servers

Connected by Roads

and Highways =

Cables and Wires

Connecting the World

Self Governing

Self Organizing

World Wide Web

•Collection of hypertext documents•Linked pages for easy movement•Graphics, images, audio, video, multi-media•The most popular part of the Internet

Why should you use the Web?

• Search the Library catalog and place holds on specific books

• Web-based E-Mail (e.g., Yahoo Mail, Hotmail, Gmail)

• Socialize (Chat rooms, IM, Forums or Message Boards)

• Job search• Current news• Academic research• Shop, trade, and sell• Driving directions and maps• Games• Phone numbers

• Tour museums• Listen to music• Watch videos• Read online books• Plan vacations• Consumer information• Finances (taxes,

investing, banking)• Health information• Genealogy research• Weather• Movie times• Sports and Entertainment

Who is putting information on the Web?

• Libraries• Individuals• Governments• Educational institutions• Non-profit organizations• Commercial companies

Web Browser

Used to locate and display Web pages

A software application

A choice of browsers

Most browsers have similar looks and functions

Use browser icon to open the browser

Multiple browsers can be opened on your desktop

Web Browser Icons

Internet Explorer Mozilla Firefox

Click the icon to open the browser.

Title BarMenu Bar

Navigation ToolbarAddress Bar

Display Area

Scroll Bar

Hyperlinks

Search Box

The Web Browser Screen

Web Addresses http://www.amazon.com http://ca.gov http://www.redcross.org

http://www.ucla.edu

URL basic address structure:http://www.toaks.org/library | | |Type Server File Name of address orService (Domain Name) Directory

GOING TO A WEB SITE: 1 - Enter a Web address. This is the most direct way of

opening, or going to, a Web page, if you know the Web address already.

• Highlight the current address in the Address Bar by clicking to the right of the address, or by clicking and dragging the mouse over the address.

• TYPE a new web site address in the same space. (You don’t need to delete the previous address.)

• Press the ENTER key on the keyboard. The browser will open the new Web page..

(Also, to GO BACK SEVERAL PAGES to a page visited earlier, click on the triangle at the right end of the “Address” bar.)

• Back/Forward Buttons: To go back to the previous page viewed, click on “BACK.” “FORWARD” brings you one screen ahead per click if you’ve gone back and want to come up again to where you’ve been.

3 – Tool Bar Controls

• Stop Button: While the network is retrieving a new page, an hourglass appears next to the pointer arrow, indicating that the Internet is trying to link to your new page. If it takes too long for you, click on “STOP” to stop the link from happening. Then try another link, try or the same one again.

• Refresh Button: If the page has rapidly changing information, such as a stock ticker, or ball game scores, but the screen does not change at all, click on “REFRESH.” Sometimes clicking on this button also might help a slow page come up, or a message might instruct you to hit Refresh to clear a network lag.

• Home Button: To go back in one step to the Homepage for the browser, click the HOME button.

• Search Button: To access the search engine chosen by the browser (or one you choose as your default), click on “SEARCH.” It will bring the browser to the homepage of the chosen search engine.

• Favorites Button: To retain a quick link to sites, store them in “FAVORITES.” Clicking this button opens up a frame on the left showing sites or sites within folders. You can click on the name or address of the site listed and it opens on the right.

To ADD a site to the Favorites list: Click on “ADD” and a window opens up with the site’s address or name as decided by the site maker. You may rename as you wish to make it memorable and short enough to fit.

Netscape™ uses the term “Bookmarks” instead of Favorites.

Favorites can also be accessed from the Menu Bar.

Hypertext: The Motion of the Web

Hyperlinks connect web pagesHyperlinks can be text or graphicsHyperlinks can be anywhere on the pagePoint to a link …Click the left mouse button

• The mouse pointer changes from an arrow to a hand when you have found a link. The link often changes color to let you know you have used it before.

There can be many types of links. Besides highlighted words, they can also be graphical elements. Here are a few of the common link designs.

Buttons -- round, square or rectangular signs, usually with obvious commands. Here are a few examples:

• Pictures -- Photos, cartoons, exaggerated letters, and other designs. Each of these images is a link to some other page:

Some of the links are advertisements – annoying and intrusive, but they help pay for the Internet!

• Ads are often banners at the top of pages, or sometimes at the edges, such as the ad below:

• Be careful! Some ads are disguised as search links, but link to the advertiser’s own site. For example, this site about the Academy Awards has placed its 0wn search boxes on the left. The “Message Alert” is actually an ad. Don’t click on it!

CLOSING THE BROWSER:

• To CLOSE the browser either click on the “X” in the upper right on the title bar, or drop down the “File” menu from the upper left and choose “Close” or “Exit.”

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