Using the Internet: Making the Most of the Web’s Resources
James B. DangAssociate Professor/Department Chair of Computer Science Southeast Campus
History of the Internet
Developed for secure military communicationsEvolved from Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET)Funded by the U.S. government in the 1960sEnabled computers at leading universities and research organizations to communicate with each other
The Web vs. the Internet
The Web is part of the Internet, distinguished by
Common communication protocolsHyperlinks
1989: Web invented by Tim Berners-Lee1993: Mosaic browser released1994: Netscape Navigator marked beginning of the Web’s major growth
Internet Communications
E-mailInstant messagingVoice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)Group communication
Electronic mailAsynchronous communicationTypes of e-mail accounts
Client-basedWeb-based
Not privateCan be printed or forwardedEmployer can monitor
Instant MessagingReal-time, text-based conversationsPersonal and business usesList of contacts: buddy listIM software detects members’ presence Example: AOL Instant Messenger
Voice over Internet Protocol
VoIP: Using the Internet to place phone callsUses technology similar to e-mail to send voice data digitally Requires speakers, a microphone, an Internet connection, and a VoIP provider
Voice over Internet Protocol
VoIP services differ:Free services require an account on both endsPaid services connect phone to computerCable/DSL providers offer phone through broadbandWi-Fi IP phones call through Internet hotspots and wireless networks
Voice over Internet ProtocolAdvantages
Free or low cost PortabilityConvenience
DisadvantagesLower sound qualityLess reliabilityLoss of service when power is interruptedSecurity issues
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Group Communication
Chat roomsNewsgroupsListservsBlogs and vlogsWikisPodcasts and webcastsSocial networks
Chat Rooms
Real-time, text-based conversationsRooms can focus on specific topics or interests or be general interestIdentity protection
Username can allow anonymous interaction
Netiquette: rules of polite interaction
Newsgroups and Listservs
NewsgroupsOnline discussion forumsMembers post and reply to messagesCreate or respond to “threads”
ListservsElectronic mailing lists of people interested in a topic Threads are sent as e-mailsLess public than newsgroups
Social Networks
Online personal and business networks
Examples include Facebook , MySpace, and LinkedIn
Members share common interestsMembers communicate by voice, chat, IM, videoconference, and blogs Growth has been explosive
Web 2.0 Web interactions between people, software, and dataSocial web where the user is also a participantNew applications that combine the functions of multiple applications
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What is Web 2.0?
A term describing the trend in the use of World Wide Web technology and web design that aims to enhance creativity, information sharing, and, most notably, collaboration among users. These concepts have led to the development and evolution of web-based communities and hosted services, such as social-networking sites, wikis, blogs, and folksonomies (social tagging). Wikipedia
Blogs and VlogsPersonal journals posted on the WebWeblogs: blogs
Primarily text-basedSimple to create, read, and manageEntries listed on a single page, with most recent entry at the topSearchable
Video logs: vlogsDigital video clips playable on media player software
Wikis
Wikis: Web sites that allow anyone to change their content
Provide a source for collaborative writingEliminate exchanging e-mailsTrack revisions
Podcasts
Podcasts: Compressed audio or video files distributed on the InternetReally Simple Syndication (RSS) technology allows constant updates for subscribersPodcasts are all over the Web
Need “aggregator” software to gather podcastsNeed media player software to play them
Simple to create
Webcasts
Webcasts: Broadcasts of audio or video content over the Internet
Often liveDelivered to your computerUse streaming media
Topics on Web 2
Collaborative/Concurrent Word ProcessingMobile Desktops & Application SuitesMulti-Point Video ApplicationsCollaborative / Community ToolsSome fun stuff
Collaborative Word Processing
Adobe Acrobat (Buzzword)*Zoho (Sharing)Google Docs (Sharing)
* Buzzword facilitates concurrent editing
Mobile Desktops & Application Suites
Zoho Glide (Still in beta)AirSet (Still in beta)ThinkFreeG.ho.stGoogle Docs
Multi-Point Video Applications
Elluminate vRoomooVooAdobe Acrobat (ConnectNow)SkypeGlide
Collaborative / Community Tools
PbwikiZoho WikiBloggerAirSet (wiki & blog)Zoho Suite (wiki)
Fun Stuff
PandoraToonDooVoki