keyboard
Internet: An Introduction
with emphasis on the Web.

Computing & Information Services Department.
editor: Jim Cerny (jim.cerny@unh.edu)

http://unhinfo.unh.edu/NIS/Courses/IntIntro/
04-NOV-1998

1. Web Browsing.

  • What is the Internet, anyway?
    • key thing to remember:
      you are enabled to be an information provider as well as information consumer.
    • metaphors:
      highways, libraries, elephants
    • components: computer, wires, rules, people, information.
    • services: Web, E-mail, News, FTP, Telnet, Gopher, IRC, MUDs.
    • representation as a diagram
    • ownership, size and growth, and where your service provider fits in.
  • The Web (aka World Wide Web or W3).
    • Web-speak: hyperlinks, HTML, HTTP.
    • client-server model.
    • format of addresses (URLs):
      http://www.state.nh.us/agency/stgovt.html
      protocol + host name + file name
    • concept of home pages.
    • emphasis on graphics as well as text.
    • some names: Vannevar Bush, Tim Berners-Lee, Marc Andreessen, Bill Gates.
    • what you need to access the Internet:
      network connection, terminal/workstation, Internet Service Provicer (ISP) with modem or hard-wired connection, TCP/IP software (e.g., Winsock), browser.
  • Browser features.
    • graphical browser (Netscape or Microsoft Internet Explorer)
    • non-graphical browser (Lynx)
    • all-purpose software tool for Web, E-mail, and more
    • use with both local and remote files
    • navigation buttons
    • local Find
    • use of bookmarks
    • configuring options
    • plug-ins and helpers
    • cache, cookies, and history information
  • Search engines.
    • popular search engines include:
      Yahoo, AltaVista, Metacrawler, DejaNews
    • full-text keyword indexing
    • compound expressions (Boolean AND, OR, NOT)
    • what is not indexed
    • other search tools and resources

2. Posting Messages.

  • E-mail.
    • addresses, aliases, how to find people.
    • individual mailings.
    • mailing lists.
    • user issues: privacy, authentication.
    • user agents: Pine, Eudora, Netscape, Internet Explorer.
    • client-server e-mail (POP and IMAP).
    • attachements (MIME).
  • Newsgroups.
    • compare and contrast with e-mail.
    • structure: hierarchies, newsgroups, threads, articles.
    • readers: trn, slrn, Netscape, Explorer, DejaNews.
    • culture issues: flames, signal-to-noise ratio, naughty bits.

3. Other Web Resources.

  • FTP remote logins (file transfer).
  • Telnet remote logins (interactive use).
  • Gopher (largely superseded by the Web).
  • IRC (interactive chat sessions).
  • MUDs (interactive artificial environments or games).

4. Techno-Socio-Politico Issues and Futures.

  • increasing capacity (bandwidth)
  • metered rather than fixed price charging
  • hot technologies
    • Java and JavaScript
    • encryption
    • virtual reality modelling
    • videoconferencing and virtual universities
  • risks
    • privacy and security of systems and transactions
    • intellectual property rights
    • child safety
  • commercialization of content providers
  • access and cost - haves and have-nots?
  • maintenance of open standards

5. Examples for Discussion.

See the additional Web aerobics list of interesting Internet sites and Val Harper's information server, plus our list of cool stuff on the Internet. 

http://www.unh.edu/
   UNHINFO, UNH's home page.
   [organizational home page]

http://www.kbb.com
   Kelley Car Blue Book.
   [consumer information]

http://webster.state.nh.us/
   NH State government.
   [government at work online]

http://vortex.plymouth.edu
   PSC weather center.
   [weather and Web-cam]

http://www.billg.org/secretdiary/main/index.htm
   The Secret Diary of Bill Gates.
   [spoof/humor]

http://www.yahoo.com/
   Yahoo search site.
   [search tool]

http://www.download.com/
   CNET's computer software find/download.
   [updating your computer]

http://www.adsnet.net/wickhamd/indexs.htm
   Public servants' Internet abuse.
   [who is watching you?]

http://www.adsnet.net/wichamd/indexs.html-ssi
   Federal Election Commission filings.
   [who is watching the watchers?]