Competencies
At the end of this chapter you should be able to:
1 Discuss the origins of the Internet and the Web.
2 Describe how to access the Web using providers and browsers.
3 Discuss Internet communications, including email, instant messaging, and social networking.
4 Describe search tools, including search engines and metasearch engines.
5 Discuss electronic commerce, including B2C, C2C, B2B, and security issues.
6 Describe these Web utilities: Web-based application, FTP, plug-ins, and Filters.
7 Describe search tools, including search engines and metasearch engines
8 Discuss electronic commerce, including B2C, C2C, B2B, and security
9 Describe Web utilities: Web-based applications, FTP, plug-ins, and filters
Introduction
1 The Internet is often referred to as the Information Superhighway because it connects millions of people across the globe.
2 Unlike a typical highway, the Internet moves idea and information.
3 The Web provides an easy-to-use, intuitive interface to connect to the Internet and is used by millions of people every day.
The Internet and the Web
• Most developed network system currently in use; connects people all over the world
• Originally started in 1969 when US funded a research project (ARPANET—Advanced Research Project Agency Network)
• CERN – Center for European Nuclear Research
• World Wide Web (Web) is a part of the Internet – not the Internet; introduced in 1992 by consortium in Switzerland.
• Originally started as research and text-based network to exchange research ideas from university to university
• Developed into a network of networks
• One of the most powerful tools of the 21st century
• Internet & Web further clarified
• Internet is the actual physical network comprised of wires, cables (Key Term), & satellites
• Being connected to the network is often referred to as being online (Key Term)
• The Web is a multimedia interface to resources available on the internet
Common Internet Uses
• Most common Internet applications
• Communicating - sending e-mail and discussion group participation
• You can chat live with others
• Ask students what chat software they use
• Shopping – fastest-growing applications
• Searching - using virtual libraries
• Entertainment – music downloads; integration of TV and PC
• Education or e-learning (Key Term)
• You can take classes on almost any subject (Key Term)
Internet Access Providers
• The common way to access the Internet is through a provider or host computer
• Providers - already connected to the Internet -- furnish a pathway for other users
• Typical providers include:
• Colleges and universities – usually “free”
• Internet service providers (ISP) (Key Term)can be local (regional) or national
• Ask students to identify various ISPs used in their environment
• Types of providers
• National – like AOL
• Regional – smaller service area
• Wireless
• No telephone lines used
• Provide connection through wireless modems (Key Term)
• Client-server network is comprised of users that are connected to a ISP via a variety of connecting technologies (dial-up (Key Term), telephone connections, wireless modems, DSLs (Key Term), etc…)
• The users computer is the client that requests services from the provider’s computer or server
Browsers
• Browsers allow you to search or surf (Key Term) the Web
• Navigate, search for information and communicate using the Web
• Use URL (uniform resource locator) (Key Term) to connect to other resources
URLs
• Two parts to URL:
• protocol (Key Term), rules for exchanging data between computers (usually http://);
• domain name (Key Term) also known as a top-level domain (Key Term) or server where the resource is located (www.mtv.com)
More on Browsers
• Browser is software that allows users to navigate the Web and read the multimedia formatted pages
• Connect to Web sites using URL addresses (uniform resource locator)
• Document is sent to computer usually coded in HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) (Key Term) or some variation
• Interprets the HTML codes displaying page
• May contain
• Hyperlinks (Key Term) -- allow users to quickly connect to other pages or Web sites
• Graphics
• Text
• Web server– the computer that stores and shares graphics, test, audio & video clip files
• Web pages contain links (Key Term) to programs called applets (Key Term)
• These are special programs written in a programming language called Java (Key Term)
• These programs can be quickly downloaded and run by most browsers
Communication
• Communication is the most popular Internet activity
• Types of communications:
• Email (Key Term)
• Instant Messaging (Key Term)
• Social Networking (Key Term)
E-Mail
• E-mail or electronic mail (Key Term)
• Transmission of electronic messages over the Internet
• Has three basic parts: header (Key Term), message (Key Term), and signature line (Key Term)
• Header (Key Term)
• Address (Key Term)
• Subject (Key Term) – very important to include this in a message
• Attachments (Key Term)
E-Mail Address Example
• Internet uses the domain name system (DNS), which gives names and numbers to people and computers
• Address (Key Term) has two parts
• User name - identifies unique user or computer in the domain
• Domain name (Key Term) - references a specific organization
• Top-level domain code identification includes geographical location or organizational identification
• .com = commercial
• .edu = education and research
• .org = organizations (usually non-profit)
• .net = major network centers (usually easier to access than commercial)
• .gov = government
Spam
• Spam (Key Term) – unsolicited e-mail
• Distraction, Nuisance
• Computer viruses (Key Term) can also be attached to spam
• Spam blockers (Key Term) use a variety of different approaches to identify and eliminate spam
• CAN-SPAM Act requires that every marketing related email provide an opt-out option
• Tips to blocking spam:
• Choose a complex address
• Keep a low profile
• Don’t ever respond to spam
• Use ez-mail filter options
• Use anti-spam
Instant Messaging
• Instant Messaging (Key Term)
• Extension of email that allows two or more people to contact each other via direct, live communication
• To use instant message, specify list of friends (Key Term) and register with an instant messaging server
• Some services include video and file-sharing
• Different services do not always play well together. Universal instant messenger (Key Word) programs are being developed (i.e. Gaim, Odigo, Trilogy), to overcome this limitation.
• Direct students to p. 35 for table on Spam Blocker(s)
Social Networking
• Social Networking (Key Term)
• One of the fastest growing uses of the Internet
• Connecting individuals to one another
• Three basic categories
• Reunite – member databases used for finding long lost friends (Classmates Online and Facebook)
• Friend of a friend – connecting friends of friends via profile information (Friendster and MySpace)
• Common interest – connecting those with common interests or hobbies
• Consider carefully the information you are disclosing when joining social networking sites.
Search Tools
• Specialized programs that assist you in locating information on the Web and the Internet
• Search services (Key Term) help you locate information; they maintain the database that helps you get where you want
• Special programs called spiders (Key Term) continually look for information and updated services
• Search engines (Key Term) – assist you to locate information
• Use keyword search (Key Term); know “rules” i.e. use + or quotes to look for phrases rather than individual words
• Use directory search (Key Term) – list of categories or topics; also known as index search (Key Term)
• Examples
• AOL
• Ask Jeeves
• Google
• MSN Search
• Yahoo!
• Metasearch engines (Key Term) – programs that automatically submit your search request to several search engines simultaneously
• Specialized search engines (Key Term) - Programs that focus on subject specific Web sites
Search Engines
• Keyword search (Key Term) – enter a keyword or a phrase reflecting the information you want
• Returns a number of hits (Key Term)
• Each hit includes a hyperlink
• Directory search (Key Term)
• Known as an index search
• Select a category or topic that fits the information you want
• Note: a recent study by the NEC Research Institute found that any one search engine includes only a fraction of the informational sources on the Web. Therefore, it is good to use more than one search engine when researching important topics.
Metasearch Engines
• Programs that automatically submit your search request to several engines simultaneously
• The engine receives the results, eliminates duplicates, orders hits, and then provides the edited list to you
Specialized Search Engines
• Programs that focus on subject specific Web sites
• Specialized sites can potentially save you time by narrowing your search
Content Evaluation
• Anyone can publish to the web
• Not all Web information has been subjected to peer review or submission guidelines
• Ways to evaluate accuracy of Web information:
• Authority – Is author an expert in the subject area? Is the site an official site for the information presented, or, is it an individual person’s Web site?
• Accuracy – Is the information subject to critical review prior to posting? Does the site provide a means to report errors to the author?
• Objectivity – Is the information factual, or does the author have a bias?
• Currency – Is the information current? Is there a “published on” date or “updated on” date indicated?
Electronic Commerce
• Electronic commerce is buying and selling over the Internet
• Three basic types of electronic commerce: business to consumer; consumer to consumer; and business to business
• B2C (Key Term)
• Involves the sale of a product or service to the general public or end users
• C2C (Key Term)
• Involves individuals selling to individuals
• B2B (Key Term)
• Involves the sale of a product or service from one business to another
Business to Business
• Involves the sale of a product or service from one business to another (B2B)
• Primarily a manufacturer supplier relationship
Business to Consumer
• B2C is fastest growing type of e-commerce
• Three types
• Online banking (Key Term)
• Becoming a standard feature of banking institutions
• Customers use standard browser to perform many banking operations
• Financial trading
• Online stock trading allows investors to research, buy, and sell stocks and bonds over the Internet
• Shopping
• Buying and selling of consumer goods via the Internet
• Sites exist that provide support for consumers looking to compare products and locate bargains
Consumer to Consumer
Web Auctions
• Recent trend in C2C e-commerce is Web auctions (Key Term); similar to traditional auctions – no one sees each other
• Auction house sites (Key Term) – merchandise presented for auction
• Person-person auction sites (Key Term) – more like flea markets; forum for buyers and sellers to gather Similar to Web traditional auctions
• Buyers and sellers seldom meet face-to-face
• Ask the students if they have ever used E-bay
• Example auction sites include Amazon, Bidz, eBay, Sotheby’s, and Yahoo!
Security
• A challenge is the payment for goods
• Should be reliable, secure, and fast
• Electronic payment -- easy, secure payment method
• Checks -- slowest and least convenient
• Credit cards -- easier to work with, somewhat vulnerable to theft
• Criminals known as carders (Key Term) specialize in stealing, trading, and using stolen credit cards over the internet
• Digital cash (Key Term)
• Purchased from third party (usually a special bank); more secure than credit cards
• Providers include Ecash, Google, Internet Cash, and PayPal
Web Utilities
• Web-based applications (Key Term) are offered by Web-based services (Key Term) (often free) that provide Internet access to programs with capabilities similar to Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• FTP transfers files; file transfer protocol (Key Term); Internet service for file transfer
• Downloading (Key Term) - transmitting files to your computer
• Uploading (Key Term) - transmitting files from your computer to another computer
• Plug-ins (Key Term) -- automatically loaded by and work with your browser; Acrobat Reader; Cosmos from Silicon Graphics (3-d displays); Media Player; QuickTime from Apple; RealPlayer; and Shockwave from Macromedia
• Filters (Key Term) – block access to specified sites; set time limits
• Internet Security Suites (Key Term) – collection of utility programs designed to maintain your security and privacy while you are on the Web
Internet Security Suites
• Internet Security Suites (Key Term) control…
• Spam (Key Term)
• Protect against computer viruses (Key Term)
• Provide Filters (Key Term)
Careers In IT - Webmasters
• Webmasters (Key Term) can expect to earn a salary of $48,000 to $73,000
• Position is relatively new in many corporations and tends to have fluid responsibilities
• Experience in this field could lead to managerial opportunities
A Look to the Future
Homes of Tomorrow
• Downsides example: Infiltration of Internet viruses and spyware may enable your every move at home to be broadcast over the Internet
