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Getting Started on the Internet: The Basics
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IntroductionYou've heard about it and read about it. You might even be a regular user. It's the Internet — the most important new technology since TV, maybe ever. And it's not going away. This is your guide to getting started on the Internet. There's a large but very handy glossary at the end of this Factsheet, for reference while you read and to help you become more familiar with Internet jargon. | Top of Page | What Is The Internet?The Internet's beginnings can be traced back to the Cold War between the former Soviet Union and the United States. The Americans were determined to maintain a technological edge over the Soviets and focused a lot of energy on developing superior computer technology to gain a military advantage. One of the Defense Department's goals was to develop a continent-wide computer network that could survive a nuclear attack. Up to that time, computer networks had nerve centres, usually consisting of a central computer that controlled the rest of the network. If a network's nerve centre was ever knocked out, the entire network would stop functioning — making networks not just vulnerable to attack but notoriously unstable for users. By 1969, American scientists had devised a way to link a series of stand-alone computer nodes, allowing data to be sent from any single node to any number of other nodes. No more nerve centre. If one node disappeared, it didn't matter — except to those who depended on that particular node. The rest of the network would remain intact and continue operating. The first network based on this new technology began with four nodes and, over the next 25 years, grew to become what we now know as the Internet — a global network of computer networks. Some call it potentially the most important development in the history of human communication. | Top of Page | Growth Of The InternetThe first Internet message was sent in October, 1969. With images of Neil Armstrong walking on the moon still fresh in peoples' minds, the future seemed limitless. Advanced technology (back then it was commonly called "space-age technology") was beginning to be seen as a great enabler, something that could benefit everyone. But, in those early days the Internet was mainly used by research scientists at universities and in the military to share precious and expensive computer time. It was the era of huge, punchcard-eating, room-sized machines that only the most highly-trained people could understand. It stayed much that way until the early 1980s when companies like Apple, IBM, Microsoft and others turned personal computing into a technological revolution. Among other things, development of the personal computer meant Internet users no longer had to be based at large public institutions to use the Internet. If you could connect to an Internet host site using a PC with a modem, you could get on-line from the comfort of your own home. But the scope of what even the most computer-savvy people could do was limited and the processes frustratingly technical and cumbersome. To some, the Internet was simply incomprehensible, a vast wasteland of techno-babble and the costs involved were too much for the average person. Things changed dramatically in 1989 with the development of a computer language called Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). HTML became the backbone of the World Wide Web (WWW), allowing documents to be linked regardless of where they physically existed. For example, a research paper housed on a computer at Harvard University could be linked to a related document housed on a computer at the University of Guelph. A user could jump back and forth between the two with a click of their mouse. HTML made the physical location of information almost irrelevant, instantly removing geographical distance as a barrier to gaining knowledge. In 1993, introduction of the web browsing software Mosaic (which Netscape Navigator quickly replaced as the dominant browser) brought life to HTML, letting web surfers view graphics and movies and hear sounds while cruising the Internet. The result was a massive explosion in public interest. In the first quarter of 1993 web traffic accounted for only 0.1% of Internet use. By 1995 the web had become the most-used Internet application, after email. In 1993 there were only 130 sites capable of serving web documents. By 1998 there were over 2.25 million. | Top of Page | Why Use The Internet?The Internet can take even the most remote rural community and put it at the centre of the world. You can use email to communicate with friends, relatives, business associates, political leaders and many others. You can use the web to find everything from commodity prices to weather reports, the latest news, computer software and almost anything else you can think of, including this Factsheet. With the right software you can even run your own web site, join discussion groups on almost any topic, and use your computer as a phone to eliminate long distance charges. The Internet isn't going away. It's been said that those waiting for it to disappear are like those who believed automobiles could never be as reliable or durable as a good horse or those who felt the telephone was a passing fad for rich people. Despite the blinding pace of technological change happening right now on the Internet, the network is still in its infancy — something to consider if you're waiting for things to settle down before you start using it. | Top of Page | What Do You Need To Get Connected?ComputerTo use the Internet to its full potential, you'll need a computer that meets certain standards — generally a PC running a minimum of Windows 3.1 (Windows 95 and 98 are better) or an Apple Macintosh computer. Your PC should have a minimum of 8 megabytes of memory (RAM) and a minimum of 200 megabytes of computer disk space. The computer's power should be at least 486 (with Pentium machines being more powerful). The more RAM you have, the faster your machine will perform when using the web. If you want to use an Apple computer you’ll need a 68030 microprocessor or faster and at least 16 megabytes of RAM. It is best to visit your local computer store, tell the sales person what you want to be able to do with your computer, and ask them to suggest the most practical set-up to meet your needs. Some machines that fall below these standards will still be able to access the Internet, but download times will be longer and you won't be able to take full advantage of the Internet's many benefits. ModemA modem is a piece of computer hardware that connects your computer to a telephone line so you can "dial in" to your chosen Internet host. It dials the phone number of your Internet service provider and connects you to the host computer — the computer that is actually attached to the Internet. Modem speeds are measured in baud/bps — the faster the better. Common speeds are 14,400, 28,800, 33,600 and 56,600. A 28.8 bps modem is the generally acknowledged minimum for best performance. The faster the modem the faster you'll receive transmissions over the Internet. Telephone LineMost home Internet users connect to an Internet host using their telephone line. You don't need a separate line, although interference on the line (party lines, someone picking up a phone extension while you're on-line) will interrupt your connection. You can't make or receive calls on the line while your computer is connected to the Internet without subscribing to a special phone service. Internet Service ProviderIf you don't have access to the Net via work, the local library, a local school, or another kind of public access site, never fear. There are many companies in Ontario that sell personal access to the Internet. However, there are many things you need to consider before signing up with any of them. | Top of Page | What Should You Look For In An Internet Service Provider?Local CallingLong distance charges add up in a hurry so you want to be sure your service provider is located in your local calling area. You should also check if your service provider will allow you to dial into your account via local numbers when you are visiting areas outside your own. PricingMost service providers offer a range of pricing packages. Before you sign up you need to realistically assess how much time you'll be spending on-line. There's no point paying for more hours of on-line time than you could ever use, when you can pay less for something more realistic. You'll generally spend more time on-line when you're still learning, and less time when you become more comfortable. You should also ask what charges apply if you surpass your monthly on-line time. It's also worth checking whether you can carry over unused time from month to month and whether you're allowed to adjust your account level if your usage patterns change. Ratio Of Phone Lines To CustomersWhen you dial in to your service provider you're dialing in on one of their phone lines. Obviously, the more lines and modems they have per customer the less likely you are to get busy signals during peak times (usually between 7 p.m. and midnight on weekdays). You should compare the ratios of several service providers and ask about their upgrade plans in the event they get too busy. It may be necessary to pay a bit more to get the reliability you need. Ask your friends and relatives what kind of Internet service they're getting. Customer SupportDoes the service provider have a 24 hour help line? Do they offer access to the complete range of Internet services? Do they supply you with start-up software and clear set-up instructions? What kind of encryption do they use to protect your on-line commercial transactions? Does your account give you space for your own web site on the host server? What type of connection to the Internet do they have and how does its speed compare with their competitors? These are all important questions if you want to keep your Internet-induced headaches to a minimum. A good service provider won't hesitate to answer any of these questions. | Top of Page | Surfing The NetUsing the World Wide Web (WWW)The Internet has grown so huge so fast it seems baffling to many. The best advice if you're just beginning to use the web is to learn how your web browser works. All web sites have an address, known as an URL (Uniform Resource Locator). URLs can often be long and unwieldy. The two most common web browsers, Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer, allow you to create lists of "bookmarks" or "favorites" so you can return to sites you like without having to remember the URL. If you live in rural Ontario, below are two URLs you may want to remember: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada You can get to them by typing the URL (exactly as written, since URLs can be case sensitive and don't always begin with www) into the address or location box on your browser and pressing the [ENTER] key on your keyboard. You will then be connected to that web site and can choose any part of it as your bookmark or favorite. Both sites mentioned here are good jump-off points for rural-oriented information. To turn a good web site into a bookmark or favorite, simply click on the bookmark or favorite icon on your browser's toolbar and add the site to your list. Then, whenever you're on-line and want to revisit the site, just go to you bookmark or favorites list and click on that entry. If you want to look for web sites on a specific topic, you may also want to explore some of the search engines available to web users. These tools allow you to use key words to search the Internet for information. Below are two popular ones (there are many others): Yahoo! AltaVista You should choose a few search engines as bookmarks or favorites as well. Note when you visit Yahoo! that it's actually based on a directory where you can choose from a menu the topics you want to see, or use key words to do a search of the database. When you go to AltaVista you use key words to define your search and a list of matches is quickly returned to you. You can then click on the match that comes closest to what you want and go straight to that site. Why not begin by searching the Internet for a list of the best search engines? Then you can choose the one that suits you best. Using EmailEmail is becoming a key way of communicating. In many circles, using email is now as common as using a fax machine. When you sign up for an Internet account, you'll be assigned a user name. Let's say Jane Doe opened an Internet account with the Internet service provider Webguys OnLine under the user name jdoe — and let's say the domain name owned by Webguys is webguys.net. That means Jane's email address would be jdoe@webguys.net. Email addresses are like URLs: you have to type them in accurately or they won't work. Being close doesn't count. If you know someone's email address, you can send them messages across the Internet using special email software. Likewise, if people know your address, they can send you messages. There are many different email packages available and your service provider should give you one when you sign up. There are also email functions built into the two main web browsers. They all have their little quirks and it will likely take you a few tries to master things like sending attachments with your messages. It's best to ask a friend or relative to be on the receiving end of a few test messages until you get a feel for it. Email is handy for more than one-on-one messages too. You can also use it to join mailing lists on topics of interest. Some mailing lists have hundreds of members. When one member posts a message to the list, the message gets delivered to the email boxes of all the other members. Likewise, any responses to that message are sent to all members. It's convenient in that all the correspondence comes directly to you and you can read it — or ignore it — at your leisure. There are many useful agriculture and rural development-oriented mailing lists operating on the Internet. You should be aware that mailing lists differ from web-based threaded discussions where you have to visit a certain web site to participate. For a good example of a threaded discussion on rural economic development, visit the following URL: /OMAFRA/english/rural/forum/index.html | Top of Page | ConclusionThe Internet isn't for everyone, and it certainly doesn't solve all the world’s problems. But it's an impressive and powerful new communication tool that will only get more powerful, user-friendly, and popular. Many public libraries have free, public access Internet services. And, of course, there are now dozens of Internet self-help books available. But, why not take a test drive on the Information Highway yourself? Better yet, ask a friend or relative to take you for a web cruise or show you the ins and outs of email. Reading about the Internet is one thing, actually seeing it in action is another. Happy surfing! | Top of Page | Internet Glossary
| Top of Page | ReferencesCanadian Internet Handbook. Carroll, Jim and Rick Broadhead. Prentice-Hall Canada Inc., Scarborough, ON. 1994 – 98. Canadian Internet New Users' Handbook. Carroll, Jim and Rick Broadhead. 1998 Prentice-Hall Canada Inc., Scarborough, ON. 1998. "Hobbes' Internet Timeline v3.3". Zakon, Robert H. OMAFRA Internet Training and Resource Manual. 1997. "A Short History of the Web". Cailliau, Robert. Related Links| Top of Page | For more information:Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300 Local: (519) 826-4047 E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca |
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