Connecting and Communicating Online

• Chapter 2 focuses on connecting and communicating online

Objectives Overview

• The chapter covers the evolution of the Internet
• It also looks at broadband internet connections
• It discusses the IP address and its relationship to a domain name
• It describes features of browsers and components of web addresses
• It also explains how to compose effective search text
• Other topics include benefits/risks of social networks
• The objectives also include various types of websites
• The chapter further explains how the web uses graphics, animation, audio, video and virtual reality
• It goes on to explain email, mailing lists, instant messaging, chat rooms, online discussions, VolP and FTP work
• It finishes off by identifing the rules of netiquette

The Internet

• The Internet connects millions of businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, and individuals worldwide
• The Internet originated as ARPANET in September 1969 with dual goals
• ARPANET's primary goals included enabling scientists at different physical locations to share information and work together
• A secondary goal was to maintain function even if part of the network was disabled or destroyed

ARPANET Timeline

• 1969 - ARPANET becomes functional
• 1984 - ARPANET has over 1,000 individual computers linked as hosts
• Today - Millions of hosts connect to the Internet

Connecting to the Internet

• A wired connection involves physical attachment to a communications device via cable or wire
• Computers lacking a communications device can use a wireless modem
• A wireless modem facilitates wireless connectivity

Wired and Wireless Internet Connections

• Wired Connections include Cable Internet, DSL (digital subscriber line), and Fiber to the Premises (FTTP)
• Wireless Connections include Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity), Mobile broadband, Fixed wireless, and Satellite Internet Service
• A hot spot is a wireless network that provides Internet connections to mobile computers and devices

Internet Service Providers (ISP)

• An Internet service provider (ISP) gives individuals/ organizations access to the Internet for free or a fee
• Bandwidth dictates the volume of data transferrable over a network
• Units of measure for bandwidth include Megabyte (MB) and Gigabyte (GB)

IP Addresses and Domain Names

• An IP address is a numerical sequence uniquely identifies computers/devices connected to the Internet
• A domain name corresponds to the IP address as a text-based name
• A DNS server translates the domain name into its associated IP address

Original Top-Level Domains (TLDs)

• .com: Commercial organizations, businesses, and companies
• .edu: Educational institutions
• .gov: Government agencies
• .mil: Military organizations
• .net: Network providers or commercial companies
• .org: Nonprofit organizations

World Wide Web

• The World Wide Web (WWW) consists of electronic documents (webpages) worldwide
• A website constitutes related webpages + associated items
• A web server delivers requested webpages to computers
• Web 2.0 enables users to share personal information, modify website content, and provide applications via browser
• A browser is an application that enables users with an Internet access and view webpages on a computer or mobile device
• A home page is the first page that is displayed on a website
• Current browsers support multiple tabs and windows

Webpages and Web Addresses (URLs)

• Every webpage has a unique web address or URL
• A web app is an application that is stored on a web server and accessed through a browser
• Web app hosts typically provide cloud storage for user data and information

Types of Websites

• A web search engine finds websites, webpages, images, videos, news, maps, and other information
• A subject directory classifies webpages in an organized fashion (categories i.e. sports or shopping)

Search Operators

• Search operators refine search results.
• Use "space or +" to display results including specific words.
• Use "OR" to display results including only one word from a list.
• Combine search terms with parentheses ().
• Use minus sign (-) to exclude a word from search results.
• Use "" to search for an exact phrase in a a certain order
• Use * to substitute chartcters in place of the asterisk

Types of Websites Include:

• Search engine
• Online social network
• Informational and research
• Media sharing
• Bookmarking
• News, weather, sports, and other mass media
• Educational
• Business, governmental, and organizational
• Blogs
• Wiki and collaboration
• Health and fitness
• Science
• Entertainment
• Banking and finance
• Travel and tourism
• Mapping
• Retail and auctions
• Careers and employment
• E-commerce
• Portals
• Content aggregation
• Website creation and management
• Web publishing refers to website creation/maintenance
• It involves planning, designing, creating, hosting and maintaining websites

Digital Media

• Multimedia combines text with media
• Graphic: visuals for nontext representation
• Graphic formats: BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF
• Infographic: visual representation of data and info designed to communicate, simplify concepts, or present patterns/ trends
• Animation: appearance of motion via sequence
• Audio: music, speech, sound
• It is compressed to reduce file size
• It can be enjoyed via media player
• Video: images displayed in motion
• VR: use of computers to simulate real/imagined 3D environment

Plugins

• A plug-in extends the capability of a browser

Other Internet Services

• Email: transmission of messages/files via computer network
• Email program: create, send,receive,forward,store,print,delete messages
• Email List: for mass distribution of a message
• Instant messaging: exchange messages/files or join a private chat room
• Chat: real-time typed conversation via computer or mobile device
• Chat room: enables users to chat with others online simultaneously
• VoIP: enables voice communication with others via Internet
• FTP: enables file upload/download via the Internet
• FTP server: enables users to upload /download files using FTP

Netiquette

• Netiquette is the code of acceptable Internet behavior
• Golden Rule: Treat others as you would like them to treat you.

Guidelines For Online Communications

• Be polite; do not be offensive
• Avoid flames and flame wars (abusive/insulting messages)
• Be careful when using sarcasm and humor
• Avoid the use of all capital letters
• Express emotions using emoticons, e.g. Smile :), Wink ;) Indifference :I, Surprised :0, Frown :(, Undecided :\
• BTW by the way
• IMHO in my humble opinion
• TTTEN ta ta for now
• FYI for your information
• FWIW for what it's worth
• TYVM thank you very much
• Identify spoilers and forgive mistakes.
• Read FAQ's