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Becoming A Master Student, Concise, Tenth Edition
Dave Ellis
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| | Connect to Cyberspace | | | | | | | |
Many people see the word Internet (a matrix of networks that interconnects millions of supercomputers, mainframes, workstations, personal computer, laptops, and hand-held computers) as a synonymous with the World Wide Web (the files residing on all Internet information servers that use hypertext as their primary navigation tool). But people were using the Internet long before those colorful web pages started speeding through your Ethernet connection (a widely used local area network protocol) or phone lines.
Even today, people forget about the Internet's many features. Think about the key uses you have for the Internet as a student. How would these uses differ if you were in the workplace?
Next time you're surfing the web, try to use something new. Read a newspaper from a different state or even a different country. Look up information about the weather on the other side of the world. Find out the price of your favorite company's stock. Join a computerized mailing list or LISTSERVs (a mailing list manager used for distribution of e-mail among an entire list).
Accessing the Internet
Today, high-speed access provides nearly instant connection to web sites and services. This has created a surge in taking online classes from home and telecommuting. Your first priority is getting connected.
Your computer must be equipped with a modem if you are using a telephone line. The modem converts data from digital signals to analog signals (and the other way around) so that your computer can communicate over the telephone line.
Access to the World Wide Web and the rest of the Internet hinges on an Internet Service Provider (ISP). This is the company that provides the software and hardware you need to connect to cyberspace. (America Online and Mindspring are ISPs.) Ten years ago, there were only a handful of ISPs; today there are hundreds. Today even people who don't use the Internet know about some of the larger providers. These giants face smaller competitors that offer a different array of services.
You can also use a DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) connection to use the Internet. DSL is a service that offers a faster Internet connection than a standard dial-up connection. DSL technology uses existing 2-wire copper telephone wiring to deliver high-speed data services to homes and businesses.
A cable modem is a device that is like a network interface card, replacing your regular modem. It allows your home computer to use a local cable TV line to connect continuously to the Internet instead of a telephone line. Data download speeds are typically faster than uploads, and are affected by the number of subscribers using the service in a given area.
To get the most from your ISP or Cable modem service fees, it is important to ask whether they offer the following features:
- A local dial-up number. Your computer modem must dial a phone number when connecting to the Internet, or be connected via Ethernet or DSL. It is important to have a local number to dial up rather than a long distance number.
- Technical support. Your service provider will supply you with the software (starter kit) to set up your computer to access the Internet. For new users, speaking to a live support technician might be helpful for first time set up. Find out if there is free support available, or determine the cost up front. Also ask when such support is available. Some companies provide round-the-clock technical support, others may offer the service only during regular business hours.
- Space for personal web pages. You may be interested in starting your own personal web site, either to post family photos or even a resume. Each page you create for your web site will take up a certain amount of space, measured in megabytes. Adding photos and moving images will increase the size of your files. A personal web page can take several megabytes of your ISP's host computer. See how much space ISP offer that is included in your monthly fee, as well as help or free software for building your page. Inquire up front about any additional costs for this service.
Updates on ways to Connect:
Because technology is changing so fast, the Internet and computers in general can be intimidating at times, even for those who use both on a regular basis.
http://www.grassrootsdesign.com/intro/index.php is a great site for both beginners and users of computers. It has a host of tutorials, beginning with basics like computer hardware to more advanced topics such as web development.
To learn more about your options for accessing the Internet and how that all works, go to
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/cable-modem.htm
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/dsl.htm
By now you've probably heard about wireless technology and those funny acronyms: LAN, WAN, PAN…Confused?! You don't need to be. Check out the following articles on the next wave of technology.
http://www.dell.com/us/en/bsd/topics/segtopic_2_lma_truemobile.htm
http://www.lucent.com/knowledge/documentdetail/0,1494,inContentId+7100-inLocaleId+1,00.html
Additional Resources:
Dictionary of Computer and Internet Words [an A to Z guide to hardware, software, and cyberspace]. By the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionaries. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2001.
Glossary of Internet Terms
http://www.luminet.net/~jackp/gloss2.htm
The Netlingo Dicitonary of Internet Terms
http://netlingo.com/
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