PART FIVE

A GUIDE FOR BEGINNERS

CONNECTING TO THE INTERNET

You can connect to the Internet, sometimes for free.

The Internet is the name given to the network of all the computers in the world that can communicate with each other. The most common means of connection is a modem (an electronic device that uses the telephone lines to transmit the data between computers), but some systems use cable or satellites. There are a number of ways that you can get access to the Internet—many of them low-cost or even free:

• From home if you have an account and the necessary software from your college, library, office, or online service
• At a library where Internet access is available at designated computers
• At a college computer lab with Internet access
• At a workplace where Internet access is available at designated computers
  Note that workplace connections are not private; e-mail and search histories may be reviewed by the employer.
• At a commercial outlet (perhaps called "Internet Cafe" or "Cyberhouse")where you can use computers for an hourly fee—check the Yellow pages of your local directory under "Computer Rental" or "Computer Training." These places ordinarily have technical advisers, and many offer classes in using the Internet. Be aware that even though the outlet may offer access to online commercial services, you can’t use one without your own established personal account.

Note: Information is also available on computers if you have an encyclopedia or other resource on CD-ROM. A CD-ROM is a disk that looks just like an audio CD, but it contains computer programs or data—often the equivalent of whole shelves of books or periodicals. CD-ROM versions of encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, and other reference works are available in libraries and also for consumer purchase. Sometimes you are connecting to a CD-ROM on the Internet. ROM means "Read Only Memory" since the data on a CD-ROM is fixed (can’t be changed), unlike the fluidity of most information you encounter online.

You are not online when you are using a non-networked computer for word processing or for reading a CD-ROM. The term online means that the computer you are using is communicating with another computer, for example, to connect to the Internet, or to access a library’s regularly updated catalog and other resources.

EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO CONNECT TO THE INTERNET

If you want to use the Internet from home, you will need:

• a computer with at least 32 megabytes of memory and a Pentium processor, a monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse
• a modem (at least 28,800 speed; 56 K is preferred) plus communications software to use it
• a phone line (or a cable connection if your college or building provides it)
• additional software depending on what your Internet server requires

Optional Equipment (Recommended for the World Wide Web)

• a color monitor
• a sound card and speakers
• multimedia software if you want to use multimedia sources

Regardless of the method of connecting to the Internet, the computer you use is communicating (via modem, cable, or satellite) with a powerful computer (the server) that is in turn connected to the Internet. From your personal computer or workstation, you use computer software that communicates with the server computer. (Ordinarily, that software is provided when you get an Internet account to use at home—either with your college, library, workplace, or with a commercial service). Other software programs in the server allow you to use e-mail (electronic mail), browse the Web, or download files from the Internet to your disk. Because you are dealing with a computer between you and the Internet, high usage may tax the system you are using, causing slowdowns or even crashes.

Internet Accounts: Username, and Password

In order to receive e-mail, you will need an Internet account. Your college or public library may offer free accounts, or you can sign up for free e-mail offered by a number of sites (see page 000). For a monthly fee, you can get an account with a commercial service, such as America Online, Microsoft Network, or AT&T.

When you open an Internet account, you will be asked to submit a username and password so you can logon and receive e-mail. The username (ID or userid) plus your server’s address will be your e-mail address on the Internet (usually username@server address, such as wienbrd@sunynassau.edu). Sometimes you won’t get your first choice of username—because someone else is already using it, or because your server assigns usernames by an established system.

Your password is the sequence of letters or numbers (or better, a combination of letters and numbers) that you type in to gain access to your account. Since you’ll be using it often, select one that is easy to remember and quick to type—and one that others won’t be likely to guess. Be sure to type both your username and password carefully during the initial setup (because what you type is the only sequence the computer will recognize ever after) and write both down in a safe location (not in your computer files).

UNDERSTANDING INTERNET ADDRESSES

The Internet address tells you what kind of institution is there.

The Internet address (sequence of letters and numbers you type to send e-mail or to reach another computer on the Internet) is based on an established system, DNS (Domain Name System). The last three digits designate the type of institution at the Internet address:

.edu is used by educational institutions

.org is used by non-profit organizations

.gov is used by governmental agencies

.mil is used by the military

.com is used by commercial organizations

.net is used by large computer networks

These addresses assume that the site is in the United States. In addition, you may encounter addresses that end in a two-letter country code. Here are a few:

AT-AUSTRIA	AU-AUSTRALIA	BR-BRAZIL	CA-CANADA
CH-SWITZERLAND	DE-GERMANY	ES-SPAIN	FR-FRANCE
GR-GREECE	IL-ISRAEL	IT-ITALY	JP-JAPAN
KR-KOREA	MX-MEXICO	UK-UNITED KINGDOM	US-UNITED STATES

You can also figure out some addresses for World Wide Websites; try a simple name with the appropriate prefix and suffix:

For example, you can reach these websites by typing their fairly obvious addresses:

Earthwatch-------http://www.earthwatch.org

FAA-------http://www.faa.gov

New York Times------- http://www.nytimes.com

When visiting a site via a link, you can erase the later file connections in the address to get to the main page. For example, suppose you came across an article on "Liver Function" with this address: http://sadieo.ucsf.edu/alf/alffinal/progregen.html

You could delete everything after .edu and send your browser to this address: http://sadieo.ucsf.edu/

There you would find links to the staff and Liver Center at the University of California at San Francisco, with additional links to "other sites of interest"—great sources for topics related to the human liver.

TYPING ONLINE

Type carefully when you are online because a mistake can take you to the wrong location or to nowhere at all.

If you know you typed correctly, be aware that the Internet changes rapidly. Use the directories and search engines on pages 000-000 to check addresses.

In general,

• Check each character before pressing Enter/Return.
• Use no spaces with Internet addresses.
• Use no period at the end (there may be a slash /).
• Use lowercase unless told that the program is "case sensitive" or if you are copying an obvious capital in an Internet address.
• Use the shift key (not the CapsLock key) for the upper symbol on the number or punctuation keys.
• Be careful to distinguish between the letter L and the number 1, the hyphen - and the underline _ (which is above the hyphen).
• The ~ symbol is the Spanish tilde, above the grâve accent, at the top left of the keyboard
• Slashes (diacritical marks //) are forward slashes--at the bottom right of the keyboard
• The Break key is also called Pause; it’s on the top right of the keyboard, above Page Up.
• On the Macintosh, Ctrl is open apple and Alt is closed apple.

GETTING AROUND WITHIN DIFFERENT COMPUTER PROGRAMS

Regardless of the program you’re using on your own computer, you will be restricted to the format of the program you’re communicating to on the Internet.

Even if you’ve used a computer for word processing, you may encounter computer systems in the library or on the Internet where your actions will not bring about the expected results.

Using the Keyboard Only

DOS and UNIX systems are character- or text-based, responding only to commands that are typed in. You will need to pay attention to the directions on each screen, because programs ask you to use different keys at different times. Sometimes you will

• Type the number of the item you want.
• Type the highlighted letter of the item.
• Type the word or phrase; press Enter/Return.
• Using an arrow or tab key, highlight the item;
• press Enter/Return.

Usually, the directions will appear at the bottom of the screen, but sometimes, you’ll be "prompted" by a blinking cursor right on the line where you should type. If nothing happens after you have typed something, press Enter/Return.

You can also use your keyboard instead of the mouse for navigating around mouse-based websites. Just use the arrow keys to reach the phrase you want, and then press the Enter/Return key to select the phrase.

Using the Mouse

Windows and Macintosh systems use design and pictures (graphics) in addition to words to tell the computer what to do. With a mouse-based program, you mouse-click on highlighted phrases in the text or on icons (little symbolic pictures). You will then either press a key, or mouse-click, or type in what you want. As you are working within a program, you will notice various borders that outline "windows" on the screen. You open and close these "windows" as you move through the program.

If you’ve never used a mouse before, practice with it before going online. Move the mouse around on the pad until the cursor (arrow or vertical bar) on the screen is positioned on the icon or phrase you want to select; then click once (press the upper portion of the mouse, close to the wire—if there are two buttons to press, press the left one). You will see your selection highlighted on the screen. When you have to type in a line, position the cursor on the left margin of the space where the first letter should go, and then click the mouse before you type.

Maneuvers—with either Keyboard or Mouse

Selecting - Often you will tell the computer what you want by choosing from a menu (list) of options, or by selecting an underlined phrase presented in a different color from the rest of the text. You communicate your selection by clicking the mouse or by pressing Enter/Return after the choice is highlighted. Note that a phrase can’t be selected until the cursor is positioned exactly on the phrase; with many programs, the cursor changes from an arrow to a hand pointing upward to indicate that you can select at that point.

Scrolling - To scroll (move vertically through the text) you can use the arrow keys, the Page Up or Page Down keys, or the mouse. To use the mouse, look at the right margin of the innermost window frame. Either position the cursor and click continuously on the arrow pointing in the direction you want to move the text (up or down), or click on the "button" to slide it down the margin

as you read. Just click and hold the mouse as you guide it smoothly and in a straight line (towards you to go down; away from you to go up). This method is particularly useful if you want to skim a document quickly. That "button" in the right margin is also a clue to the length of the material you are reading; it will slide down to the bottom margin as you approach the end of the document.

You won’t be able to scroll through or save a document while it is loading. Programs usually provide a visual clue to the status of downloading--for example with a horizontal bar graph, a thermometer, shooting stars (Netscape), or a pulsating pyramid (America Online).

Other options - The headings in each program vary, but there are usually a number of other useful options listed on the top of the screen. If you highlight them there will either be an explanation or a drop-down menu (mouse-click or on the heading; then, while holding the mouse button down, drag down to highlight your choice; release the mouse). In some programs, you move through the menu with arrows and then press Enter/Return when you reach the one you want. Seepage 00 for definitions of the Bookmark, Reload, Forward, Back, Stop, and History buttons.

Error Messages - Many programs will alert you with a sound effect if you’re trying to perform something that won’t work. Others will give an error message. You can usually click on help (or type h or ?) to learn what to do.

Exit - As you enter a program, often there will be a line at the beginning telling you how to exit or quit. Note that command (frequently Alt + F4). If you forget, you can usually type Q or mouse-click in the top-right or top-left corner where you’ll see an X or square. Don’t just turn off your computer—particularly if you’re connected to a text-based host computer program. It can leave that computer line busy for others.

TRAVELING AROUND WEBSITES

Just click with your mouse to tell your browser where to go on the Web.

After you have visited a number of different websites, you may want to retrace your path. When you are at any site, you can click on "buttons" on the margins of the page you’re looking at. To get the description of each "button," point your mouse to the name or picture (icon). Mouseclick on the button to tell your browser what to do.

UNDERSTANDING HOW INFORMATION IS STORED

More and more information that is suitable for academic papers is available through the Internet.

If you have Internet service on your home computer, you can do much of your research for a report right there. This is particularly true if you have the software for using an account with your college or public library and thus have access to library subscriptions to specialized databases. Find out if any passwords are necessary for accessing these specialized sources from home. A list of suggested databases appears in the appendix of this book.

FIND THE INFORMATION YOU WANT

Using computers to find information sounds easy, and often it is. However, you will also have access to much more material than you could ever read, and the information you need may be buried under a lot of stuff you don’t care about. Keep in mind the fact that information you’re looking for has been put there in two ways:

• by a human being who has a logic that may be very different from yours and who can sometimes make mistakes or omissions

  OR

• by a robot that matches every word regardless of context.

Researching with computers can be successful only when you understand how the information is organized as well as what computers can and cannot do.

USE SEARCH TOOLS

Whether you are searching on CD-ROM or on the Internet, search tools (computer programs that locate sources of information) will ask you to select a subject area or to type in search terms (keywords). Search tools operate in three different ways as they try to match your request:

• They try to find your keywords in their collection of information (database) by checking each title plus the list of keywords for the website or article as supplied by the author (or sometimes by a researcher at the search tool company). Note that the keywords the author has supplied may not actually be in the article but are submitted as relevant descriptions.

Indexers use standard phrases established by the Library of Congress—subject headings—under which all relevant articles are listed. For example, articles related to cooking are listed under "cookery." Some search tools will correct your request for "cooking" by giving you all the articles and websites under "cookery," but others may not. Similarly, some search tools may automatically add synonyms to requests for certain words to enhance the results you get to your query.

However, some commercially motivated individuals supply multiple copies of their websites so their increased number of keywords will attract more visitors to their site. You may need to anticipate which aspect of your topic has a commercial angle. For example, if you are looking for information on the availability of potable water around the world, a search for "potable water" will first list all the sites that sell bottled water and water purification devices. You will need to modify your query to get the more scientific websites on water quality worldwide.

Researching programs are constantly being improved to make them better able to interpret what information is being sought, and more websites with information are added each hour, so you’ll often get plenty of information quickly. However, you still need to be creative—in how you tell the computer what to look for.

UNDERSTANDING WHAT COMPUTERS CAN AND CANNOT DO

Phrasing your question carefully will help you find the right answer.

Computers Can What You Must Do

Scan a vast number of documents rapidly	Determine the best words to use for scanning the documents
Help narrow your search	Articulate the limits of your search
Allow you to download files to use in your report	Save the files on your disk; record bibliographic information

Computers Cannot What You Must Do

Violate the rules of their program	Read helplines to see what the specific rules are
Find something listed under a different term	Use synonyms; suggest more general topics; be creative in phrasing your search
Find something that isn’t there	Recognize that some material isn’t available electronically; carefully select the databases you search
Correct a misspelled word	Type and proofread carefully; use alternate spelling when appropriate; recognize that typos occur in indexes and catalogs
Discriminate between different meanings--such as Turkey the country or turkey the bird	Add words preceded by "not" so you eliminate unwanted usage of your search terms
Provide context	Add terms that provide context--such as "turkey wings"

If you feel overwhelmed or frustrated, stop to recall what you asked the computer to do. You may have asked the wrong question, or the answer you expect is not as readily available as you had hoped. You need not be intimidated by the wealth of information on the Internet; you can, with patience, usually find ways to discover what you want to know.

CHANGING BROWSERS

You don’t have to use the browser your Internet service provider gives you.

Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (MISE) may be the browser integrated with your Internet provider’s system, as it is with America Online and Microsoft Systems Network. However, many researchers prefer Netscape Communicator—Netscape’s web browser.

• Netscape Commmunicator doesn’t crash as frequently as MISE does.
• Netscape Navigator automatically records the URL and date of access for any material from the Internet that you save or print.
• Netscape Navigator allows you to adjust the page size of a website before saving or printing.
• Netscape Navigator allows you to import your bookmark list to any word processing program, whereas Microsoft programs will erase any addresses they do not recognize.

You can download Netscape Navigator free from <www.netscape.com>. Just connect to the Internet first; then go to the website and follow the instructions under "download."

Once Netscape Navigator is installed on your desktop, you will always need to connect first to the Internet with your provider, but you can specify that Netscape be on your homepage. Just minimize your Internet Service Provider’s screen. At the end of any session on the Web, close Netscape first before signing off.

SAVING FILES

Save information from a CD-ROM or Internet site so you can use it later in your word processing program.

Saving

At the top of the screen, most programs have a section labeled "Options" or "Commands." Mouse-click (or use the arrow and press Enter/Return) to read a menu of choices. Save or Record will allow you to save the data in the file on your current screen (which you can then read more carefully and extract specific notes) and many programs even give an appropriate footnote.

If you are working in a library or computer lab, be sure to save your notes in text-only format—both to save space and to make sure that your word processing program can read them. Save an image with a name plus the extension it has—such as gif, jpg, bmp. Some libraries or computer labs have workstations where you can’t save on your own disk; if not, print the files you want, and write down the source information or Internet address on the copy if the program doesn’t automatically do so.

• Insert your formatted disk into the appropriate drive.
• Highlight the text or picture you want (if possible, highlight the title and author/creator as well). If the program does not allow you to highlight, then you will be saving the entire file that you can see without clicking on any links.
• Click on "File"
• Drag down to "Save As"
• Name the file. Be sure to name each file with a different name, preferably with the specific subtopic, and write down the full title of the file and its Internet address (because you can’t enter any of your own writing directly on this file yet).
• PC users will need to specify which computer drive their disk is in (usually A). If using a Mac, make sure that you are saving to your disk and not to the hard drive.
• If using a PC, give a word file a .rtf (Rich Text Format) or .txt (text) extension; give an image the same extension it already has—such as .gif, .jpg, or .bmp. If using a Mac, save the file as a text-only or image file.
• Click on "save."
  Note: Only the file you’re actually reading will be saved—not any of the linked files at other web addresses. If you want them also, you have to get each file on the screen and save each one separately.

Write down or type into your bibliographic file any information—such as title, author, web address, and the date you viewed it. Most of this information will automatically appear in your file if you are using the Netscape browser. If uncertain, print a copy to see before exiting from the website.

Opening a file in other applications

In your word processing program, you can open a text-only file by asking the program to search "all files." Then you can save it in your favorite format (such as a "Word document") with your default typeface.

To insert an image you have previously saved, first move your cursor to the place you want the image to appear, then:

• with Microsoft Word or Power Point, click on "Insert," then "Picture," then the filename, then OK .
• with Word Perfect, select "Open," "filename," "Open."