HELP/ FAQ's

Introduction to the Internet

The Internet can be very intimidating at first if you're not familiar with this vast land of information. "Newbies", are bombarded with a wealth of knowledge and strange terminology that they are unfamiliar with, and one can experience many moments of confusion in the first few months of use - especially if you're not computer literate. This amazing technology is now the way of the world however, and those that want to keep up with the times, are required to learn it. The business world, consumers, and our children all benefit from what they can find here. It has become our gateway to the world. This page is meant to help you with general questions and terminology that you may come across each day.

What is the Internet?

The Internet is a computer network that operates globally. By connecting to an ISP (Internet Service Provider), a user is connected to millions of computer networks all over the world. By using a Web browser, users can easily access information from Web sites on the Internet as easily as accessing programs and documents on their own computers, and it is much quicker than going to the library and searching through file cards and rows of books to find what you want. All you need to do is point, click, and in some cases type. The Internet is exciting and easily accessible to anyone that has a computer with a modem, a phone line, and a service provider. It has anything you could possibly ever want, and is open to everyone.

Back to top

What Can You Do On The Internet?

The Internet is a gateway to the worldwide communication and information sharing! By utilizing some basic software packages which are readily available, users can access volumes of information on thousands of subjects on the World Wide Web. They can communicate with people around the globe using e-mail and newsgroups, and they can upload (to get files from your computer into another computer, or web directory), or download (to get files or programs from another directory, computer, into your own computer), software with just a click of a mouse. They can also join in chat rooms and communicate with others users online, play games, view graphics, shop, build their own web page, and alot more.

Back to top

What Is A Web Browser?

If the Internet is a highway, the Web Browser is the car. Browsers are applications on the user's computer that access various kinds of Internet sources, databases, Web pages, e-mail, etc. There are many browser on the market today. Each browser has some unique characters, but they all serve one purpose...to provide a graphical user interface that allows a user to view information on the Internet. In other words, they allow you to view and interact with others, and what has been made available. The most common browsers used are Microsoft's Internet Explorer, and AOL's Netscape Navigator. We recommend that you use Internet Explorer. It seems to be more stable.

Back to top

What Is E-mail?

E-mail stands for electronic mail. It is a user's personal connection to the Internet. It is very much the traditional mail with two distinct advantages - speed and flexibility. Messages can now reach across the globe in a matter of hours, minutes, even seconds, depending on the state of the connection between the sender and the recipient. The more familiar a user becomes with using e-mail, the more they'll be able to use it to access databases and file libraries as well.

Back to top

What Are Newsgroups?

"Newsgroups" is the name given to discussion groups on the Usenet system. A discussion group is a public posting of messages to which others respond. To many, Usenet is the Internet, but in actual fact, it's a totally different system. There are thousands of unique discussion groups on Usenet. Most newsgroups on Usenet are now accessible on the Internet. This is a feature that your host system (ISP) has provided as part of your Internet service agreement.

Back to top

What Is Netiquette?

Netiquette is the on-line form of etiquette. There are many do's and don'ts that users should be aware of before embarking on an Internet journey. Some of these rules of "netiquette" can be found below.

• Be heard, but don't shout. Messages should be upper and lower case, as in standard writing. Upper case signifies shouting, and small case alone suggests laziness.
• Use "smileys" discreetly. Smileys are characters made out of pieces of text like :-), :, and (). They convey feelings. It's best to use them in moderation as some people like them, and others do not.
• Don't respond to a posting by resending the entire previous posting. Just select the pieces of relevant text. Your e-mail program allows you to edit so it's best to do so.
• Always find out what's going on in a newsgroup before jumping in. This is known as lurking. It gives a user a feel for what has already been said.
• Do unto others in cyberspace as you would do unto them in person. All too often, a discussion will turn into an ugly flame war.

Using common sense, users will find the Internet an exciting place to explore new information and share ideas with others around the world.

Back to top

Children and the Internet

The Internet is a wide-open public forum where freedom of speech is exercised, sometimes in ways we don't like. Policing the Internet is all but impossible since, amongst other things, the Internet is global and an objectionable site often can simply relocate to a place where there are fewer restrictions. Because of this, one of the biggest concerns is children, and making offensive material inaccessible to them.

One of the solutions is to control what they access. There are various software programs that one can load into their computer to block out certain sites, or areas to anyone that does not have the correct password or key. They can be purchased here, or downloaded from the Internet. Even with a Control Access program however, it is best to keep an eye out on what your children are looking at. As in the real world, the underworld of society is out there, and predators have been known to lure kids away from the safety of their homes promising them the world and everything in it.

Back to top

Credit Cards On The Internet

A great deal of business is done over the Internet - big business, small business, shopping, and so on. The amount of activity increases daily. The banks are particularly active in Internet usage and, traditionally conservative, so it's pretty safe to say that their transmissions and data are safe before they begin.

The key to security is encryption, a method of making information inaccessible without the correct tools for unscrambling the information. In a sense, it is like a scrambled TV signal, though much more so. Businesses operating on the Internet, particularly the banks, usually have high levels of encryption in place so that transactions and credit card information is secure.

If you choose to use your credit card over the Internet, it's best to deal with companies that you know are reputable. If you have any doubts, play it safe. Businesses operating on the Internet quite often have a page with information on the level of security they provide and you may want to read this page first to see what sort of security the company offers.

Back to top

Hardware Requirements

Accessing the Internet can be accomplished quite simply. Computers of all makes and models using various types of operating systems are able to access the Internet thanks to protocols. Whether the computer is an IBM PC running Windows NT, or a Seanix running Windows 98, an Apple system using System 7 or a Unix system, a user will be able to log on the Internet. A common language (protocols) allows users on different platforms universal access to information. In addition to a computer, you will require a modem, or high speed access. This means that you need a tool for connecting to the Internet and decoding the information you receive so that your computer can show it to you as it was intended. Depending on what equipment you're using (the speed of your modem, or high-speed access), your system will receive information more or less quickly. A 56k is the suggested minimum modem speed today for the Internet's graphic rich environment.

Back to top