AOTA Continuing Education - Using The Internet

The Internet consists of many computers joined by links or connections. These computers and connections are referred to as a network. These networks are joined together and form the Internet.

One type of network is a local area network (LAN), composed of a series of computers connected to one central computer. The central computer, called the host computer or router/server computer, stores the programs shared by all the computers on the LAN, such as a local e-mail program. The central computer is connected to the Internet. Access via a LAN is the method most used to connect to the Internet.

Unless your computer is directly wired to the host computer, you must somehow connect to the host computer. There are two types of connections: dial-up access and ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network).

Dial-up access uses the telephone lines. There are two types of dial-up access:

SLIP connect (Serial Line Internet Protocol): SLIP connections are faster than PPP connections, but SLIP connections do not have good error detection programs in them to check the incoming signal for accuracy.
PPP (Point to Point Protocol): PPP connections are slower but are more accurate because they contain an error detection program.

Both types of work the same way. The signal from your computer is passed through your Modem (Modulate, Demodulate). The modem changes the signal from digital (computer form) to analog (telephone form) and then the SLIP or PPP connection sends the signal to the central computer, which is connected, to the Internet.

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) carries carry both voice and data communication over a single cable, eliminating a modem because the cable can handle the computer's digital signal directly from the computer to the router and onto the Internet. ISDN connections are faster because they do not have to take the time to translate the signal from digital to analog and back again at the receiving end.

The World Wide Web (WWW or Web) has become so popular that is has become synonymous with the Internet. When most people visualize the Internet they see the Web. Web pages can contain text, graphics, photos, sound bits, video or movie clips or any combination thereof. Web servers are the most rapidly growing type of server today.

To access Web pages you need a Web client, usually called a browser. The most common browsers are Netscape and Microsoft Internet Explorer.

The browser window contains a series of Toolbar buttons at the top of the window. You can use the buttons to perform the following actions:

Back	Displays the previous Web page in the History list. Useful when you want to track the links you have used or go back to try another link on the previous Web page.
Forward	Displays the next page in the History list (available only if the Back button has been used).
Home	Displays the Home page designated under Preferences. Useful if you want to try another set of links that can be started from your Home page.
Reload	Reloads the current Web page. Useful if the first attempt is not successful in painting a clear, readable screen.
Image	Displays images in the page if the Auto Load feature is not checked in the Preferences.
Open	Creates a box to type the URL for a site to which you do not have an established link.
Print	Prints the current page.
Find	Locates a word or phrase in a Web page document for you so you do not have to spend time looking for it.
Stop	Stops loading the current page.