Internet Access
What is the Internet?
The Internet is a worldwide network of computers and people. Built upon state-of-the-art technology, the Internet makes it possible for thousands of dissimilar physical networks that are not connected to one another and that use diverse hardware technologies to connect and operate as a single communication system.

The Internet allows the user to connect with computers on the other side of the globe as easily as connecting to computers in another room (Benson, The Complete Internet Companion for Librarians, c1995, pages xix, 3).

In this workbook, you will receive a basic introduction to the Internet. You will learn how to use the World Wide Web (WWW) to access internet sites. You will use the Netscape or Explorer program to access the World Wide Web.

The following definitions (Netscape Tour for Windows, page 10) will help you understand the World Wide Web:

  1. World Wide Web or WWW, is a system designed to access documents online over the Internet. It makes it possible to read and exchange text, images, sound and video.
  2. Hypertext and Hypermedia are what the WWW uses to link related documents, allowing the reader to follow connections from one document to the next. By using the computer's mouse, you can click on any of the highlighted text. Hypermedia is a more appropriate term when links are to audio and video files.
  3. A Web Browser is a program that allows you to explore the WWW. The Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Explorer are web browsers.
Spend some time looking at the Capital Community College home page. Click HERE to open the home page in a separate browser-window. Use that browser to look at information on the college's courses, the college library, college policies, etc. Many college departments, faculty, staff, and students have mounted home pages. To find information on a given home page, use the scroll bars to move up and down on the page and click on its specific hyperlinks.

To go back to a previous web page within that browser, click on the Back arrow located at the top left corner of the window. To make that browser-window disappear when you're done with it, click on the little square in the upper left-hand corner of its window if you're using a Macintosh or on the X in the upper right-hand corner of its window if you using a PC.

Practice looking at WWW sites by using an Internet search engine. A search engine allows you to search the WWW in various categories or by typing in a word or phrase that describes what you're looking for. Use the following steps to access the various search engines -- Yahoo, Lycos, Infoseek, Magellan or Excite. (Another way to get access to various search engines is through the college main web-page. Click on Search Engines in the lower frame of that page.)

  1. Click on the Search or Net Search button depending on whether you are using Internet Explorer or Netscape. This button is located in the tool bar which is above or below the location field near the top of the screen.
  2. Click on the search engine of your choice.
  3. Type your subject in the box provided or click on one of the subjects provided. Note that your subject needs to be focused enough so that you are not overwhelmed with the search engine's returns. Typing in Biology, for instance, would return nearly half a million possible links on the World Wide Web!
  4. After typing your subject, click on the search button or press the enter key.
Note: After you've seen the display of individual WWW addresses, click on the Back arrow located at the top left corner of the screen to return to your original list. If the computer says a location cannot be located on this server, select another address. Addresses can change or be deleted from time to time. Also, at various times, the connection may be busy.

Practice using the Internet by using it to help find information on automobiles. You are going to sell your 1990 Honda Accord to a private seller. You will need to know the value of the car, as well as the value of the new car you wish to buy. Answer the following questions HERE by using the suggested websites:

  1. Go to NADA and find the average retail value of your old 1990 Honda Accord Coupe 2 door LX.
  2. Go to Edmunds and look for a review of the car you wish to purchase (a 2000 Passat GLX V6 Sedan 5 speed). Do they recommend it?
  3. Go to Kelly Blue Book to get the dealer invoice for the above car.
  4. Go to The Bargain News. How many of these cars are for sale?

    You can use the frame at left to go to any chapter you wish to explore next. The next chapter in order, however, is Chapter Six -- Reference Sources.