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Introduction to the Internet - Day 1

Administration

Texas state survey and roll.

Goals

In this session you will:
  • Learn the basic nature and history of the internet
  • Learn how to get connected to the net and make the most of your experience
  • Use simple utilities to illustrate the net's structure
  • Become familiar with the Netscape browser's interface
  • Use links and keyed-in URLs to navigate the web (http://www.abcnews.com)
  • Configure the browser
  • Use a search engine to do research (search logic)
  • Build a simple web page on your floppy

Hype

History

Structure

Getting Connected

  • In search of a TCP/IP feed...
    • PPP (modem) connections (dialup and dedicated)
    • ISDN, cable, xDSL, xDSL via PPPoE, satellite, microwave
    • network connections
    • pricing, Dallas ISP list
  • Non-TCP/IP access
  • advanced connectivity
    • home networks: inexpensive SOHO routers or ICS
    • firewalls: freeware Zone Alarm
    • AVS - antivirus software - freeware Grisoft AVG

Some nifty utils

  • ping - check to see if a host is "alive".
    Start -> programs -> msdos prompt -> ping [hostname]
  • tracert - (traceroute) illustrates the route to a host
    Start -> programs -> msdos prompt -> tracert [hostname]
  • Note: you can also run these from the "run" box, like Start -> Run -> ping [host]

browsers (web clients)

  • client/server
  • popups and proxies
  • dominance of IE, Netscape, Mozilla, and Opera trail
  • IE skins

Netscapes's Interface

  • simple document
  • normal windows app
  • browser v. content
  • links, cursor/hand, statusbar
  • walk through important sections of menus and taskbars
  • notice that some buttons (ie, HOME and SEARCH, etc) point to urls rather than something within the software
  • Viewing source

Configuration

You can override most of the browser's default configuration
  • Edit -> Preferences
  • plugins, helper apps

security issues

  • cookies
  • public machines
  • secure sockets
  • public key cryptography

alternative browsers

  • IE extensions/skins: MyIE2, CrazyBrowser, Neoplanet
  • Opera, Mozilla/Netscape

Research

Search engines are research tools, though commercial sites might like them to be marketing tools.
  • SEs constantly mutate
  • finding matching text, sorted by highest value
  • origin and current economics of search engines
  • built in search engines
  • Search engines like www.altavista.com
    • search engine as a web page, results as cgi
    • keyword searches and results display
    • modifying a search "" + - *
    • FAQ = frequently asked questions
    • submission and spidering process
  • Directories like www.yahoo.com
  • further reading

Building Web Content

  • Task management, familiarity with various apps
  • the role of html
  • structure v. appearance - appearance of the sourcecode is unimportant
  • simplest document (and a slightly fancier one)
  • tags + attributes - define elements <TAG attribute>text here</TAG>
  • head and body <HTML><BODY> </BODY></HTML> (note correct "nesting")
  • headers <H1-6]>header text here</H1-6>
  • linebreaks <BR> Begins new line. (singular! no closing tag!)
  • paragraph <P> Begins new line, skips a space. (singular!)
  • anchors (links) <a href=URL>link text here</a>
  • images <img src=url>
  • fonts <font color=|face=>text</font>
  • text or character styles, implicit v. explicit
    • <strong>text</strong>
    • <em>text</em>
    • <big>text</big>
    • <small>text</small>
    • <em>text</em>
  • lists 
    	<UL>
	<LI>list item
	<LI>list item
	</UL>

Homework

Read ahead about email and newsgroups.

http://www.mousetrap.net/net.introduction/day2.html
$Id: day1.orb,v 1.9 2002/10/03 15:31:00 mouse Exp $

© 1994-2002 jason carr.
distributed under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.

jason carr

Reminders

  • Classroom temperature can be wildly variable. Dress lightly and bring layers.
  • your username is based on the class title and the last two digits of your workstation's hostname.
  • remember to take your work with you.

Homework

Read Lesson 6 in your text to prepare for browsing next session.

http://www.mousetrap.net/net.introduction/day1.html
$Id: day1.orb,v 1.9 2002/10/03 15:31:00 mouse Exp $

© 1994-2002 jason carr.
distributed under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.

jason carr

Reminders