FACTS AND
fallacies OF EVERYDAY THINGS THAT ROBROB8 THINKS YOU SHOULD KNOW
Q:
Just what is the
Internet and the World Wide Web anyways?
A: Many people confuse what exactly is the Internet,
the World Wide Web, E-mail, the FTP Servers and the News Groups that are
available through their home and work computers.
The
Internet is simply this: a gathering point (-net) of many connected
computers that can communicate together through the use of commonly
understood file formats (inter-).
The
Internet encompasses all that can be accomplished through the trading of
files and resources of inter-connected computers.
The
World Wide web is a part of the Internet that most people are familiar
with and use daily or whenever they go "on-line". Common file
extensions such as .htm, .html, .asp and others allow a wide assortment of
computer operating systems (PC, Mac and Linux are some) the ability to
read files from different computers from anywhere in the world. Common
file extensions allow for computers of different types to "speak the
same language" and communicate. No matter where you are in the world,
no matter what type of computer you have and the language that you speak,
if your computer can read an .htm document, you can participate in this
exchange of information, ideas, and programs. Web Sites make up this part
of the Internet. You find them by looking for an Internet address that
begins with http://www. and a name, which is merely an easy to remember
short form of an IP (Internet Protocol) number. For instance, you found
this website by http://www.robrob8.com,
but also you could find it by the IP address which is http://216.19.70.15,
go ahead, click on that last link, you'll find our front page!
The Internet expands beyond simple (or complex)
web pages into FTP (File Transfer protocol) servers. These are places that
allow programs and large files of information to be stored and accessible
to those that have appropriate access. If you have reason to access such a
computer, or server, you won't be viewing web pages, just file names and a
method to download them to your own computer to use the information or
program contained within.
The Internet also
includes the most popular form of communication currently available,
email. This almost instant form of electronic communication has changed
forever the way we make contact and share information with others. Perhaps
even you arrived at this page by a message in an email to you sent by a
friend of yours.
Not to be underestimated
are the Instant Messenger programs freely available as well. Instant
contact is now available through the use of such programs as MSN
Messenger, ICQ and others, that
allow us to know when our friends are online at the same time as we are,
thus being able to trade messages instantly and stay in touch across many
miles and computer networks. Not only the written
word, but pictures
too, and even voice messages!
And
News Groups, the scourge of the email programmers... more or less...
Freedom to place your opinion on almost any topic, but recently overtaken
by useless spam and ads that no one wants to read. Your ISP has news
groups available to you, take a look, you may find something useful there.
If you do, email me,
remove the [no-spam].
Most of all, just surf, click, visit and have fun.
My lawyers and I are trying to find a way to make
claim to it all, so enjoy it while you can.
Robrob8.
NOW
YOU KNOW!
