Internet Basics

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Internet Basics

• An introduction for people who are just getting
  started using the Internet

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What Well Cover

• What is the Internet?
• How do I use the Internet?
• What is key word searching using internet
  browsing software?
• What is e-mail www?
• How do I evaluate the information I find?
• Where can I learn more?

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What is the Internet?

• A large computer network linking smaller computer
  networks worldwide

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What do I Need to Connect to the Internet ?



Computer, Mouse Modem or network card
Telephone, Cable, DSL or Wireless
Internet Service Provider
Browser Software
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Why Use the Internet?

• To search for Information on
• the World Wide Web
• To use e-mail
• The World Wide Web (www) and
• e-mail (user-name)_at_(provider) are two different
  Internet services!

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What is E-mail?

• Electronically sending messages
• from one computer to another.
• Many websites, like Yahoo and Google, offer free
  Internet e-mail accounts.
• Want to learn more? Take E-mail Basics

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Websites and E-mail Use Addresses

Website addresses www.hclib.org
E-mail addresses jdoe_at_hclib.org
at sign for e-mail Address that you use to send
electronic messages
World Wide Web for websites Address that gets
you to a website
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Entering a Web Address
www.hclib.org
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Avoid Mistakes in the Address

• Check for typos.
• Include all periods, hyphens, underscores
  back-slashes (/)
• Leave no empty spaces.

www.hclib.org
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Pop-ups
Pop-up are advertisements Find either the X or
area to skip the pop-ups.
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Find X, close or continue reading to skip pop up
ad
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Hands-On Practice!
Each website has its own address
Try these websites www.cnn.com www.usa.gov
www.mpr.org
www.hclib.org
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Internet Search Engines

• What are they?
• A search engine is programmed to search for
  websites using keywords and web addresses.
• To do a search, you type in keywords that
  describe your topic such as recipes, investments
  or travel destinations.
• Google and Yahoo! are two popular search engines

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Internet Search Engines
Descriptions of search engines and web addresses
are easy to find at www.hclib.org
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Hands-On Practice!Keyword Searching
www.hclib.org
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SecurityTime for some good tips

• If you shop online
• Look for the padlock.
• Look for https.www (website address) this
  indicates a secure site.
• Dont enter personal information if you dont
  know the site is secure.

Lets try what weve learned at www.amazon.com
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Important Internet Facts

• Anyone can publish information on the Internet.
• You are responsible for evaluating the
  information you find.

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• On the Internet, nobody knows youre a dog
• Cartoon by Peter Steiner. The New Yorker, July 5,
  1993 issue (Vol.69) p. 61.

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Tips for Evaluating Websites

• Ask yourself these two questions
• Who wrote or published the information?
• 2. Is this author or publisher a reliable source
  of information?

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Website Authors Publishers

• Websites should tell you
• Who is the author or publisher
• The author or publishers credentials
• Look for these kinds of links to find
• information about the web page author
• Who we are Mission Contact us Philosophy
  About us

www.hclib.org
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Where to Learn More

• Hennepin County Library Classes
• Community Education
• Senior Net www.seniornet.org
• Practice your skills at www.hclib.org

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Thanks for Watching!

• Practice what youve learned.
• Have fun learning to use computers!
• We will be happy to assist you.