Happy Talk: Beginner's Guide to Internet & E-mail

1. “Happy Talk”A Beginner’s Guide to the Internet, E-mail, Chat, and Messaging :-) Day 1: Introduce Yourself

2. What is the Internet? • Short answer: it’s magic! • Long answer: a global network of computer networks (like the telephone network) which allows connected machines to talk to each other. • Internet = INTERconnected NETwork • The Internet is asynchronous

3. What is the Web? • Web = World-Wide Web = WWW • The Web is a part of the Internet (one application among many, like one particular type of telephone call) • It’s all about hypertext (cross-references)

4. Work the Web • How to spot a hyperlink • Single click • The “World-Wide Wait” • Filling out forms

5. Get Hooked Up (Part 1) • Option 1: Buy a computer with a modem and Internet software • Option 2: Join a club (like Little House!) or visit your local library • ISP = Internet Service Provider • AOL, CompuServe, WorldNet, etc. • WebTV

6. What is E-mail? • E-mail = electronic mail • If it looks like a typewriter, works like a typewriter, and quacks like a typewriter… • Addresses: “user@domain.abc”

7. Why use E-mail? • FAST - electricity runs faster than your postman can • FREE - no need to buy stamps, envelopes, paper, ink, or blotters • EASY - just type and send!

8. Get Hooked Up (Part 2) • Option 1: ISP package deals (AOL, WorldNet, WebTV, etc.) • Option 2: Free E-mail on the Web (Yahoo, Excite, Juno, etc.) • Let’s do it!

9. Now What? • Directory services: 411, etc. • LHCC@mailexcite.com • curtis@snout.org

10. CAVEATS • You can’t recall sent E-mail, so always check your addresses! • Netiquette = Network etiquette • Think before you speak: would you want to read this message? • Check spelling and grammar • DON’T USE ALL CAPS

11. http://www.snout.org/happytalk/ Next week: E-mail ’til You Drop