Internet – anglicky
The Internet
In this presentation I’ll try to give you an overall picture of how does this ‘magic network’ work and what it is used for.
#1 What is Internet?
A word Internet comes from International Network. Internet was born 30 years ago, under a name ARPANet, because of the need of researchers in defense industry of USA. Now it is one of the most common communication services. In this huge, world wide web is permanently connected over 2 million computers, 20.000 LANs (Local Area Networks) and has over 30 million users all over the world.
#2 How to sign on?
First step is to buy a computer. Because I know you are full of money that shouldn’t be a problem. You must also buy a modem (word comes from MODular EMulator), a device connected on telephone line and plugged into your machine. It matters a lot how fast that device is, which depends on how much money you are ready to give away. But that’s an old, sad story, already known to everyone.
Software: this word includes programs, tools and applications; without them your computer is only a box. You shouldn’t copy such things from your friend, because that’s a crime and you can be arrested. So, if anybody possesses an illegal copy of Windows, he should let me know that I can report him.
When you have all of this: a computer, modem and appropriate software, you should start looking for Internet access provider. Of course money talks here, too, but if you’re a student you can get it for free. This goodie is provided for you by ARNES, which means Academic Research NEtwork of Slovenia. In case you are not a student you can buy it for approximately 10.000 SIT per month. Why spend so much money? Well, when you are once in, you will never ask yourself this question again.
When you have arranged all this, you are ready to launch yourself into cyberspace. But before that, it is likely for you to have also a small amount of knowledge and big amount of patience – or better: someone who will help you.
#3 What does Internet offer you?
I will describe you only the main services that it offers to its users, because the real capability of Internet is unlimited.
The first and most interesting for me is service called WWW – World Wide Web. It is used to crusade or better surf across the Net. Through WWW it is available to you to access any site on the world and that gives you unlimited resources. You can find yourself information about anything you wish in just a few moments. For example, you can visit White House and post a message to Clinton or you can just look what is it in your local cinema today.
The second service is so called E-Mail – Electronic Mail. You can send a message to anybody on the Net, if you only know his E-Mail address. He will receive your mail just a few seconds after you post it.
IRC – Internet Relay Chat is most popular among younger users. This service offers you thousands of channels with different topics to talk in. A channel is similar to a conference, where you can exchange your opinions about particular topic. Instead of talking you must press buttons on your keyboard. Kind a modern way of chatting.
In Newsgroups, for example in Usenet, you can read about anything. What is happening in the world today? All you have to do is press a few buttons. You can also post your own opinions. In these messages it is useful to know how to use smilies – faces created with punctuation marks.
With some services, such as FTP, Gopher and Archie you can locate and download your favorite shareware. Shareware is software, which is meant to be used for a certain period of time, to see, if it is worth registering it. Files are transferred from remote to your local computer immediately. I have already a nice collection of all kind of pictures downloaded and saved on my computer.
Internet, all in one, is one of the best things which can happen to your computer. I recommend it to everyone, because it expands our eyesight and what is it for our teacher most important it makes us use and improve our English, because official language on the Net is English.