Using the Internet: Making the Most of the Web’s Resources

James B. DangAssociate Professor/Department Chair of Computer Science Southeast Campus

History of the Internet

Developed for secure military communicationsEvolved from Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET)Funded by the U.S. government in the 1960sEnabled computers at leading universities and research organizations to communicate with each other

The Web vs. the Internet

The Web is part of the Internet, distinguished by

Common communication protocolsHyperlinks

1989: Web invented by Tim Berners-Lee1993: Mosaic browser released1994: Netscape Navigator marked beginning of the Web’s major growth

Internet Communications

E-mailInstant messagingVoice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)Group communication

E-Mail

Electronic mailAsynchronous communicationTypes of e-mail accounts

Client-basedWeb-based

Not privateCan be printed or forwardedEmployer can monitor

Instant MessagingReal-time, text-based conversationsPersonal and business usesList of contacts: buddy listIM software detects members’ presence Example: AOL Instant Messenger

Voice over Internet Protocol

VoIP: Using the Internet to place phone callsUses technology similar to e-mail to send voice data digitally Requires speakers, a microphone, an Internet connection, and a VoIP provider

Voice over Internet Protocol

VoIP services differ:Free services require an account on both endsPaid services connect phone to computerCable/DSL providers offer phone through broadbandWi-Fi IP phones call through Internet hotspots and wireless networks

Voice over Internet ProtocolAdvantages

Free or low cost PortabilityConvenience

DisadvantagesLower sound qualityLess reliabilityLoss of service when power is interruptedSecurity issues

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Group Communication

Chat roomsNewsgroupsListservsBlogs and vlogsWikisPodcasts and webcastsSocial networks

Chat Rooms

Real-time, text-based conversationsRooms can focus on specific topics or interests or be general interestIdentity protection

Username can allow anonymous interaction

Netiquette: rules of polite interaction

Newsgroups and Listservs

NewsgroupsOnline discussion forumsMembers post and reply to messagesCreate or respond to “threads”

ListservsElectronic mailing lists of people interested in a topic Threads are sent as e-mailsLess public than newsgroups

Social Networks

Online personal and business networks

Examples include Facebook , MySpace, and LinkedIn

Members share common interestsMembers communicate by voice, chat, IM, videoconference, and blogs Growth has been explosive

Web 2.0 Web interactions between people, software, and dataSocial web where the user is also a participantNew applications that combine the functions of multiple applications

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What is Web 2.0?

A term describing the trend in the use of World Wide Web technology and web design that aims to enhance creativity, information sharing, and, most notably, collaboration among users. These concepts have led to the development and evolution of web-based communities and hosted services, such as social-networking sites, wikis, blogs, and folksonomies (social tagging). Wikipedia

Blogs and VlogsPersonal journals posted on the WebWeblogs: blogs

Primarily text-basedSimple to create, read, and manageEntries listed on a single page, with most recent entry at the topSearchable

Video logs: vlogsDigital video clips playable on media player software

Wikis

Wikis: Web sites that allow anyone to change their content

Provide a source for collaborative writingEliminate exchanging e-mailsTrack revisions

Podcasts

Podcasts: Compressed audio or video files distributed on the InternetReally Simple Syndication (RSS) technology allows constant updates for subscribersPodcasts are all over the Web

Need “aggregator” software to gather podcastsNeed media player software to play them

Simple to create

Webcasts

Webcasts: Broadcasts of audio or video content over the Internet

Often liveDelivered to your computerUse streaming media

Topics on Web 2

Collaborative/Concurrent Word ProcessingMobile Desktops & Application SuitesMulti-Point Video ApplicationsCollaborative / Community ToolsSome fun stuff

Collaborative Word Processing

Adobe Acrobat (Buzzword)*Zoho (Sharing)Google Docs (Sharing)

* Buzzword facilitates concurrent editing

Mobile Desktops & Application Suites

Zoho Glide (Still in beta)AirSet (Still in beta)ThinkFreeG.ho.stGoogle Docs

Multi-Point Video Applications

Elluminate vRoomooVooAdobe Acrobat (ConnectNow)SkypeGlide

Collaborative / Community Tools

PbwikiZoho WikiBloggerAirSet (wiki & blog)Zoho Suite (wiki)

Fun Stuff

PandoraToonDooVoki