Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Many sites on the Internet use the frequently-asked-question (FAQ) format to guide users and give them quick, useful answers to common questions. Often the FAQ page opens with a list of questions that the people who built the page believe will be on many users' minds. These questions may contain a hot button—a hyperlink—to the answer. Users scan the list for a question they would like answered and then jump to the answer. We have kept our printed FAQ list especially small so that you can jump in and get started. Once you develop search skills from the early exercises in this guide, you won't need us to answer your questions—you'll be able to search the Net yourself.

What is the Internet?

The Internet—often called simply "the Net"—is a network of computers reaching every country in the world. It is similar to the telephone system in that, just as you can call people anywhere in the world if they have a phone, you can contact their computers as long as they are connected to the Net. But the Internet is more than just computers and their contents; it is a social space where users communicate with each other. It is this feature, as well as the absence of a single governing body, that allows users to shape the Net. The Net is truly a grassroots development.

How did the Net develop?

The Internet has been around since the 1960s, when the United States Defense Department set it up as a fail-safe way of relaying messages in case of a nuclear attack. As a result, the Internet is quite robust—communications almost always go through, though at times rather slowly. From the 1960s until the early 1990s, the Internet's main users were the Defense Department and researchers in industry and education. These people plugged into the Net to share access to distant supercomputers and to send electronic mail. In those days, the Net was hard to use and it was difficult to find your way around. Outside of a fairly small community, not many people even knew of, or cared much about, the Internet. All of that changed in the mid-1990s.

Three major developments have revolutionized the way we use the Internet: the birth of the World Wide Web (or the Web), hyperlinks, and graphical browsers. Even though we use the terms "Internet" and "Web" interchangeably, the Web is actually part of the Internet. It began as a standard that defined how to travel from computer to computer throughout the world by following embedded links in a screen display of written words (text). A click on the link and you were instantly transported to another computer as directed by the embedded instruction. Such clickable text was called hypertext.

The Web and hypertext made it easy to get around because they formed a basis for navigation in cyberspace. What was missing, however, were pictures, icons, and colour. The development of graphical browsers solved this problem.

Browsers are software programs that view information on the Internet. The most prominent browsers are Netscape Navigator (or Netscape Communicator) and Microsoft Internet Explorer. These programs allow users to click on images and hyperlinks to navigate through the multimedia world. Not only can sites contain text and graphics, but they can also contain sound, video, and even 3D video. Graphical browsers have brought visual appeal and entertainment value to the Web because they are intuitive and easy to master.

The Web, hyperlinks, and graphical browsers, in conjunction with a vast array of web-specific multimedia software applications, have made cyberspace an attractive and convenient place to conduct business, do research, and participate in real-time, audio-visual discussion groups. Indeed, one can complete a post-secondary education over the Internet.

Just how popular is the Net today?

There is no doubt that the growth in Internet use has been spectacular. In 1985, the Internet was composed of approximately 200 networks and 1000 host computers. Ten years later, there were approximately 45,000 networks and 4 million host computers connected to the Internet with up to 30 million users. By April 1998, the number of users had reached 116 million. The value of commercial transactions on the Internet is expected to grow from $2.6 billion in 1996 to over $202 billion by 2001. (Source: The Internet and Beyond 2.0: The Challenge of the Internet. Canadian Cable Television Association: http://www.ccta.com/beyond/growth.html)

The extremely rapid Internet growth has created a number of problems. First, connecting to the Internet and downloading information can be quite a slow process. This is especially noticeable when you try to download audio and video content. If 10 people use the same line, they each get one-tenth of the line's capacity (or bandwidth). If 100 people use the same line, then their share is cut to one-hundredth. Similarly, the computers with websites on the Internet—computers we call content providers—can be overworked by the increase in users. A computer that can handle 10 people simultaneously accessing its content may come to its knees when 100 people try accessing it at the same time.

Popularity in cyberspace comes with a price! Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have responded by providing more expensive high-speed cable modems with advanced fibre and coaxial cable distribution systems that increase access and reduce download times from minutes to seconds. Other providers, such as phone companies, offer high-speed service in the form of Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Lines (ADSL). Currently, these high-speed options entail a higher monthly subscription fee to the Internet user.

A second problem related to the rapid growth of Internet use is that, because the Net contains so much material, it has become difficult for users to find their way around. Fortunately, there are tools that can help. They are known as search engines, and they find Net destinations for you. Knowing how to use search engines is an essential survival skill in cyberspace.

Where is the Internet?

Because you can get on the Internet through a standard phone line, the Internet is available anywhere in the world that you can find a telephone. Once a user connects to an Internet computer, that computer serves as a gateway to the rest of the global network. Computers offering services on the Internet are scattered throughout the world, but users do not need to know their geographic whereabouts while on the Net. All the user needs is the Internet address, also known as the Universal Resource Locator (URL), of the computer. For example, the Internet address of the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario is: www.ivey.uwo.ca

Reading backward from the end of the address, we discover that it is located in Canada (ca) within the University of Western Ontario (uwo), that it is the server of the Richard Ivey School of Business (ivey), and that it is found on the World Wide Web (www). Most Internet addresses are not as revealing as to physical location. It's not that the service is trying to conceal its location, but rather that location doesn't really matter. For example, does it matter to the user making an airline reservation that www.aircanada.ca is located in Montreal? Similarly, the user doesn't usually know the location of a business when dialing an 800 number. Internet addresses are like 800 numbers, except that all Internet addresses are valid anywhere in the world.

How is the Internet organized?

Net addresses carry one of several major Internet address classifications, known as top-level domain names. These appear as the last item in an address—for example, the .ca that appears in the addresses we just presented. Top-level domain names tell you the type of site you are connecting to. The following are important top-level domain names: .ca (Canada) .com (commercial) .edu (educational) .gov (government) .net (Internet service provider) .org (non-profit organization). Knowing the domain names may help you as you search the Net, but you can often guess a site address by using the organization name and domain name. For example, the site for IBM is www.ibm.com. You also will see websites that end with letters such as .jp, .fr, or .uk. These domain names indicate the country in which the website is located. Thus, .jp represents Japan, .fr represents France, and .uk represents the United Kingdom.

Moreover, several additional top-level domain names have been approved recently. Don't be surprised if you see websites with top-level domain names like: .firm for firms, .arts for cultural and entertainment entitles, .web for entitles related to the World Wide Web, .rec for recreation/entertainment entitles, .nom for individual or personal nomenclature, .info for entitles providing information services, .store for businesses offering goods to purchase, and .bank for banking services.

Who is out there?

We have compared the Internet to the telephone system—a global communication network of computers. But who is sitting there, hunched over a keyboard, using these computers? Content providers, advertisers, and the audience.

Content Providers

Content providers are the businesses, universities, governments, and other organizations that allow others to peek into their computers. For example, Humber college houses a web server in the School of Information Technology. This computer runs 24 hours a day and contains files that the school created for others to view. For example, there is information about the school's faculty and programs.

Advertisers

Advertisers are the businesses that pay content providers for space on their web pages. For example, when you log on to a search engine's homepage, often you'll see announcements from advertisers who are paying for that space. This is how search engines are able to offer their services for free.

Audience

The audience is the people who travel the Web to find useful or entertaining information from content providers. In addition to pulling data from web servers, the audience also uses the Internet to communicate with other people via e-mail, to post messages to newsgroups, to conduct business, and to surf the Net for personal pleasure.

How do I connect to the Internet?

Users surf the Net from home, business, school, or the library, and there is almost always a fee. In businesses, schools, and libraries the organization often pays the charge and even provides the computers. Home users must provide their own computers and pay their own way. Every Internet connection goes through an Internet Service Provider (ISP). These organizations buy high bandwidth connections to the Internet and then resell them (many times over) in smaller pieces to subscribers. Canadian ISPs that operate in every province include A1-Internet.Net, Galaxynet-Canada, Online-Pro, OnQue Internet Services, Sympatico.ca, Unilat Inc., and VPM Internet Services. If you wish to view a list of over 8600 Internet Service Providers offering services in Canada and the U.S. we suggest that you visit the following website: http://www.thelist.com

The connection from home to the ISP is typically over a phone line using a device called a modem. The modem translates the computer signals into sound waves, which are then decoded by a modem connected to a computer at the ISP receiving the call. Modems are an inexpensive means of connecting, but they are slow. Recent technological advances allow modems to receive information off the Internet at a rate of over 50,000 characters (bytes) per second. And while 50,000 characters per second is faster than any of us can read, consider what it takes to handle graphics. A full-screen picture can easily exceed 1,000,000 characters, and a full-motion video requires changing that picture approximately 30 times per second. Algorithms compress graphics, sound, and video so they can travel over the phone lines.

Cable companies offer high-speed Internet service over cable TV wire using a device called a cable modem. The cable TV wire into your home has a much greater bandwidth than a telephone line and allows for higher-quality video. As an example, if you were to use one of the cheaper telephone modems—28.8 Kbps—it would take about 22 minutes to download a short video clip that will have a duration of about 1.5 minutes. In comparison, a cable modem would take about 4 seconds to download the same video clip.

The home user also needs communication software and a web browser. The software controls the modem and maintains a connection with the ISP, while the web browser provides a graphical user interface (GUI) to access information on the Internet over the established network connection.

The communication channel that organizations use typically offers a faster connection to the Internet and requires different hardware and software. Organizations usually have a higher-speed line (greater bandwidth), but as the number of users in the organization increases, the speed with which each user communicates decreases accordingly.

The business communications channel typically consists of a leased digital line (a T1 or fractional T1 line) connected to the ISP. The T1 line connects to one computer on the Local Area Network (LAN) called the router. The router directs signals to and from all computers on the network to the ISP along the T1 line. In this manner, all users achieve an Internet connection by sharing a single line. You will probably never see the router or T1 line because they are typically locked away in a wiring closet. The following table summarizes this information.

For home use, most ISPs charge a monthly flat rate with unlimited access. The charge now averages about $15 to $20 per month, but is falling fast. It's a good idea to find someone who is happy with her service and follow her lead. Saving $2 per month is not worth the aggravation of bad service. Consider the following points when you're shopping for an ISP:

Does the ISP have a local number for your area?

You need to call the provider each time you access the Internet. Paying a fee every time you do so will cost you a ton of money if you use the Internet regularly, so make sure the ISP has a local number for your area.

Can the system handle a large number of simultaneous connections?

Ask the ISP how many users it can handle at one time and how many subscribers it has. Although a provider may have a reasonable price and a local number, it doesn't mean much if you can't connect to and use it. If, after you subscribe, you are never able to connect or the only available access is late at night or early in the morning, find a new ISP.

Do they offer SLIP/PPP connections?

You'll need an SLIP/PPP connection if you want to use a graphical browser like Navigator or Internet Explorer. Today, PPP connections have become the standard. Some ISPs offer only shell accounts, which require you to type in each command as you would with DOS. It is comparable to driving a horse and buggy when everyone else has an automobile.

Is the monthly subscription fee reasonable?

Cheapest is not always best. Added features and technical support are important points to consider when choosing a service. Some ISPs offer unlimited monthly access at a flat fee, and others offer a specified number of hours at a flat rate (usually lower than the unlimited-time rate) with additional hours costing extra. You'll need to estimate your expected usage and purchase accordingly. Ask if there is a fee to upgrade your service if you find that you need more time. If you have a roommate, consider upgrading the service and splitting the cost when you subscribe. It may actually save you money.

Is the ISP a regional or local company?

This may not be important to everyone, but some of you may be away during holidays and your destinations could be quite far from campus. If the ISP covers a wide-enough area, you can still check your e-mail and cruise the Net when you are away from school.

Does the ISP have a help line in case you need technical assistance to set up your connection?

Call the help line before you subscribe and make sure you can talk to a real person. Although you may be asked to leave your name and number, you should expect to get a return call within 24 hours. If your call is not returned within this time period, then the service is probably understaffed or poorly managed.

Does the ISP offer both newsgroup and e-mail access in addition to a connection to the Web?

Offering both newsgroup and e-mail access in addition to the connection is usually standard, but there are always exceptions. It's better to ask up front and know what services you're paying for rather than being surprised or disappointed later.

Does it cost extra for additional e-mail addresses?

If you have a roommate, you may find that it is more affordable to split the cost of a subscription and pay for an additional e-mail account.

Will your ISP add newsgroups at your request?

Most ISPs only subscribe to a small fraction of the available newsgroups, and you may find that this doesn't include some of the basic, business-oriented groups that your instructors may recommend. It shouldn't cost anything for the ISP to add these groups to its list.

Does the ISP offer space for your own web page?

The basic package frequently offers the option of constructing and posting your own web page. The ISP usually sets a memory usage limit that affects the total size of the page and its traffic flow (that is, the number of people viewing the site).

The most important thing to remember when using an ISP is to expect courteous and prompt service. If you don't like what you're paying for, then cancel your subscription and go somewhere else. There are plenty of competitors willing to offer you better service.

What sort of ISP should a business consider?

Business users pay significantly more per month since they connect at a higher speed. As prices for Internet connections for businesses are in free fall, it makes little sense to enter into contracts for longer than one year. Since the price increases with the speed of the connection, it is best to buy less bandwidth initially as long as you can increase speed in the future without significant upgrade penalties. Hire a reputable management team to design your network, negotiate with vendors, and see the project through to completion. This way, when something goes wrong (and it always does) it is the management team's problem and not yours.

Why are there dead links in this guide?

Organizations change their websites, that's why! Homepages change. You will notice this at some point in this guide. So, what should you do?

One thing that might help is to understand the path system used in web page naming. Suppose you visit the site: www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/user_surveys. The first part (www.cc.gatech.edu) identifies the host computer at that site. All pages at the site are contained in folders (subdirectories) of the host computer. For example, suppose the information you need is in the gvu/user_surveys folder. Fortunately, you rarely need to know in which subdirectory the information you are searching for is contained. A well-designed site will have a homepage on the host computer at the top level (www.cc.gatech.edu) with links to all the pages on the site. So if www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/user_surveys is not bringing you the information that you require, simply back up to www.cc.gatech.edu and work your way down by following the links.

Another thing to remember is that there are many sources for some types of information. If something changes, try using search engines to find another source that will answer your questions. This step will really increase your surfing skills.

Being able to change a homepage is good. Content providers continually update their pages and change graphics to make them more useful, without bearing the heavy costs of printed materials. They can experiment with new ideas at low cost and keep things fresh so consumers will be enticed to return.

How do I know that an online source is credible?

Just because information is on the Internet doesn't mean that it's complete, accurate, or objective. Before you use data from any online source, ask the following questions.

What do I know about the source?

When in doubt, seek out online sources that have a reputation for reliability. Many websites are sponsored by well-known organizations, such as major newspapers, that have earned a reputation for integrity. On the other hand, some websites don't even identify their sponsors. So be wary if the source is completely unfamiliar or has a questionable reputation.

Does the source seem biased?

Think about whether the source is likely to have a definite point of view on certain issues. For example, when you browse the website of the Canadian Snowbird Net, bear in mind that the information is likely to reflect that group's role as an advocate for people over 50 years old. Knowing the organization's purpose and viewpoint can help you interpret any information you use from that source.

What is the original source of the information?

In many cases, websites and databases draw their information from other sources, such as government studies. If the original source is noted, take time to evaluate its reputation and potential for bias before you use the data. If no original source is indicated, approach the data with caution.

Can I verify the source's information?

Before you use information from an online source, try to find another source to verify the data. You can use a search tool such as Infoseek or Metacrawler to scan the Internet for the same kind of data provided by at least one other reliable source. The ability to confirm information serves as a valuable check on the data's accuracy—and the accuracy of its source.

Does the source's information seem reasonable to you?

As a final check on any online source, use your judgement to evaluate the data and the conclusions. Given the other facts you have uncovered on the subject, does this source's information seem unreasonable or out of line? If so, it's time to find a better source.

How does plagiarism apply to information from online sources?

Online research is so convenient that you may be tempted simply to copy material from an Internet source and paste it intact within your document. However, unless your sources are properly documented, you will be plagiarizing. Whether you're working on a term paper or researching a business report, you should cite your source when you (1) quote word for word, (2) closely paraphrase, or (3) repeat a series of phrases from documents posted on the Internet. This includes news articles, guides or excerpts, surveys, speeches, transcripts of online discussions, manuals, and any material on web pages sponsored by individuals, corporations, schools, non-profit groups, or government agencies. When in doubt, you can avoid even the hint of plagiarism by fully documenting your sources.

Where do I go for more information?

Well, why not jump right onto the Net? Use the following Internet addresses to research the right browser for you. Keep in mind that if the complete Internet address is not entered correctly, you will not connect to that site. Internet addresses are case-sensitive so be sure to type them exactly as indicated.

Netscape : http://www.netscape.com

Microsoft : http://www.microsoft.com

Now, with your computer, modem, and browser, you're only one step away. Use the following Internet addresses to research the right ISP for you. You might want to consider the questions outlined earlier.

Choosing an Internet Provider
http://www.ISPs.com

Internet Access Provider Guide
http://www.liii.com/~dhjordan/students/docs/welcome.htm

ISP Locator
http://home.netscape.com/assist/isp_select/index.html

It's always nice to have an independent opinion. Read what the critics have to say. Stop by the following Internet addresses, and visit the largest publishers of computer-related magazines. Altogether, these companies print nearly 50 different popular periodicals about computers and the Internet. Search their databases for articles that will help you decide, and you can read the articles online.

CMP Media Inc.'s Publisher of Windows Magazine and others
http://www.techweb.com/info/publications/

Ziff Davis Publisher of PC Magazine, MacUser, and others
http://www5.zdnet.com/