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FAQ

A FAQ usually contains four types of questions, "what is....?", "How does...?" , "How do I...?" and "Why...". This FAQ is no different. The information is organized under these three headings. If you don't fine the answer you are looking for you can check Navigating the Internet, it may be there. If it's not there perhaps a book would be the best resource or if it is about RTCol then send us an email and ask your question.

Summary Of FAQ
What is...?
...a bookmark
...a modem
...HTML
...Java
...JavaScript
...URL
...a Computer Virus		 How does...?
...the Internet work?
...noise come from the Internet?
...an animation work on the Internet?		 How do I...?
...edit bookmarks?
...get and send email?
...save something from an Internet page?
...create my own web page?
...download a file?
...protect against Computer Viruses?
...put my picture on the Internet?		 Why...
...is the Internet slow sometimes?
...can I see a web site in Australia as quickly as a web site at home?
...do pictures look better on some computers?
...are some pages so slow?
...isn't the Internet like television?
...does the mouse pointer keep changing?

What is...?
...a bookmark A bookmark is a way of quickly returning to a web site. In some browsers you can set your own bookmarks if you find a site you think you will want to see again.
...a modem A modem is a machine that allows your computer to talk to other computers.
...HTML HTML is the name of the computer language that tells Internet browsers what to do. This page is made up of HTML commands, text and images. If you look for a Menu command SOURCE and click on it, you will be able to change the page display to HTML so that you can see what the language looks like. The Source Code is displayed in a separate window so to return here just close that window.
...Java Java is a computer language. We encounter it most often on the Internet in the form of Java Applets.
...JavaScript JavaScript is a programming language that provides added programming capabilities to HTML.
...URL URL is like a telephone number. It is unique for each computer on the internet. We see them most often as Names such as RTCol but when we are on the Internet our computer has a URL just like everyone else.
...a Computer Virus A Computer Virus is a small computer program that has been designed to (usually) do harm to your computer. Your computer cannot get a virus just by surfing the Internet. Your computer can get a computer virus by downloading a program from an unknown site or by uploading software into your computer from a computer disk or CD.

How does...?
...the Internet work? How the Internet works is a very long and complicated story. Here's the short form and if you want to know more go to the library.

When you log on to the Internet, your ISP gives you computer a number (its very own URL), now your computer is just like all the other computers on the Internet. When you go somewhere your computer tells the other computer your URL and when it communicates back to you it uses your URL. Just as you use the URL to find the other computer in the first place.

When you log off the Internet your ISP will give the URL you just used to someone else. so you don't have a permanent address and no one knows who you are when you are surfing the Internet.
...noise come from the Internet? Noise or music on the Internet usually comes in 2 basic forms. WAV files and MIDI are examples of the types of files you will encounter.
...an animation work on the Internet? Animations on the Internet are usually of two types. Computer generated drawings and electronic image movies. The large files necessary to make movies make it very difficult to use them on the Internet at the present time.

How do I...?
...edit bookmarks? In either Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer you can edit bookmarks by selecting the Bookmark menu item and performing the task you want to do. For quick access, press "ctrl D" to immediately add the page you are viewing to your Bookmark List or "ctrl B" to edit your Bookmarks. To view or choose one of your Bookmarks select the bookmark button.
...get and send email? Most Internet Browsers have an email program built right into them. The email editors are basically word processors and there are menu items to Send Mail and Get Mail. If there is an email button on your browser that is the easiest way.
...save something from an Internet page? To save something from an Internet page there are three ways.

To save the page itself choose the Save As item from the File Menu and follow the instructions. (This does not save the images on that page.)

To save an image, place you mouse cursor over the image then press your right mouse button. A menu will appear, choose the Save Image As menu item and follow the instructions.

To save a block of text. Position your mouse cursor over the text you want to save, press the left mouse button and highlight the block of text you want to save. Once the block is highlighted, press "ctrl C". Go to a word processing program and press"ctrl V", The text will be placed in file at the point of the cursor.
...create my own web page? If you want to create your own web page, take a look at I'd Rather Do It Myself.
...download a file? To download a file from the Internet go to a download site. These are usually clearly marked, just follow the links. Click on the file you want and follow the instructions.

Be careful when downloading files on the Internet, you may be downloading a computer virus in the process.
...protect against Computer Viruses? There are several software programs that will protect your computer against computer viruses. Ask your local computer Retailer which one is best for your needs.
...put my picture on the Internet? Putting your picture on the Internet may be more complicated than you anticipate. It would be best to have someone help you do it.

Why...
...is the Internet slow sometimes? The Internet can be viewed as acting like a highway. When there are a lot of cars the traffic moves very slowly. When there are a lot of cars it is much slower as each car must wait its turn.
...can I see a web site in Australia as quickly as a web site at home? Information on the Internet travels at the same speed as light, 186,000 miles per second. That means that even the farthest away place on earth is less than a tenth of a second away.
...do pictures look better on some computers? The quality of the image on a computer depends on the color card in the computer. Better color cards provide a better quality picture.
...are some pages so slow? Pages with a lot of graphics or sound files are very slow to show on your screen because the size of the files they require are very big. Sometimes when the Internet is very busy even small pages are very slow to be displayed.
...isn't the Internet like television? There are two big differences between the Internet and television.

The Internet is a two way communication, and while you can talk at your television you cannot talk to your television.

Second is degree of precision, over the Internet. You want to go to an exact point on the Internet, not just let it whiz by you any old way. If you wanted to watch only your favorite part of a movie. It could take a long time for you top find that exact spot with your VCR. Its the same idea.
...does the mouse pointer keep changing? The mouse cursor changing shape is telling you something. If it changes to a hand with a pointing finger, its telling you that is a active LINK. If it turns into an hour glass, that you should wait as it is busy doing something. If it turns into a vertical "I' its telling you it is over text.

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