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Exploring Your Computer’s Features

An overview of using the Internet

If you are using your computer at the office, then you probably connect to the Internet through your company’s network. See your network administrator about connecting to the Internet.

Surfing the Internet

Once connected to the Internet, the Web browser displays a home page, for example, your ISP’s home page on the Internet or your company’s Web site home page.

To visit a desired Web site, type in the Web address. The Web address, or Uniform Resource Locator (URL), is a unique identifier for that computer system linked to the Internet. Web addresses can also appear within a Web page’s text, and are known as links. Clicking a link automatically transfers your Web browser to that site.

You can also use a Search Engine, a Web site specifically designed to help you look for information.

Internet features

The Internet offers many types of communication tools to help you perform many tasks.

❖Internet email

To send and receive email of your own, you need a mailbox on the Web or an email address.

If you have an account with an ISP, you can probably set up an email address at the same time you sign up for the service.

❖Internet chat rooms

A chat room is a Web site that offers a place where people with similar interests and ideas communicate in real-time, one-on- one or in groups, by typing messages which are instantly viewed by others on their computer screens.

❖Internet news groups

A news group is similar to a chat room, but instead of using a dedicated site to converse about a specialized subject with others in real-time, it uses a Web site as a clearinghouse where all the messages are placed, like a gigantic bulletin board.

❖Online shopping

Many Web sites offer products and services for sale.