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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.