RFC 2664 (rfc2664) - Page 2 of 11
FYI on Questions and Answers - Answers to Commonly Asked "New Internet User" Questions
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
RFC 2664 FYI Q/A - for New Internet Users August 1999
2. Questions About the Internet
2.1. What is the Internet?
People use computers to perform a wide assortment of tasks. A
connected group of computers is known as a network. Because people
are connected via this network, they can use their computers to
exchange ideas and information. Some computers are connected
directly to the network while others (primarily those in homes) are
connected via a telephone line and a communication device known as a
modem. By connecting networks together with specialized computers
known as routers, people on one network can engage in activities with
people on other networks. This INTER-connected group of NETworks is
known as the INTERNET.
2.2. What Can I do on the Internet?
There is a large variety of activities that users can do on the
Internet. These activities include surfing, searching, sending mail,
transfering programs and documents, chatting, and playing games.
SURFING
Surfing is one of the most popular Internet activities. To surf, a
user needs a program known as a web browser. The web browser enables
the user to connect to a location that contains information. Many
locations contain links to other sites that contain related
information. These links are usually identified by underlined text
that is of a different color from the rest of the text in an article.
By clicking on one of these links the user is then connected to that
information. This information may be at the same location or may be
at a different location. This new information may, in turn, have
links to other information. So just like a footnote or reference in
a print publication, links can be used to find related or non-related
information.
SEARCHING
Searching involves using a special program known as a seach engine.
There are several of these engines that are located at various search
sites. The popular web browsers have location information about
these search sites. Searching is similar to using a card catalog in
a library. Just as a person would look up a topic in a card catalog
and find one or more references to that topic with library location
information, a search engine provides the user with a list of sites
that may contain relevant information. This list is actually a set
of links to these sites so that all the user has to do is click on
the link to go to the location. Just as different library card
Plzak, et al. Informational