Asia Dragon Business - E Commerce & Internet Education - Internet Course in English
Internet Course in English
01 Welcome
The Course
Welcome to the BBC WebWise Online Course provided to you by Asia Dragon. The course has 8 modules and will take 1 to 2 days to complete. We hope you enjoy studying the information and once you have finished you will have a much better insight as to how the internet works.
Net Health
Using a computer, monitor, mouse and keyboard to browse the internet or work is generally a safe activity. But if you haven't got your work space set-up correctly it can damage your health.
Chair positioning
It is important to have a chair that lets you adjust the height of your seat. A good chair should allow you to change the height and angle of the back rest. This means you can make sure that your lower back is properly supported.
Learning how to sit
Your feet should always be flat on the floor. Avoid crossing your legs or tucking your feet under the chair. You should always make sure that your lower legs are at right angles to your upper legs. And make sure you don't hunch over your computer desk or slouch back. Keeping your lower back supported at all times by sitting up straight.
Placing your hands
When you are using your keyboard, try to keep your upper arms at right angles to the lower part of your arm. Your fingers should be floating just above the keyboard. When using a mouse, you should always keep your wrist supported on the desk surface.
Your monitor
Keep the top of your monitor at your eye level. The screen should be about an arm's length away from you. It is important to look away from the screen regularly. Every few minutes try and focus on something far away to give your eyes a rest.
Lighting your workspace
Be aware that poor lighting can lead to eye strain and headaches. Keep bright lighting at a right angle to your monitor, and that way there won't be reflections on the monitor or glare from behind it.
02 Connecting
ISP's
Internet Service Providers or ISPs are the companies who sell connections to the internet. Everything you send or receive online goes through your ISP - they are your essential link to the world wide web.
What connection do I need?
There are so many ISPs out there and so many different types of internet connection that it can be confusing. You may have heard of a variety of different options such as 'Broadband' or 'Dial-up'. This guide will explore what each of these options provides to a user, and you can then decide which one best fits your own type of internet use.
Pay-as-you-go
Like the mobile phone connection of the same name, a 'Pay-as-you-go' internet connection means you only pay for the time you are online. There are no fixed monthly fees and no separate internet bills.
Anytime
Anytime connections are often described as unmetered. That's because you do not pay anything for the cost of the call on your phone bill. All you pay is the same amount each month to your ISP for a standard 56K dial-up connection.
Broadband
Broadband is at least ten times faster than a normal dial-up internet connection. Broadband connects at over 512K. For a fixed monthly fee you are always connected to the internet. You would normally need pay to pay a one-off fee to get a broadband connection installed on your phone line. You will also need to buy a special broadband modem.
Setting Up
Your computer
Any computer sold recently will be suitable for using the internet. You can use either a PC or a Mac to go online. Generally though, the newer the computer, the easier it is to get online. That's because the computer will be faster, and include more user friendly operating systems.
The CD-Rom
You need software to connect to and use the internet. This comes pre-installed on all new computers, but you can also normally get your ISP to send you the latest software on CD-Rom. The connection software helps your computer dial up your ISP and connect to the internet.
The modem
Your computer needs a modem to connect to the internet. Modems are either external or internal. The higher the speed of the modem - the faster you can browse web pages and download e-mail. The speed of a modem is called its bandwidth. The standard modem bandwidth is 56K, but broadband modems have a bandwidth many times faster.
What is bandwidth?
If you imagine bandwidth is like a hosepipe - the wider the pipe, the more water you can get pumped through it. With an internet connection, the wider the band the more information can be pumped through - and the faster the time it takes to download a web page or document.
Cables
It may seem obvious, but you will need cables to connect your modem to the phone socket and the computer. The computer needs to connect to the modem which in turn dials up the ISP using the phone socket. In most cases the cables will come with the modem so you don't have to buy them specially.
A letter from your ISP
To connect to your ISP you need a user name and password, which will be provided when you register with your ISP for internet access. All the information you need should be on a letter from them and you need this so your ISP can check that it is you that is connecting. The ISP will provide you with a phone number for the computer to dial to get access online.
Phone Line
If you are not using your mobile, you need a phone line to get on-line. You don't need a special phone connection to get online with a 56K modem. But if you do want to access Broadband, you will need to get your phone line upgraded. You connect your modem to the phone line and connect the modem to your computer and set it up following the instructions provided.
Connecting and disconnecting
The first time you connect to the internet you need to enter your username, password and the number to dial - all of these can be found on the letter from your ISP. Your computer can then save these items so you don't have to type them in every single time you want to connect to the internet.
Other Ways
Using your own computer is not the only way to connect to the internet. You can get online with a mobile phone, PDA or also with your TV. This guide will show you a range of different gadgets that will get you online, and exactly what you can do with them.
Internet on your mobile phone
Nearly all new mobile phones can connect to the internet. The difference between GSM, GPRS or 3G phones is the speed they connect with and what they can do once they're online.
GSM mobile phones
GSM phones were the first mobile phones to be used. GSM phones are very slow, with a bandwidth of around 10K - five times slower than a standard computer modem.
GPRS mobile phones
Most new mobile phones are GPRS phones. Their big advantage over GSM phones is that they have a bandwidth of up to 170K - three times as fast as a standard modem. This makes viewing WAP pages and sending e-mails much quicker. Even though GPRS phones are fast enough to view full web pages and send e-mail, you really need a bigger screen than one on a mobile phone to show them. GPRS phones normally don't charge by the minute, but by how much data you transfer.
3G mobile phones
3G stands for 'Third Generation' and they are the latest type of mobile phone on the market. They can connect to the internet at up to 2MB per second - over forty times the speed of a standard computer modem. Because they are so fast they are great for short videos like film trailers.
03 Browsers
Browsers
Browsers are the software programs that allow you to surf or 'browse' the internet. They can also do a range of other things, so it is important to know how to use them. Browser software comes all new computers or can be installed for free from many sources.
HTML
Browsers work by turning a special code into regular web pages. HTML is the language of the web and stands for Hypertext Markup Language.
Different browser versions
Lots of different companies make browsers. They often also make different versions of the software for PCs, Macs and other computers. You can download the latest browser over the net by going online on your computer. The latest version of your browser software will often have added features on it to make surfing the net even easier.
Opening your browser
To open your browser you have to double-click on the icon on your desktop. If you are already online, it will automatically connect you to the web. Every time you open a browser the first web page it shows is called the browser homepage. The default homepage will often be the main page of your ISP's website.
Closing your browser
Whenever you want to close your browser just click on the close button - the little cross in a box in the top right-hand corner of the browser window.
The address box
The first place most people look on a browser is the area devoted to showing the web page, but just above it is the all important address box. The address box, or as it's called on some browsers the 'location box' or 'URL box', is where the web address of the site you are viewing is shown. If you know the address of a specific website you are looking for then you would type it in the address box.
The browser window
In the centre of the browser window is the space in which all web pages appear. If a web page looks like it continues below the bottom of the browser you must use the scroll bar on the right-hand side of the screen to move the page up or down. The scroll bar consists of arrows at the top and bottom that you can click on to move the page up or down.
Browser buttons
Above the main web page area and the address box are a series of buttons.They are used to move backwards and forwards around the web. Next to the back and forwards buttons is a browser button that lets you return to your browser homepage at anytime. This is the home button and often looks like a little house icon.
The status bar
Along the very bottom of the browser window is the status bar. The status bar lets you know exactly what the browser is doing. On the left of the status bar will be some text that tells you exactly what is happening to the page you are viewing - whether it is loading, has finished, or has any errors. On the right of the status bar is a meter that shows how much of the page is still downloading from the net.
Additional features
The address of the website appears in the 'address box', but the name of the website appears at the very top of the browser window in the 'title bar'.
In addition to these main controls, there are some of the more advanced controls. To use these click on the 'menu bar' at the top of the browser window. When you click on one of the menu names it pulls down a list of extra buttons and this is where you find some of the more advanced browser features.
Addresses
Web addresses are the key to visiting a website. The technical name for a web address is the URL. URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator. Most people just call them web addresses, and they look a little something like this: www.asiadragon.co.uk
What can an address tell us?
Every website on the internet has an address. Information such as which country the website comes from, what kind of organisation runs the site, the name of the site, and the fact it's on the world wide web.
The Country Code
The end part of the address can tell you which country the website is in. For example, web addresses ending in .uk are from the United Kingdom and those ending in .th are from Thailand and so on.
The Organisation code
The part of the web address just before the country code tells you what type of organisation runs the website. For example, an address ending in .ac.uk tells us that the website is from an academic organisation in the UK such as a university or school.
The website name
Every website has a name. This is normally just the organisation's name, but it might be a different or shortened version of the name. The middle part of a web address will usually include the name of the site.
The home of the internet
You may have noticed that a lot of web addresses don't have a country code - they just end in .com, .org, .edu or .gov. These websites are based in America - the place where the internet started - so they don't have to add the country code. All they have are the organisation codes, which stand for the same things - .com for company, .org for non-profit organisation and so on.
Non-American .coms
Lots of websites outside the USA also use .com as their organisation code. This is because .com addresses are shorter and very easy to remember. So don't be surprised if you see UK websites with addresses that end like www.bbc.com.
Don't forget the punctuation!
You may have noticed how important punctuation is in web addresses. You must include all the full stops and forward slashes exactly right or you won't go to the right web address. The 'www' stands for the world wide web. The full stops between each part of the address are read aloud as 'dots'.
Web links
When you move your mouse over a web page you may notice that your pointer changes to a hand over some of the text or images. This is because that text or image is a link to another page. The easiest way to check if something is a link is to move the pointer over it. If it changes to a hand you have found a link and can click on it. On most occasions a text link will be underlined or a different colour - but not always. Pictures, photos and buttons can also be links, so look out for them.
What do links do?
You move from one web page to another by clicking on links. Links can lead you to web pages on the same site, or outside to web pages on totally different websites. If you have clicked on a link and return to the page you visited from, the link will often have changed colour.
Links are used extensively on shopping websites, linking product categories to products, products to product details and adding the products to the shopping basket ready for checkout and purchase.
Buttons
When you click on links to visit web pages it's like creating a path. With each link you click on to, another step is added to your path. With browser buttons you can easily retrace your steps - both backwards and forwards - along your path.
Backwards and forwards
It is the backward and forward buttons that are most useful when browsing the internet. If you visit several pages in a website and want to return to the first page you saw, you can just click on the 'back' button until you find it. Alternatively, if you then want to go to the last web page you were looking at, you can then click on the 'forward' button until you find the last page you viewed.
The scroll bar
Sometimes a web page might be too long to fit in the browser. The page may be fully downloaded, but we still can't see all of it. To see other parts of the page you need to use the up and down scroll buttons on the right-hand side of the browser window.
The reload button
Sometimes there's a problem getting a web page and it stops in the middle of loading. If the page stops downloading for any reason, just click the 'Reload' button until it reloads.
The Print button
Occasionally you may want to print a page. But sometimes a web page can be too wide for your printer. When this happens, parts of the web page will be missing on the printed out page. Look out for links to printer friendly pages that will fit your printer.
The Status Bar
Sometimes a web page might download really slowly. This can be for a number of reasons such as a temporary problem with the connection. To find out how much of the page is left to download, check out the browser's progress bar at the bottom of the browser window. This bar shows you how much has downloaded so far.
Favourites
Using favourites makes it easier to go back to pages you like without having to remember web addresses. Sometimes you will come across a great web page that you really like and do not want to forget where it was.
What do favourites do?
Favourites allow you to make a list of the pages you like most so you can find them a lot easier later. In some browsers favourites are called bookmarks.
Where are my favourites kept?
Your favourites list is stored in your browser and can be added to whenever you want. To open a favourite you have to open the favourites menu in the browser toolbar. Your list of favourites will appear in a drop-down menu and you can then easily add or open a favourite web page from the menu.
Add to your favourites
When you visit a web page you really like you may want to add it to your favourites list. To do this you simply click on your favourites menu in the top toolbar of your browser and click 'add to favourites'.
Saving
Sometimes you may want to save a web page that you think you will need later. When you save something from the internet onto your computer it is stored on your hard drive.
Why save a web page?
Saving a web page is useful when you want to be able to open it later from your hard drive. That way you don't need to connect to the internet when you want to open it again. Saving a web page on your hard drive can be useful if you want to keep a copy of a page, but don't want to print it.
Words and pictures
Web pages are often made up of a combination of words, graphics and photos. When you save a web page, you can choose to save them all together as a page or just save the text. When you only save the text this is called saving 'HTML only'. But remember, even if some of the pictures have words in them, they are still counted as graphics, so saving 'HTML only' may not save all the information you need.
How to save a web page
To save a web page the first place you should go to is the 'File' menu in the top toolbar of your browser and click on 'Save'. The 'File' menu has a list of all the main commands used in most software applications - so if you have a problem, you might want to start here. You can find the 'Save' command in the 'File' menu on all programs.
Where to save your page
When you save a file you need to tell the browser where and how to save the web page, as well as what to name it. First, you need to choose which folder on your drive you want to save the web page in - maybe you could create a folder just for saved web pages. You also need to name the web page file - you can name it anything you want.
Plug-Ins
Plug-ins are helper programs which allow your browser to do things it normally can't do. As their name suggests, plug-ins are programs that 'plug-in' to your web browser to help deal with a range of different tasks involving video, audio, 3-D, interactive and documents.
Video plug-ins
Video plug-ins allow you to watch video over the web. Videos are often streamed - which means you can start watching the beginning of the video while the rest of it is still downloading or 'streaming in'. Different companies make video players and sometimes you will need a special one to open a certain type of video format. RealPlayer, Windows Media Player and QuickTime are well known video players.
Audio plug-ins
With audio plug-ins you can listen to all different sorts of music as well as online radio stations. The most well known music format is MP3 and all audio players can play it. Most video plug-ins can also play audio. RealPlayer, Winamp, Windows Media Player and QuickTime are well known audio plug-ins.
3-D plug-ins
3-D plug-ins allow you to move around an environment in three dimensions. This can be useful for looking at pictures of places like house, hotels or gardens, as the plug-in controls allow you to choose where you want to go in the 3-D environment. Cortona and iPIX are well known 3-D plug-ins.
Interactive plug-ins
Interactive plug-ins are the most powerful of these helper programs and allow more than one type of rich content to be displayed. Interactive plug-ins can show video, audio, animations, 3-D - almost anything you can think of. The most well known interactive plug-in is Flash.
When are plug-ins used?
When you visit a web page and click a link to something that uses a plug-in - such as an audio or video clip - the plug-in will often appear inside the web page. When the plug-in appears inside the page, we say it is embedded in the page. However, if you already have the plug-in installed on your computer it could open in a separate box to your browser window.
What if I haven't got the plug-in?
If you don't have the correct plug-in for the clip you have clicked on, error messages will appear. If the error message is helpful it will direct you to the correct place to get the plug-in, but don't rely on it. Often pages that use plug-ins will have links that take you to the correct site to download the plug-in you require.
Getting a plug-in
When you go to the correct site to download your plug-in, you have to go through a four stage process to get it and install it on your computer. Firstly, you have to download the program; secondly, you have to save it to your computer; thirdly, you have to install the program; then you can finally use the plug-in program.
Downloading
Firstly, you have to download the program from the plug-in manufacturer's website. Make sure you choose the free version of the plug-in, and don't be tricked into buying the full version! Before you download or open any file from the internet be sure that it is from a website that you trust.
Saving
When you choose to download the plug-in, you will often be given the choice to open or save the program - always save the program. You will then be given the choice of where to save the plug-in on your computer. We recommend you save the plug-in file to your desktop for ease of use. Click 'Save' to begin the downloading process, and after the file has downloaded click 'Cancel' rather than 'Open' to close the dialogue box.
Install
When you look on your computer's desktop you will now see a file that will help you install your plug-in. This file is called the 'installer' and it has everything inside it that you need to install the plug-in. To install, just double-click on the installer and watch as the install wizard opens up in a new window.
The install wizard
The install wizard will take you step-by-step through the process of installing software. Often the first screen is a licence agreement that you should read and then click 'Accept'.
Complete installation and use
When you have completed a stage of the install wizard, you should click 'Next' to continue. You may also be asked for your personal details when installing a plug-in. If you can, try and skip this to keep your details private. The plug-in is now installed and ready to go.
04 Online forms
Online forms are just like paper forms because they require exactly the same types of information. The only difference is that online forms need to be typed with a keyboard not handwritten with a pen.
Submitting a form
After filling in a paper or online form you then have to submit it. Often when you submit a form, the person you give it to will check it and then return it to you if it is incomplete. You can then correct the error or include the missing information. The same happens online, but this time the form will just not process and it will tell you exactly what information you are missing. After you submit the form it can then be processed.
Where the form goes?
When you enter a web address or click a link on a page, your browser asks the website's computer to send the web page you want. The computer, often called a web server, will then send the web page to your browser. After you've filled in an online form using your keyboard and mouse, you submit it over the internet. This means your online form and the information you type on it, will be sent to the website's server.
What's on an online form?
Online forms have a number of different parts to them. Different forms require you to enter a range of information, so we can only point to the types of features an online form may have - it will vary online. They can include 'pull-down menus' which you open by clicking on the arrow next to them; 'text boxes' where you type information; and 'radio buttons' that you can only click one of.
Send for processing
Once you have filled in the variety of different parts of the online form with all the relevant information, just click 'Submit' and the form will then be sent off. You will usually receive a message telling you that your form has been submitted. If you don't, you may need to try submitting it again.
Registering
Many websites won't let you look at all of their pages unless you register with them. In some cases this is because they charge for content and want to keep track of who has paid and who hasn't. On other sites you will be able to enter freely and view some of the pages, but they make you register before you can use extra features. This is especially common with message board and chat sites. Most shopping and other e-commerce sites make you register because they need to hold onto personal details like those of your credit card and home address.
Beginning a registration
Like many sites that ask you to register with them request you to 'Create your membership' or 'Begin Registration' if you are a new visitor.
Choosing your identity
Most sites will ask you to choose a user name or member name. A good user name is short and memorable and shouldn't be the same as your full name. Your full name could be used to trace you and your first name will be a common choice that may already be taken. Choose a nickname or shortened version that you can easily remember. And don't be surprised if your first choice has already been taken - sites have lots of members, so you might not be the first Johnsmith.
Choosing a password
After selecting a user name, most sites will ask you to choose a password. The best passwords are always a mix of upper and lower case letters and numbers such as: E1w2ece
Make your password secure
Never use your name or a full English word in your password as these can easily be guessed. It is also recommended that you change your password every month or so for security reasons. And although you might be tempted to use the same password for every website you register to, please do not. If someone manages to guess one of your passwords, they could have access to all the sites you're registered to.
How websites can help
Most browsers will hide your password as you type it in, so that no-one can read it on the screen over your shoulder. Just to make sure you've typed it in correctly, most websites will ask you to type your password two times when you are registering.
The secret question and answer
It is quite common to forget passwords or for a site to want even more security before you can access it. When this is required, websites will often ask for a secret question and answer that acts as an additional or backup password. If you forget your password, the secret question can be answered so you can apply for a new one.
Date of birth and logging on
To add to the information you have already submitted about your identity, some websites will ask you for your date of birth when you register. A site may also let you select a box that remembers all your details on your computer so you don't have to log-in each time you visit.
Your e-mail address
At some point during the registration process on most sites you will be asked for your e-mail address. Make sure you type your address in carefully as the website will use it to send you an e-mail to activate your account, provide you with news, or even provide you with a new password. Enter your proper e-mail address because a fake or invalid e-mail address may prevent you from accessing your account.
Confirm your registration
Once you have submitted your e-mail address, many websites will send an e-mail to that address which you must reply to in order to validate your account. When you receive this confirmation e-mail message you will either be asked to reply to it directly, or simply click a website link that appears in the e-mail message.
05 Searching
When you are online you may want to find a website but not know its name or address. If you're not sure where to look, the best place to start is with a search engine or search directory. Search engines and directories can help you find the web pages you want from the billions of sites on the web.
Directories
Directories are one of the simplest forms of search engine. They are a great way to browse the web and find sites when you aren't quite sure what you are looking for. They work just like the Yellow Pages or Thomson Local directory by dividing things into categories to make everything easier to find.
How to use directories
To use a directory you simply have to click on the subject link you're interested in. When using directories you just keep clicking through the sub-categories until you find the name of a site you want. If you end up in the wrong sub-category you can always go back and enter the correct category. Once you've found the correct part of the directory you will find a list of links to websites, related to your subject, which you can click on. The links will then take you out of the directory and onto the site you're interested in.
Search engines
Search engines are the most popular type of searching tool. Search engines allow you to type one or more key words into a box and then see a list of relevant websites. Traditional search engines are a good way to find things if you have a good idea of what you are looking for. You can just type in your keywords and click 'Search'.
Search engine results
After typing in a key word and clicking 'Search', a results page will appear that shows you a list of all the pages found that. The more relevant the website is, the higher it will appear on the list. Between the name of the site and its address, most search engines will show you a small piece of text from the site to help you decide whether you want to visit it. There are billions of websites on the internet, so search results may include thousands of sites in the list. You will often need to use the 'Next' button to view additional pages of the list.
Google, Altavista and Yahoo are all well-known examples of traditional search engines.
06 E-mail
Using e-mail
Your message can reach someone on the other side of the world in minutes or seconds. The route an e-mail takes from your computer to its destination has many parts.
Your computer
You begin on your computer because that's where your e-mail program is. Most of the e-mail programs you need to send and receive e-mails are free. You'll often find one already installed when you buy your computer.
Your modem
Your modem is the piece of hardware that connects you to the internet. Sometimes the modem is outside your computer in a box (external) and sometimes it is inside the computer.
Your internet company (ISP)
When you send e-mails they first go to your ISP. Once they are there they go to your outgoing mailbox. The e-mail then goes to the ISP of the person you are sending it to. First it goes into their incoming mail box and waits there until they connect.
Getting your e-mail
The person who you send the e-mail to will need an on-line computer to get your e-mail. Their e-mail programme will check for e-mails, then get their e-mail from the incoming mailbox at their ISP.
E-mail programs
The most common programs for e-mail are Outlook and Outlook Express. To open an e-mail program you have to double click on the icon on your desktop. The Send / Receive button is where you click when you want to send and receive e-mails. This is the button you use to send and check your e-mail.
Reading your e-mails
The e-mail program lets you easily see which e-mails you have read and which you haven't. If an e-mail is listed in bold text that means you haven't opened and read it yet. You can see any currently selected e-mails in the 'preview pane'.
E-mail folders
Most of the time you will read e-mails from your 'inbox' - the name of the folder you are looking at will appear in the toolbar. If you choose a different folder its name will appear in the toolbar instead. If you do choose to look inside another folder you need to choose one from the folder list. For example, e-mails that are waiting to be sent are in the outbox folder.
Attachments and advanced controls
Sometimes e-mails come with other files attached like photos. If an e-mail has an attachment it will have an icon next to it. This is usually a folder, envelope or paperclip. If an e-mail is really urgent the sender might flag it as important. A flag icon will appear next to the e-mail in your inbox if this happens. If you ever need more advanced controls you will need to click on the 'File' menu at the top of your e-mail program screen to open these.
Setting up
Setting up your e-mail program is pretty easy. It just takes a few minutes and then you're ready to go.
Who are you?
Before you can use your e-mail program to send and receive messages, you need to set it up so the computer and other computers know who you are. You do this by entering in your sign-up details.
When you buy your computer or sign-up for internet access, your ISP will send you all the details needed to set up your e-mail in a letter. This letter will contain information such as your user name, your e-mail address, your password, your incoming mail (POP3) server, and your outgoing mail (SMTP) server.
Your username and e-mail address
Your user name is the electronic name your ISP knows you by. It helps the ISP tell you from all its other users. Your e-mail address is the only thing you need to give people so they can then send you messages. Your e-mail address is made up of three parts: your user name, the '@' symbol and your ISP name.
Your user name or real name comes before the @. The @ symbol stands for the word 'at', and your ISP's name comes after the @. E.g. candace.kent@webwiseisp.com
Your password
Your password is like the pin number for your cash point card that prevents anyone accessing your e-mail account without your permission. A good password has a mixture of big and small letters, numbers and symbols in it. E.g. 5Psy7?4Q You should always keep your password private and don't write it down on a scrap of paper that could be lost.
Incoming mail (POP3) server
Incoming mail servers receive the e-mails other people send you - e-mails that are 'incoming'. You have to enter the address of this server so that your e-mail program knows where to go to get incoming e-mails. The 'pop3' part tells the computer it is an 'incoming' mail server and the second half of the address is who owns the server - the internet service provider.
Outgoing mail (SMTP) server
Like the incoming mail server, your e-mail program needs to know the address of your outgoing mail server so it can send out e-mails to other people. The 'outgoing' mail server is recognised by the 'smtp' at the beginning of the address and the name of the ISP at the end.
Most e-mail programs will ask you for all this information the first time you use it. It will then remember your details so you don't need to enter them every time you use it.
Recieving
Nobody can use their e-mail unless they know how to receive messages. Getting e-mail means going online, downloading your messages and then reading them. At home, your regular post waits for you on your doormat. But in the virtual world, e-mails wait for you on your Internet Service Provider's (ISP) computer until you go and get them.
Going online
If you want to go and get your e-mails you have to start at your computer and go online. Once you are online, you can then use the e-mail program on your computer to go and get your e-mail messages. When someone sends you an e-mail message it is stored on your internet service provider's (ISPs) computer until you want to collect them.
Opening your e-mails
When you open up your e-mail program you will see a list of messages in the main window. This list will have some messages you have read and some new e-mails you haven't read.
To read an e-mail you must click on the message in the list. The text is often displayed below in the 'preview pane'. The preview pane is good for having a quick look at new e-mails. You can also open an e-mail in its own window. To do this you double click on the e-mail in the list.
The e-mail window
Opening an e-mail in its own window gives you more buttons and options to use. Every e-mail has information on it including the sender's name, the date, the e-mail's subject, and the message itself.
The 'message body' and closing windows
The most important part of an e-mail is the actual message itself. Once you have finished reading an open e-mail you can close it using the little 'X' button in the top right-hand corner of the window.
Sending
Sending e-mail is easy and quick. All you need is the recipient's e-mail address and minutes later they can receive your message.
E-mail addresses
The most important thing you need to send or receive e-mail is the address of the person you want to send the
e-mail to. an example of an e-mail adress is sales@asiadragon.co.uk
The '@' sign
Most e-mail addresses are in small (lower case) letters but it doesn't matter if you use big or small letters. One thing that every e-mail address will definitely have is the '@' symbol. The '@' [AT] sign is always in the middle of an e-mail address.
What makes up an e-mail address
So that you know who the e-mail is from, every e-mail address has a user name in it. A user name might be someone's name, their nickname or perhaps the name of a department in a company.
Every e-mail address also has a domain name in it such as asiadragon.co.uk. The domain name is the internet name of the company who look after your e-mail. That could be an Internet Service Provider (ISP), the company where you work, or a free e-mail company. The domain name is always at the end of an e-mail address after the @ sign.
You can't send an e-mail without an e-mail address.
Replying to an e-mail
The easiest time to send an e-mail is when you are replying to one that you have received. Open your e-mail in a new window just double click on it. When the e-mail is open in a new window you have several options for replying. If you just want to reply only to the sender, then click on the 'Reply' button. This saves a lot of time.
Reply All
Some e-mails are sent to more than one recipient. To reply to everyone who received the original message click on the 'Reply All' button. The e-mail program will automatically fill in the addresses of all the other people who received the first e-mail message. If you send out more than one e-mail address in an e-mail you separate them with commas.
Forwarding an e-mail
You can also send an e-mail onto someone new without replying to the sender or the other recipients. This is called 'Forwarding'. Click on the 'Forward' button and the e-mail will be prepared for you to forward on. The 'To' box will be empty for you to put in the e-mail addresses of the people you want to forward the message on to.
In addition, the text in the original e-mail will be pasted into the body of this new message ready to forward on, even though you aren't replying to the original sender.
Creating a new message
Often you will want to write a fresh e-mail to someone rather than reply to one. To create a new message, simply click on the 'New' button on your e-mail program. When you do this a fresh blank e-mail will appear in a new window. You can send this e-mail anywhere you want because it is just like a blank piece of electronic writing paper.
'To:', 'Cc:', and 'Bc:'
If you want to send an e-mail to one person you type the address in the 'To:' box, type your message and then click 'Send'.
However, if you want to send an e-mail to one person, but would also like several others to see it as well, you can put the extra addresses in the 'Cc:' section.
Some e-mails include another option for typing addresses called the 'Bc:' option. The 'Bc:' stands for 'Blind copy' and means that the recipient whose address is in this box will receive the e-mail message, but won't know who else it was sent to.
Your outbox
When you finish writing e-mails you click the 'Send / Receive' button and they go into your 'Outbox'. If you are already online, your e-mail program will automatically send the messages to your ISP's computer and on to your recipients. If you're not online your e-mails will stay in your 'Outbox' until you do.
When you go online and your e-mails are sent, a copy of each e-mail is also put in your 'Sent mail' folder so you have a record of e-mails you have sent.
Keeping a copy of your sent e-mails means you can look back at any message you have sent. It is like being able to keep a photocopy of a letter you have written.
Address books
When you write a letter you have your address book or diary handy, to help you remember postal addresses. Most e-mail programs have an address book function that does exactly the same thing. It stores e-mail addresses until you need to copy them to send new e-mails.
Opening your address book
When you want to send an e-mail message your program copies the address from your address book into the e-mail. This helps you address e-mails quickly without having to type them in, but it does mean you have to remember to store addresses in your book.
When you start a new e-mail or are replying to one you received you can open the address book by clicking on the 'Address Book' button on the top toolbar of your e-mail program.
Selecting an address
Most address books will be divided into two halves - one half listing all the e-mail addresses of your friends and family, the other half providing space for the 'To:' and 'Cc:' categories on your new e-mail.
To use an e-mail address from your address book you must move it from the address book to the 'To:' box. To do this, just select the name in the address list and click on the 'To:' button.
Click on the 'OK' button when you have added all the addresses you need.
Attachments
Attachments are nothing more than files that you 'attach' to your ordinary e-mail messages. Most of your e-mails will be made up of words, but using attachments means they can include many other things, such as photos, reports or spreadsheets.
Why use attachments?
In real life you might attach a report, a spreadsheet, a photo, even a CD or DVD to a message you want to send. Attaching them to the message makes sure they arrive together at the same time.
E-mail attachments
You can send and receive files attached to e-mail messages in just the same way. They can be audio, video, pictures, documents or any other file type.
However, it is best to limit the size of the attachments, otherwise your e-mail message may take a long time to download. Unless you have a broadband internet connection, most audio and video files are normally too big to send as attachments to your e-mail messages.
Spotting an attachment
You can tell when an e-mail has got an attachment when it arrives in your inbox, because it will have a special icon next to it. This attachment icon can vary from an envelope, briefcase, folder, bag or paperclip, but they all mean the same thing - a file is attached.
Before you open an attachment
Before you open any e-mail attachment you must make sure that your anti-virus software is on and up-to-date. Most viruses are spread by e-mail attachment and opening a file without checking what it is or who it's from, is the easiest way to get a virus on your computer. A good rule is to never open an attachment from people you do not know.
Opening an attachment
To open an e-mail attachment, all you have to do is double-click on the attachment icon in the e-mail message. When you click on the attachment you will often be provided with two options that pop-up in a little box on your screen.
You will be asked to choose to open the attachment from inside the e-mail message, or to save the attached file to your hard disk before opening. Saving the attached file to hard disk allows you to access the file even if you delete the e-mail message.
If the attachment isn't a file you want to keep then select the 'Open it' option and click 'OK'. If you delete the e-mail after this point, then the attachment will be lost as well.
Adding an attachment
Once you've written your e-mail message and selected a recipient, just click on the 'Attach file' button on your e-mail program's toolbar. It will have an attachment icon like a paperclip or folder. A menu will open that lets you browse through the files on your computer until you find the document or picture you wish to attach.
Simply select the file you want, click 'Attach' or 'OK' and the file will become attached to your e-mail message.
To check it has worked, your e-mail message will now have an attachment icon with the name of the file next to it. You can now send the e-mail with the attachment.
Webmail
Webmail is a great way to get your e-mails when you are away from your own computer. It's very similar to the e-mail program on your computer, but instead of being at home, you can access your webmail in a library, an internet café, on holiday or at work. All you need to use webmail is internet access and a web browser.
Your e-mail program
With webmail your e-mails stay on your ISP's computer and you use a browser to read them from there. You need to be online to read your e-mails with webmail as you are reading them directly from your ISP's server.
Using webmail
When you signed up for an e-mail account you will have chosen a password. You can use this along with your e-mail address to log into your e-mail account at your e-mail providers website. When you open your webmail account up, the web page will look similar to the inbox in your e-mail program.
Most webmail accounts have the same inbox, outbox, sent mail folders as normal e-mail programs. However, instead of drag and drop functions, many webmail programs use check boxes.
Check boxes
To do something to an e-mail message, such as delete it or move it to another folder, you must click on the check box next to it. By checking the box, the webmail program knows which e-mail you want to do something to. You can check the boxes of more than one e-mail at a time. Select 'Delete' or 'Move to folder' button, depending on what you want to do with your e-mail.
Other webmail functions
Webmail programs have most of the same functions as ordinary e-mail programs such as 'Send / Receive', 'Forward', 'Reply' and 'Reply All'.
You must remember to 'Log-out' of your webmail account when you have finished reading your e-mails, because if you are using it on a public computer, anyone could gain access to your messages.
07Online Safety
Viruses
Viruses are small bits of software that get on to your computer. They are called viruses because like the flu in humans they can spread from one computer to another. Viruses are created by criminals who either like to steal your personal information or cause deliberate damage like vandalism.
Virus types
We often give a whole range of different malicious software the title of 'virus', but it isn't always strictly true because they don't all self-duplicate.
There are a whole variety of nasty bits of code mistakenly called viruses. They all cause problems to innocent computer users, so here are some of their names and brief descriptions, so you know what to look for.
A 'logic bomb' waits on your computer and then causes damage to it when triggered by an event like a specific time or date - like the Millennium Bug happening on New Year's Eve 1999.
A 'file virus' uses program files to get in to your computer and then it copies itself.
A 'worm' does not damage files, but copies itself endlessly across computer networks and the internet which slows them down and frustrates computer users.
A 'boot sector virus' damages the specific files that your computer needs to start up.
A 'macro virus' infects your computer by using special codes found in word processing and spreadsheet files.
A 'Trojan horse' is a malicious computer code that pretends to be a game or other interesting program that damages your PC as soon as you open it.
Spotting the symptoms
Computer viruses cause symptoms on your computer that you can recognise just like symptoms of viral infections in real life. Here are some examples:
If your computer is operating slower than normal, this could be a sign that a virus has got in.
If you cannot open a computer program, or if a program shuts down on its own, then this could mean that a virus is preventing it from working properly.
Unusual error messages that pop-up on your screen can also indicate a problem with a virus. To check if this is genuine or a virus, it is always worth copying the error into a search engine to find advice for experts on the internet.
Unusually slow download speeds can also indicate that the software running your connection has been infected.
A virus could also be responsible for any strange screen activity that might be happening.
Protection from viruses
The best defence against this is to have up-to-date anti-virus software. Anti-virus software can identify viruses and destroy them as they try to enter your computer. The anti-virus software can automatically download the latest information on how to protect you over the internet. And most professional software will ask you to download 'updates' or 'patches' to repair faults.
E-mail attachments
E-mail attachments are a major cause of viruses. When you receive an e-mail attachment - a file attached to an e-mail message - never open it unless you are expecting to receive the file. This is important because even attachments from people you know could contain viruses that can wipe out your files. If you're not sure what the attachment is then just delete it.
If you do need to open an attachment that you are not expecting, then make sure your anti-virus software is
up-to-date. If in doubt, phone the person who e-mailed the attachment and ask them what they sent you. Some viruses can send attachments without the sender knowing.
Hackers
Hackers are people that try to get into your computer. Sometimes they try to break in to damage your files or get personal information. The best defence against hacking is a 'firewall' which can stop unauthorised access.
At its simplest, a firewall stops anything you don't know about passing between your computer and the internet. Most new computers will provide you with an easy-to-install firewall, but ask the company that makes your anti-virus software and they should be able to help.
Unusual boxes
Sometimes boxes that you don't expect may appear on the screen asking you to install or download something. If you don't expect it always click 'Cancel'. If in doubt, click 'Cancel' and check on a search engine to see if this is a common virus problem or a genuine software update.
8 Communities
Forums/Boards
Message boards are just electronic versions of real life notice boards where you can leave and reply to a whole range of notices, messages and comments. On the internet - as in real life - there are lots of different message boards on a range of different topics. You put a message on a board so that other people can see it and respond. However, you should only place a message on the same subject that the message board deals with.
Chat
Chat is like an instant message board. The great thing about chat is there is no waiting around. The people you want to talk to are there ready to give you an answer straight away. On the internet - as in real life - there are people chatting about a huge number of different topics. The easiest and most popular form of chatting is chatting in web chat rooms. All you need is a browser!
Blogs
A BLOG refers to a private webpage which is published by either an individual or a group of individuals. Blogs are commonly personal journals/diaries and are used to comment on all sorts of topics depending on the interests of the blogger (author).
Virtual community websites
A virtual community, e-community or online community is a group of people that primarily interact via communication media such as newsletters, telephone, email, internet social network service or instant messages rather than face to face, for social, professional, educational or other purposes. If the mechanism is a computer network, it is called an online community. Virtual and online communities have also become a supplemental form of communication between people who know each other primarily in real life. Many means are used in social software separately or in combination, including text-based chatrooms and forums that use voice, video text or avatars.
