Introduction
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The Internet Contrary to what many people think, the Internet in itself is no magic source of information. It merely provides access to sources of information. The Internet is a network of networks, providing links that allow one computer to connect to another in a number of different ways, called protocols. Some examples are listed below. This list is by no means exhaustive. It includes the functions that are most likely to be useful to you for conducting research by using the Internet. E-mail allows you to send messages directly to other people and to receive messages from them. It also enables mass distribution of messages through channels such as listservs and electronic newsletters and transferring of files as attachments. FTP (file transfer protocol) is a means of downloading and uploading files from one computer to another. Much downloading can be done by HTTP, but FTP remains a reliable, and sometimes preferred, method. It can be useful for retrieving documents. HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol) is the method by which the World Wide Web operates. It enables you to click on a link in your browser and initiate a function, such as opening a file or going to another Web page. Usenet provides access to newsgroups, which allow interactive discussions on topics of interest to a number of people. While Usenet is a distinct protocol, Web access to Usenet (such as through Google's groups) is probably easier for many people. |