Chapter 2. Getting Access to the Internet

Summary

Computers log, or monitor the activity which is passing through them and the first word to be used on the internet was ‘log’. To get access to a computer network, the user must log on by supplying a username and password. UK students can get access to the internet via the Joint Academic Network (JANET). Computers in a university are protected from the main internet by a firewall. Students can get access to computers in open access areas and there is always a helpdesk in the institution to give immediate software and hardware advice. The new student will have to approach the computer manager or helpdesk to be issued with a username and password. The text gives advice on getting access to university networked computers, how to connect up a home computer and how to get access to an ISP.

To go to a website via a browser, an address (the Uniform Resource Locator) is typed into a location bar and the computer is then connected to the target page. Advanced browsers and web sites now offer a search option or button. The search engine lists the subjects of choice. Each entry in the list has its own hyperlink which means the searcher can go directly to the site of interest. There are particular protocols associated with different search engines. Some search engines have a quite limited performance. The search engine which is appropriate for booking a package holiday may not be appropriate for investigating an academic subject. There are many distractions on the internet and students need to keep focussed during a search. One solution to distractions is to bookmark (or favoritise) the interesting but irrelevant sites and return to them later.