Living Online Lesson 4 Using the Internet IC3 Basics Internet and Computing Core Certification Ambrose, Bergerud, Buscge, Morrison, Wells-Pusins

The Internet The Internet contains a wealth of information. You can find information on just about anything that you can imagine.The Internet contains a wealth of information. You can find information on just about anything that you can imagine. The Internet contains so much information that it can be difficult to locate just what you need.The Internet contains so much information that it can be difficult to locate just what you need.

The Key to a Successful Search Today, we live in the information age and the amount of information continues to grow at a fast rate.Today, we live in the information age and the amount of information continues to grow at a fast rate. It can be challenging to do an effective online search on a particular topic because you can be overwhelmed by all the data.It can be challenging to do an effective online search on a particular topic because you can be overwhelmed by all the data. A key to a successful Internet search is an understanding of the many tools available.A key to a successful Internet search is an understanding of the many tools available. There are two basic tools that can be used for finding information, search engines and subject directories.There are two basic tools that can be used for finding information, search engines and subject directories. You use a search engine to search for keywords and you use a search directory to find specialized topics.You use a search engine to search for keywords and you use a search directory to find specialized topics. The primary difference between these two search tools is that people assemble directories and search engines are automated.The primary difference between these two search tools is that people assemble directories and search engines are automated.

The Key to a Successful Search (cont’d.) No single web tool indexes or organizes the whole Web.No single web tool indexes or organizes the whole Web. When you are using an online search tool, you are searching and viewing data extracted from the Web.When you are using an online search tool, you are searching and viewing data extracted from the Web. The data has been placed into the search engine’s database.The data has been placed into the search engine’s database. It is the database that is searched, not the web itself. That is one reason you get different results when you use different search engines.It is the database that is searched, not the web itself. That is one reason you get different results when you use different search engines.

Why Search the Internet? People search the Internet for many reasons. Some examples are: –Research for a paper due in class –Finding information on a particular topic, such as “hearing loss” for yourself or a loved one –Planning a trip and finding information on places to stay.

Introducing Search Engines A search engine is a software program that helps you locate information on the Internet. There are hundreds of search engines throughout the Internet. A search engine is a software program that helps you locate information on the Internet. There are hundreds of search engines throughout the Internet. Each search engine may work a little differently but they do have some common search features. For example, all search engines support keyword searches.Each search engine may work a little differently but they do have some common search features. For example, all search engines support keyword searches. The search engine tries to figure out what you mean and returns hits on web sites that relate to keywords.The search engine tries to figure out what you mean and returns hits on web sites that relate to keywords. Hits are the number of returns or web sites that are found based on your keywords.Hits are the number of returns or web sites that are found based on your keywords. If you search for “video games”, the search engine may also return hits on sites that contain Nintendo and Playstation.If you search for “video games”, the search engine may also return hits on sites that contain Nintendo and Playstation. Excite is an example of a search engine. It uses ICE ( intelligent concept extraction) to learn about word relationships.Excite is an example of a search engine. It uses ICE ( intelligent concept extraction) to learn about word relationships.

Keyword Searches Keyword Searches let you search for keywords within a Web document.Keyword Searches let you search for keywords within a Web document. The web page author can specify these keywords using meta tags within the web page document.The web page author can specify these keywords using meta tags within the web page document. Meta tags are special tags embedded within the web page document. They do not affect how the page displays.Meta tags are special tags embedded within the web page document. They do not affect how the page displays. Many search engines use these tags to create the index. For example, if your web site is about Nintendo 64, your meta tag may look like this:Many search engines use these tags to create the index. For example, if your web site is about Nintendo 64, your meta tag may look like this: If a web page author doesn’t specify meta tags, the search engine evaluates the document and indexes “significant” words.If a web page author doesn’t specify meta tags, the search engine evaluates the document and indexes “significant” words.

Keyword Searches (cont’d.) How does a search engine find all of those web sites?How does a search engine find all of those web sites? –The search engine program or software itself is the main component. The program searches through the millions of records stored in its database. –The spider or crawler is a search engine robot that searches the Internet for key words. It feeds the pages it finds to the search engine. –When the spider finds a page, it submits it to the index. Once a web page is indexed, it becomes available to anyone using that search engine. When web developers register their sites with search engines, they normally provide a list of keywords that will help get their site on a user’s search results list.When web developers register their sites with search engines, they normally provide a list of keywords that will help get their site on a user’s search results list.

Popular Search Engines SEARCH ENGINE URL Lycos Yahoo AltaVista Google Infoseek Excite WebCrawler AlltheWeb Northern Light

Specialty Search Engines There are specialty search engines, sometimes called category-oriented search tools that focus on a particular topic. Here are some examples:There are specialty search engines, sometimes called category-oriented search tools that focus on a particular topic. Here are some examples: –Maps and Travel information- com –People and Companies- –Companies and Careers- –World Data- –Music-

Tools and Techniques for Searching the Web Phrase searching-a phrase is entered using double quotation marks and only matches.Phrase searching-a phrase is entered using double quotation marks and only matches. –For example, if you are searching for information on baseball cards, type “baseball cards” and the results will contain web sites with the words “baseball cards” adjacent to each other, instead of searches for baseball and cards. Search engine math-allows you to use math symbols to enter a formula to filter out unwanted listings For example:Search engine math-allows you to use math symbols to enter a formula to filter out unwanted listings For example: –Put a plus sign (+) before the words that must appear –Put a minus sign (-)_before words that you do not want to appear. If you are looking for cookie recipes, you would type +cookies+recipes.

Tools and Techniques for Searching the Web (cont’d.) Boolean searching is another way that you can search databases.Boolean searching is another way that you can search databases. –Boolean logic consists of three logical operators: AND, NOT, and OR. For example, if you are searching for cookie recipes, you would type “cookies AND recipes” or if you wanted to search for chocolate cookie recipes without coconut, you would type “cookies AND recipes AND chocolate NOT coconut.

Tools and Techniques for Searching the Web (cont’d.) Wildcard SearchingWildcard Searching Title SearchingTitle Searching Related SearchRelated Search

Spamming Internet spam is defined as electronic junk mail or junk newsgroup postings, or even unsolicited .Internet spam is defined as electronic junk mail or junk newsgroup postings, or even unsolicited . The unsolicited is most likely some type of advertising or get- rich scheme.The unsolicited is most likely some type of advertising or get- rich scheme. Spam is similar to receiving a postage-due letter. Even though you do not pay postage when it arrives, you pay for it indirectly in the form of disk space connect time, or even long distance net connections.Spam is similar to receiving a postage-due letter. Even though you do not pay postage when it arrives, you pay for it indirectly in the form of disk space connect time, or even long distance net connections. Spam is not illegal yet, but several groups are trying to stop it. Several states are attempting to ban unsolicited s.Spam is not illegal yet, but several groups are trying to stop it. Several states are attempting to ban unsolicited s. You can limit spam by contacting a service that exists to take complaints about spam, get spam-blocking and filtering services to get programs that hide your address form potential spammers.You can limit spam by contacting a service that exists to take complaints about spam, get spam-blocking and filtering services to get programs that hide your address form potential spammers.