The Chronicles
October 2010
Salutations dear readers and fellow Laurentian neighbors,
This month I'd like to clarify a concept that, it seems, many do not quite grasp. What exactly is the Internet?
Here is an official definition found on wikipedia.org ... "The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks." It was nick-named the World Wide Web because it reminds us of a giant spider's web covering the surface of the globe. There is a large number of Super-Computers (each with a HUGE amount of power and memory) located around the world, all of which are connected via wires or wirelessly. Upon these "highways" travels all of mankind's knowledge.
For many, here is where the confusion lies: the Internet is NOT what you use in your computer, i.e. Internet Explorer. Nooooo ... in fact, the Internet connection available to you at home is actually Groupe-Acces Communications or Rogers or Bell's Super-Computer(s) hooking up to your home by means of, for example, a cable and modem.
Why do I mention this nuance? Because many people look at me in surprise when I explain that Internet Explorer is not THE Internet but rather a tool to gain access to it. It is a program which allows the user to access the two main services provided by the Internet: Communication (e.g. e-mail) and Research (to the information contained in the "library").
It's worth mentioning that even though Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) is the world's leading Web Browser, there are many other Browsers, all of which are compatible with Microsoft's, or Macintosh's or Linux's operating systems. In my opinion, these other Browsers have more interesting features, and fewer constraints, to help you along the way...
For example:
* Mozilla Firefox - is an open source web browser derived from Mozilla Application Suite. Contrary to copyrighted software, an open-source software (OSS) allows users to study its source code and directly change and improve the software. (For more info, www.wikipedia.org). Thanks to Firefox, Microsoft was forced to improve IE as users preferred the ease of use of Firefox.
* Safari - is a graphical web browser developed by Apple and included as part of the Macintosh Operating System. A graphical user interface (GUI), often pronounced gooey, allows users to interact with programs in other ways than typing. (For more info, www.wikipedia.org).
*Google Chrome - was developed by Google. The youngest in the family of Web browsers (released in 2008), it is already the third most widely used browser. It is the most user-friendly (ease of use) and lightest (least invasive in your computer) of all the Browsers. Its interface is so easy to use that it's worth mentioning that it appears to have served as a base of inspiration for Microsoft’s new version IE (9.0), soon to be released!
All of these Browsers are downloadable for free. Give me a call and I'll come to install the one of your choice as well as help you make the best use of it: how, for example, to search (did you know this is a mathematical equation?), to organize and add to your list of "Favorites", to navigate through the endless sea of information now at your fingertips, and generally how to optimize the overall performance of your Browser.
Take good care of yourselves,
questions.monamilordi@gmail.com
This article originally appeared in Main Street – The Laurentians' English Language Community Newspaper.
