Activity 4: Searching the Internet

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using search engines?

Advantages:

1.      The indexes of search engines are usually vast, representing significant portions of the Internet, offering a wide variety and quantity of information resources.

2.      The growing sophistication of search engine software enables us to precisely describe the information that we seek.

3.      The large number and variety of search engines enriches the Internet, making it at least appear to be organized.

Source: http://www.gsn.org/web/research/internet/advtse.htm

Disadvantages:

1.      Regardless of the growing sophistication, many well thought-out search phrases produce list after list of irrelevant web pages. The typical search still requires sifting through dirt to find the gems.

2.      Using search engines does involve a learning curve. Many beginning Internet users, because of these disadvantages, become discouraged and frustrated.

Source: http://www.gsn.org/web/research/internet/disadse.htm 

2.      Compare and Contrast individual search engines and search meta search engines.

Contrast:

Individual.  Individual search engines compile their own searchable databases on the web.

Meta.   Metasearchers do not compile databases. Instead, they search the databases of multiple sets of individual engines simultaneously.

Source: http://www.sc.edu/beaufort/library/pages/bones/lesson1.shtml

Comparison:

They are both programs that searches papers for particular keywords and returns a list of the documents where the keywords were found.

3. When is it appropriate to use a search engine? When is it appropriate to use as subject/search directories?

It is appropriate to use search engine when you want to find things faster and more organized. Since in search engines, they can give what you are looking for alphabetically because it has like a table contents and you know where you will get the good information about the thing that you want to know since it also has an index.

4. What is an Invisible Web or Deep Web?

         It mainly refers to the vast repository of information that search engines and directories don't have direct access to, like databases. Unlike pages on the visible Web (that is, the Web that you can access from search engines and directories), information in databases is generally inaccessible to the software spiders and crawlers that create search engine indexes.

Source: http://websearch.about.com/od/invisibleweb/a/invisible_web.htm

5. How do you find an Invisible Web?

            You can find searchable databases containing invisible web pages in the course of routine searching in most general web directories. Of particular value in academic research are:

• ipl2
• Infomine

Use Google and other search engines to locate searchable databases by searching a subject term and the word "database". If the database uses the word database in its own pages, you are likely to find it in Google. The word "database" is also useful in searching a topic in the Google Directory or the Yahoo! directory, because they sometimes use the term to describe searchable databases in their listings.

Examples:

plane crash database

languages database

toxic chemicals database

Remember that the Invisible Web exists. In addition to what you find in search engine results (including Google Scholar) and most web directories, there are other gold mines you have to search directly. This includes all of the licensed article, magazine, reference, news archives, and other research resources that libraries and some industries buy for those authorized to use them.

As part of your web search strategy, spend a little time looking for databases in your field or topic of study or research. The contents of these may not be freely available: libraries and corporations buy the rights for their authorized users to view the contents. If they appear free, it's because you are somehow authorized to search and read the contents (library card holder, company employee, etc.). 

Source: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/InvisibleWeb.html

6. Why are these web pages not available in search engines or subject directories?

           

        It is very difficult to predict what sites or kinds of sites or portions of sites will or won't be part of the Invisible Web. There are several factors involved:

• Which sites replicate some of their content in static pages (hybrid of visible and invisible in some combination)?
• Which replicate it all (visible in search engines if you construct a search matching terms in the page)?
• Which databases replicate none of their dynamically generated pages in links and must be searched directly (totally invisible)?
• Search engines can change their policies on what they exclude and include.

Source: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/InvisibleWeb.html

           

           

           

Activity 3: Web Browser

·  What is a web browser? How does it work?

It is a software program that interprets the coding language of the World Wide Web in graphic form, displaying the translation rather than the coding. This allows anyone to “browse the Web” by simple point and click navigation, bypassing the need to know commands used in software languages.

·  What is a bookmark?

            It is a page keeper. A reader inserts a bookmark into the pages of a book when he or she stops reading. This way when it's time to read again, the reader can open the pages where the bookmark is to find the place in the book where he or she left off at rather than trying to remember the page number. Bookmarks save having to flip through the book and read sentences trying to find the exact place to re-start reading the book. A bookmark can be made from many different materials from a simple piece of cardboard to a specially made plastic clip to an ornately embellished fabric creation. Bookmarks may be mass produced and sold in stores or may be hand made.

·  What is the purpose of a web [browser] cache?

            It is pronounced as cash, cache memory is extremely fast memory that is built into a computer’s central processing unit (CPU), or located next to it on a separate chip. The CPU uses cache memory to store instructions that are repeatedly required to run programs, improving overall system speed. The advantage of cache memory is that the CPU does not have to use the motherboard’s system bus for data transfer. Whenever data must be passed through the system bus, the data transfer speed slows to the motherboard’s capability. The CPU can process data much faster by avoiding the bottleneck created by the system bus.

           

·  What is a web [browser] plugin?

            Also known as a browser add-on, a web browser plugin is a set of software components that can be added to a browser to increase its capabilities. The functionality of a plugin can range from something simple like giving the user the ability to enlarge images or something more complex, such as scanning for viruses or blocking advertisements. A plugin can be created by the company that developed the browser or, more often than not, the users of the browser.

SOURCE: http://www.wisegeek.com/

·  Choose three types of web browsers and answer the following questions for each browser.

Internet Explorer

Firefox (also called Mozilla Firefox)

Chrome

1. How do you enable tabbed browsing? private browsing?

IE:

To open a new blank tab, click the New Tab button on the tab row or press CTRL+T. To open a new tab from a link on a webpage, press CTRL as you click the link, or right-click the link and then click Open in New Tab. If you have a mouse with a wheel, you can click a link with the wheel to open it in a new tab.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Tabbed-browsing-frequently-asked-questions

Firefox:

To make a new tab, click the New Tab button on the right side of the last tab. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Tcommand + T.

http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Tabbed%20browsing#w_how-do-i-make-a-new-tab

Chrome:

You can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + T

 

2. How do you set homepages?

IE:

In the Add or Change Home Page dialog box, do one of the following:

·         To make the current webpage your only home page, click Use this webpage as your only home page.

·         To start a home page tab set or to add the current webpage to your set of home page tabs, click Add this webpage to your home page tabs.

·         To replace your existing home page or home page tab set with the webpages you currently have open, click Use the current tab set as your home page. This option will only be available if you have more than one tab open in Internet Explorer.

·         Click Yes to save your changes.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Change-your-Internet-Explorer-home-page

Firefox:

1. Open up the website you want to be your home page. If you want a blank home page, open a new tab.

2. Click on the icon to the left of the web address, drag it to the Home button and then let go.

3. Click Yes to set this as your home page.

http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/How%20to%20set%20the%20home%20page#w_set-a-single-web-site-as-your-home-page

Chrome:

Pick the page you'd like to be your home page in the "Home page" section. You can select to use the New Tab page as your home page. To use another page, select "Open this page" and enter the web address of the page you'd like to use.

http://www.google.com/support/chrome/bin/answer.py?answer=95314

3. How do you customize search providers?

IE:

·  You'll see a "Change Preferences" button about three-quarters of the way down the window. Click on it.

·  You will now see a window with the heading "How Do You Want To Use Search Companion?" You want to click the arrow that says "Change Internet Search behavior."

·  After you click the arrow, you'll be taken to the Internet Search Behavior window. There are two radio buttons to choose from. The first one gives you the option of continuing to search with Search Companion, or search with Classic Internet Search. Neither one give you any more screen real estate, so it is entirely up to you.

·  Below these Search Behavior options, you'll see the box with various search engines listed. Just click on the one you want, and that's the one that Search Companion will search with.

http://websearch.about.com/od/searchtipoftheday/qt/qt429.htm

Firefox:

1. Install the Add to Search Bar extension from Mozilla.

2. Restart Firefox.

3. Browse to a site you'd like to search from the search bar.

4. Right-click in that site's own search bar and choose Add to search bar.

5. Type the name you'd like Firefox to display when no search parameters are entered.

6. Accept the icon or browse to choose another on your PC.

7. Enter a keyword (optional).

8. Click Ok.

http://www.wikihow.com/Add-a-Custom-Search-Engine-to-Firefox%27s-Search-Bar-%28Windows-Version%29

Chrome:

1. Add a new search engine: Enter a nickname for the search engine.
2. Keyword: Enter the text shortcut you want to use for the search engine. Use the keyword to do keyword searches.
3. URL: Enter the web address for the search engine. Learn how to find this URL

http://www.google.com/support/chrome/bin/answer.py?answer=95653

4. How do you bookmark a page? How do you organize your book marks?

IE:

Bookmark a Page:

1. Click on "Favorites".
2. Click on "Add to Favorites...".
3. When box pops up click on the folder that you want to add the bookmark to and then click "OK", or just click on "OK" without clicking on a folder to add to your general favorites category.

Organize bookmarks:

1. Click on "Favorites".
2. Click on "Organize Favorites..."
3. When box pops up click on the bookmark you want to move and drag it to the folder you want to add it to.
4. Create a new folder by clicking on "Create Folder".
5. Rename folders by clicking on the folder you want to rename and clicking on "Rename Folder".

http://personalweb.about.com/od/searchingandsurfing/a/2bookmarking.htm

Firefox:

1.      Take a look at the very top of the toolbar on your Mozilla Firefox window. Count five tabs from the left to reach the Bookmarks tab. Click your cursor on this tab to allow the drop-down menu to open.

2.      Move your cursor down the drop-down menu until you highlight the words "Bookmark This Page."

3.      Click "Bookmark This Page" to open the "Add Bookmark" box. It will allow you to save the bookmark in a specific folder.

4.      Know that the first line in the box is the name of the URL. If you wish to change the name to something shorter, highlight the name and type the new name. The second line in the box is where you will select the folder to save your bookmark in.

5.      Select the folder you would like to save your bookmark in by choosing the correct one from the drop-down menu. Whatever folder you choose will now show up in the "Create In" line. Click OK. The URL is now saved in your bookmarks.

6.      Click on Bookmark Toolbar if you'd like to save the URL in the bookmark toolbar. The toolbar will show up three lines down from the top of your window, under the URL address box. It allows you easier access to a select number of bookmarks.

7.      Select the URL from the site address bar. Click and drag it to the Bookmarks Toolbar for a faster way to add sites to the Toolbar.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2238918_bookmark-page-mozilla-firefox.html


Chrome:

When you click the icon to create a book, a mini-dialog appears to confirm the addition. Customize your new bookmark in the dialog:

• Edit the bookmark label in the "Name" field.
• By default, the bookmark is placed in your most recently used bookmark folder. You can use the "Folder" menu to choose another location. Bookmarks can only be in one folder at a time.
• If you created the bookmark on accident, click Remove to undo the addition of the bookmark.
• If you want to tweak the bookmark's URL, click Edit. Otherwise, click Close to add the bookmark.

http://www.google.com/support/chrome/bin/answer.py?answer=95739

5. How do you clear the cache?

IE:

1. Once your browser is open, click the Tools menu. Or, optionally you may simply press Ctrl-Shift-Delete to open the Delete Browsing History window (and skip step 2)
2. Click on Delete Browsing History..
3. Select Temporary Internet Files.
4. Click the Delete button near the bottom of the window to delete your temporary files (i.e. clear your cache).
5. If you want the browser to automatically clear the cache whenever you close it, click the Advanced tab. Click to check the box next to the Empty Temporary Internet Files folder when browser is closed option (in the section labeled Security). Click OK. This will delete everything except cookies.

http://www.wikihow.com/Clear-Your-Browser%27s-Cache#Internet_Explorer

Firefox:

1. Click the Tools menu, then select Clear Recent History.
2. Choose the time range of cache you'd like to clear.
3. Click on Details and make sure Cache is checked.
4. Select Clear Now.

http://www.wikihow.com/Clear-Your-Browser%27s-Cache#Firefox

Chrome:

1.      Once your browser is open, select the Tools menu (the wrench in the upper-right corner) and select Options (Preferences on Mac).

2.      On the Under the Hood tab, click the Clear Browsing data... button.

3.      Select the Empty the cache check-box.

4.      You can also choose the period of time you wish to delete cached information using the Clear data from this period dropdown menu.

5.      Click the Clear Browsing Data button.

http://www.wikihow.com/Clear-Your-Browser%27s-Cache#Google_Chrome

6. How do you install a plugin?

IE:

1. Review information about any plugin before installing it. Search the web for user reviews and technical information. Make sure the plugin does not include spyware or adware. Read the privacy policy, user agreement and instructions thoroughly.
2. Make sure you have administrative rights on your computer so that you can download and install programs. Go to "user accounts" in the control panel. Check your user status.
3. Answer a prompt to download a plugin. This will usually come up when you try to run an application that requires a plugin. Once you know the plugin is safe and necessary, click "Yes" or "Install" to install the plugin. If the plugin does not download and install automatically, you may need to download it manually.
4. Download plugins from the software developer's website or from download sites like download.com. Make sure you are downloading from a legitimate, well known site. Click the "download" or "download now" button.
5. Save the plugin installer. It's usually easiest to save downloads to your desktop. In some cases, you will be required to install the plugin to a specific directory, such as the "Application Data" folder under your username in "Documents and Settings."
6. Wait until you see the message "Download complete." Double-click the installer icon. Follow any prompts. Close open Internet Explorer browser windows if prompted to do so. Click "Finish" when the installation is complete.
7. Open Internet Explorer. Visit a website that requires the plugin to make sure it has been installed properly.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2239874_install-internet-plugins-explorer.html

Firefox:

1.      Open a new browser window using Firefox.

2.      Go to the Firefox plugins Web page (see Resources below).

3.      Browse through the list of plugins that are available. Choose from items such as Shockwave, Windows Media Player and Quicktime.

4.      Look beneath the plugin you'd like to download. Find your operating system and click the version number link listed beneath it. You'll be re-routed to the downloads page for the specific plugin you wish to add.

5.      Look for the 'Download' or 'Download Now' button and click it. You may be prompted to save a file. Click 'Save File.' A dialog box will show the download progress. When the download is complete, click 'Clean Up.'

6.      Open the plugin after it finishes downloading. If you left the default setting in place, the plugin will be on your desktop. Simply clicking the icon will install it in Firefox.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2033378_install-plugins-firefox.html

Chrome:

1.                          First you should download and Dev Channel installer from the Chromium Developer page.

2.                          Next, right click on the chrome icon, click on properties and type the following” To Enable Plugins: –enable-plugins, To Enable Extensions: –enable-extensions, To Enable Greasemonkey Scripts: –enable-greasemonkey and click “Apply”

3.                          You have all three at a time for better compatibility like this – enable-plugins –enable-extension –enable-greasemonkey.

4.                          You are all set to install Plugins, Greasemonkey and Extensions in the Chrome Browser. Just start the browser and get sample extension page.

http://www.techprone.com/how-to-install-google-chrome-plugins/

7. How do you save pages offline?

IE:

1.      Uninstall Internet Explorer 7 or later to get back to IE6. Internet Explorer version 6 has an option to save pages offline. You can also download Internet explorer 6 directly from Microsoft (see Resources below). When you open Internet Explorer version 6, choose "Add To Favorites" and select the "View Offline" check box. This will download the web page and one level of click-through links to other pages.

2.      Save one page at a time. Log on to the website that you want to view offline. Go to the "File" menu and choose "Save As" and select web archive. You can also save as HTML and open the HTML page in Microsoft Word. You will have to save each individual page that you want to look at.

3.      Use a web ripping software program. WebRipper (see Resources below) is one software program that grabs all of the information for a website. WebRipper is available free. Similar software packages include HTTrack and Instapaper (see Resources). All of these programs essentially copy pages of the website and save them on your local hard drive to open up while you are offline. These pages can be opened by your browser by pointing to the pages on your hard drive instead of a website address.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5084537_read-pages-offline.html

Firefox:

1. On the Menu of your web browser, click File, Save As.
2. If desired, type in a name that will help you remember what the web page is about. It doesn’t matter what you call it. Name it so you will remember it.
3. Put it where you will find it. Just as you should with your documents, create folders and a place to save your web pages so you can find them later.
4. Click Save and you are done.

http://www.blogherald.com/2007/05/31/web-browser-guide-working-offline-with-your-browser/

Chrome:

1.      Open Google Chrome browser and install Chrome Scrapbook extension.

2.      After install, open any webpage in Chrome and click Chrome Scrapbook button on the toolbar.

3.      Then click ‘Save this page’ to download and save current webpage locally on your computer. Similarly you can save multiple webpages in Chrome browser. This does not work on protected webpages using https setting.

4.      To view all saved webpages click Chrome Scrapbook button and then click ‘show list of saved webpages’. There you can click to view saved webpages or delete them as per requirement.

http://www.tothepc.com/archives/download-save-webpages-offline-in-chrome/

Activity 2: The Internet

1. Impact of the Internet in our world today.

     The introduction of Internet to the world changed the nature of work and lifestyle in various ways. It allowed us to utilize the advancement of technology to cut the barriers of long distance communication, thus internet became a tool in the fast phase of globalization. Its impact elevated the aspect of our lifestyle which made us more sophisticated and at the same time costly.

     There are several disadvantages and advantages with the availability of Internet. If we try to look at its perils, Internet became avenue for abhorrent actitivities. For instance, pornography is rife in its database where in children gets an easy access to it, therefore intoxicating the minds of the children through the engagement of pre-marital sex and resulting to early pregnancy. Moreover, Internet is also used as a tool by unscrupulous people to easily lure their victims for the purpose of making money. On the other hand, many people still use internet for the best reasons particularly retrieving educational information for the use of their study. Furthermore, socialism is made easy because of the world wide web accessed by the internet, giving everyone the opportunity to socialize even at the bounce of their homes in the raise of humanity.

2. Give a brief desription of the following Internet organizations:

• IAB (Internet Architecture Board) - is an independent committee of researches and professionals with a technical interest in the health and evolution of the Internet System. (1979)
• IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) - a group of loosely organized volunteers who discuss, develop, and publicize Internet standards. (1986)
• ISOC (Internet Society) - is an international, nonprofit organization to provide direction in Internet related standards, education, and policy. (1992)
• InterNIC (Internet Network Information Center) - an umbrella entity created by the National Science Foundation in cooperation with the Internet community, consisting of Network Information Service Managers who provided and/or coordinated NSFNet services.(1992)
• IESG (Internet Engineering Steering Group) - a body composed of the Internet Engineering Task Force Area Directors and the IETF Chair. It provides the first technical review of Internet standards and is responsible for day-to-day "management" of the IETF. (1994)
• IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) - the body responsible for coordinating some of the key elements that keep the Internet running  smoothly. (1994)
• IRTF (Internet Research Task Force) - promotes research of importance to the evolution of the Internet by creating focused, long-term research groups working on topics related to Internet protocols, applications, architecture and technology. (1996)
• ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) - manages the domain name system and allocation of IP addresses. (1998)

3. After watching the video on how the Internet works, answer the following questions:

• What made the internet reliable and efficient?
• It is reliable because Internet is where you can find almost everything you need to know and do almost everything you want, chat, send important files, even shop online. It makes communication with people faster. It's efficient because anyone can use it. You just need to have a computer and a network. And you can do Internet the whole day. 24/7. :  

• What principles applied in the Internet that could also be beneficial in other areas?
• Agreement. Like what is said it the video, it's like a game, you agree to play by the rules. Same as in the internet. If you will follow the rules, how it's used then everyone can benefit from it. Anyone around the world. You can connect it to different server as long as you and the other party agree and stick to the rules implemented.

4. In your own words, explain the TCP/IP Protocol Suite (Internet Model). Minimum of 250 words, 500 maximum.

      

        TCP/IP is basically a file transfer. It is a reliable way of delivering your data and is still used until now by everyone who has Internet. It is also independent, it is not just with one company, any company is free to use it. It has four layers, Application Layer, Transport Layer, Internet Layer and Network Access Layer. These layers are the steps of how data is transferred, composed of data and headers. To know its latest version, you can search for RFC also known as Request For Comments. 

SOURCES:

ISOC: http://www.isoc.org/isoc/

IAB: http://www.livinginternet.com/i/iw_mgmt_iab.htm

IESG:http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/internet+engineering+steering+group

IRTF: http://www.livinginternet.com/i/iw_mgmt_irtf.htm and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Research_Task_Force

IETF: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-internet-engineering-task-force.htm

IANA: http://www.iana.org/about/

InterNIC: http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Internet+Network+Information+Center

ICANN:  http://www.livinginternet.com/i/iw_mgmt_icann.htm