ASSOCIATES (vol. 7 no. 3, March 2001) - associates.ucr.edu
Learning About the Internet Made Easy
by
Michael D. Brooks
Acquisitions Technician
Francis A. Drexel Library
St. Joseph's University
brooks@sju.edu
Ever wondered how the Internet actually works? Ever pondered how email and search engines actually work, or whether there is an easy way to learn all about the Web? Well, wonder no more. Learn the Net.com is just a click away.
Learn the Net, a privately held company based in San Francisco, CA has a web site that caters to, well, everyone. The site is so easy to use that Yahoo! Internet Life listed it as one of the top Internet sites in 2000. The company clearly states this on its About Us page. About.com guide, Gwen Schertel, also recommends the web site. For those of you familiar with the site, I am sure you will agree that it is perhaps one of the best places to go for newbies and experts alike. It is simplicity in its purist form. It is the meat and potatoes and the gravy, too.
Everything you would ever want to know about the Internet is at your fingertip with just a mouse click.
On the Getting Started page, a diagram of how the site is structured is provided. The diagram is accompanied by simple-to-understand instructions on what you will see and what to expect as you navigate the site. With a quick click on the Master the Basics link, you are introduced to articles explaining how to connect your computer to the Internet, what a modem is and what it does, how to setup your monitor, and what Netiquette is. These are just a few of the many articles that are available.
Some of the pages have an Animated Internet link, which visually breaks down its related topic step-by-step. The animations are actually controlled by you. So you can absorb the data at your own speed. To use this feature, though, you will need to download the Flash Player plug-in software to run the animations. You say you do not have the plug-in? No problem. Learn the Net.com provides a link on its Animated Internet page so you can download the free software.
You say you are not sure how to download files? Once again Learn the Net.com has you covered. Just click on the Download Files link. The Download Files page has step-by-step instructions on, yes, you guessed it, how to download files.
Other topics that you can explore include creating Web pages, investing online, personal online security for yourself and children, online communities, and e-business strategies. There is also a comprehensive glossary and a useful index. If you cannot find what you are looking for in the directory, simply scroll down to the bottom of whatever article you linked to. Some articles are accompanied by links to related topics at the end of the page. There is so much information available, that you will inevitably find something of interest.
Everything about Learn the Net.com has been carefully thought out. It is evident that great care and attention are given to the pages on this site. The information is timely, relevant, and concise. And best of all, the articles talk to you, not down to you.
