Ready, Set, Click

American Fitness, May, 1999 by Marti West

Ready, Set, Click!

Internet basics for the rest of us

Explore Fit Town[TM] Through the AFAA TeleFitness[R] Center and Learn How You Can Bring FitTown to Your Town!

Whether it's a new car model, discussion of a local voter initiative, the latest movie releases or your daily banking, everyone and everything seems to have an Internet presence. Are we ready for this? Do you sometimes feel like the technologically astute are propelling themselves into cyberspace at warp speed while you're still struggling with the basic Internet concepts, and what the heck does http:// really mean? The good news is you're not alone. As a recovering technophobe, I can relate. Over the next few months I'll be shedding some light on the basics and highlighting how to put the AFAA TeleFitness[R] services to work for you.

What is the Internet?

The Internet is an intangible global network or collection of individual computers that are able to connect to each other over phone lines. They all have a common set of protocols (the method of communication used by two computers to interchange information). Compare it to a group of people who agree to communicate using only Latin-based languages such as Spanish, Italian and French. The Internet is not owned by any one entity and is self-regulated by individuals who post information and those who seek it. Although the Internet seems to have sprung up overnight, it actually dates back to the 1960s when the U.S. government began developing a network of computers that could trade and store information in the event of nuclear attack.

What is the World Wide Web and how does it differ from the Internet?

The World Wide Web is a subset of the Internet. The Web is a group of computers within the Internet that easily connect to one another due to common protocols and communication methods. Using the language analogy noted previously, the Web is similar to a group of people within a Latin-based language group who agree to communicate in Spanish. There may be different dialects, but it's still Spanish. People frequently refer to the Web as any resource on the Net that can be reached through a Web browser program. The World Wide Web contains a great deal of information on a wide variety of subjects.

Information pages that can be easily viewed using World Wide Web protocols are called Web pages or Web sites. These sites, as well as all information on the Internet, are located by their URL (Uniform Resource Locator). The URL is the address for any file, object or other information on the Internet. http://www.afaa.com is the URL for the AFAA TeleFitness Center.

How do I get connected to the Internet?

The primary way in which most consumers connect to the Internet is through an Internet Service Provider (ISP). An ISP is a company that provides connections to the Internet heavy-duty computers that sort, route, archive and serve Web pages for multiple clients. The connection between your computer and the ISP's server is made through a phone line connected to the modern in your computer. Most new computers come equipped with an internal modern, which is a piece of hardware that allows your computer to call another computer over a phone line.

Internet service providers are springing up all over the country, many offering very inexpensive monthly connection rates. However, less expensive isn't always the best deal. Here's a few things to look for when selecting an ISP:

* Is the dial-up number a local call? What about access when traveling? Is there an 800 number?

* Is there a flat rate for unlimited access? Are there any additional charges or hidden costs?

* Does the service provider supply easy-to-use installation software? Is any other software provided, such as a Web browser or mail reader?

* What type of technical support is available? It should be free of charge 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

* How fast are the ISP's moderns? The slower modern in a connection controls the speed. Moderns range from the fastest at 57.6 Kbps (kilobits per second) to the standard 28.8 Kbps.

* Does it offer space to publish your own Web site?

How do I navigate the Internet?

Once you're connected to the Internet, getting around is easily accomplished with the aid of a Web browser, a program used to navigate the Web and the Internet which allows you to maximize certain pages or pieces of information. The two most widely used browser programs are Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer. Both provide excellent features that allow you to:

* get from place to place by following links (under lined words that you click on to view another page or location).

* type a URL such ashttp://www.afaa.com into an address window and go directly to that site.

* save favorite pages or Web sites with a bookmark, making it quick and easy to return.

* search for specific information.

There is no doubt the Internet will continue to develop as an integral part of our daily lives, touching us at home, work, school and play. And while it is unlikely most of us will need to keep up with every piece of technology that breaks into the marketplace, it is important we develop a comfort level with our computers and the Internet, allowing us to maximize our individual and business opportunities in the future. Please contact me with your questions or comments c/o AFAA or at martiwest@bigplanet.com.