Internet for the Family

Presented to The Prairieland Advocates for Gifted Children, February 5, 1999

By Valerie Bock

What is the Internet?

global network of connected computers communicating with each other via Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol

full employment program for computer geeks

Yeah, but what is it really!

communications medium– e-mail– chat– newsgroups– internet phone– video conferencing

Yeah, but what is it really?

archive for computer programs– patches for commercial programs– demos– shareware– freeware

archive for written documents medium for cheap publication

Well, yeah, but what is it that would matter to me? A way to keep in touch

with far-flung friends and family

A place to find out more about things I’m interested in.

A huge catalog A study aid A place to publish my

work

A playground A place to meet people

who are interested in the same things I am

A means to keep current in my field

A way to do business from home

Isn’t there some bad stuff on the Internet?

Some folks think the Internet is for: Being mean to people

under cover of anonymity

Offering sleazy products, even to people who have no interest

Spreading hate and/or lies

Luring innocent youngsters into dangerous situations

Stealing– intellectual property

– money

Pretending to be someone else

So how do you avoid the bad stuff? Guard your privacy. Children should never

reveal:– last name– address– phone number

Adults should take care when revealing this information, and be careful about credit card numbers and work addresses

So how do you avoid the bad stuff? Don’t believe everything you read Go with your gut instinct Parents should know where their kids go Don’t reveal private information

What’s the big deal about revealing my full name? If people have your name and your town,

they can get your phone number and address (Yahoo) and they can find out where your house is (Mapquest)

It’s one thing to give this information to local folks and far away folks you know, and another to broadcast it to the world!

What about my e-mail address?

E-mail addresses are big business Spam is everywhere E-mail addresses published on the web attract junk

mail like flies E-mail software with filtering capability is a Good

Thing (TM)– Eudora– Pegasus– Netscape

Ok, Ok, I’ll be careful! Now can we go on-line? Search Engines

– Ask Jeeves– Dogpile

Cultural Stuff– Arts & Letters Daily– Museums– PBS– NPR

Local Stuff on-line

Herald & Review Millikin Richland DecaturNet City of Decatur

Kidstuff

Internet Chess Server Hoagie’s Kids Pages Yahooligans Study Web Virtual Science Teacher Hotwheels site MaMa Media GT World Moo

So, What is the Internet to You?

What isn’t the Internet?

A replacement for the guidance of parents

A replacement for teachers

A source of hugs A replacement for

neighbors A replacement for

friends

A place where you can “really get to know” people

A replacement for “real life”

Have fun, Learn stuff!

E-mail me! vbock@netins.net Check out the links from this presentation:

http://www.netins.net/showcase/vcb/pagc/