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The Australian Gold Rush European discovery and the colonisation of Australia Australian weather and the seasons Great Barrier Reef Convicts and the British colonies in Australia Sydney Opera House Australian Indigenous cultural heritage Sydney Harbour Bridge Australian food and drink Ned KellyGuide 2. What is the Internet?
What you can do on the Internet (screen 5 of 6)
1. World Wide Web
The World Wide Web (WWW, or the Web) is probably the best known element of the Internet.
To view Web screens you need a Web browser application - such as 
Netscape
Navigator(1) or Microsoft
Internet Explorer(2). Web browsers interpret the information retrieved
from the distant server on which the information is stored. The browser
reads the HTML(3) code and presents that
in the browser screen - so on this page for instance (provided
you have not turned graphics off) you can see body text in black, red
subheadings, a graphic globe, a graphic bar at the top of the screen,
as well as other elements. On other websites you might also see background
images or textures.
The browsers can also interpret sound and movies, but for them to do that you will usually need some helper software - usually called 'plug-ins'. There's more about plug-ins in a later Guide(4).
The Web, with its ability to present a variety of media, and with its enormous user base, will be the single most compelling reason for a cultural worker or organisation to get connected.
The Internet, and how it works, is discussed in greater detail in an earlier Guide(5).
2. Email
A common use of the Internet is to exchange messages with others by electronic mail or email(6). Email has a number of advantages over regular mail services - which the Net-savvy call snail mail!
- Email is faster, arriving at its destination within seconds, even if sent to the other side of the world.
- You can send the same mail item simultaneously to a large number of people at no extra cost.
- You can attach documents and other types of computer files to email messages.
- Email is cheaper.
- You don't need to leave your computer to send an email message.
Justifying costs
Email alone makes it well worth the cost of connecting to the Internet. Why? When managed strategically in your organisation the speed and utility of email can improve productivity, provide an electronic 'paper trail' of communications between you and others, build relationships with clients and colleagues, provide opportunities for marketing and promotion, and enable you to develop your brand beyond your geographical location.
Email
software(7) makes it easy not only to exchange messages, but also
to exchange files.
You can read more about email software in a later Guide(8).
3. File Transfer Protocol
In addition to email, there are specialised file transfer protocols (FTP)(9) specifically for file transfer. These protocols enable you to download files from the servers on the Internet. The result is similar to copying files to or from a floppy disk except that you have access to an infinitely greater range of files on a huge number of Web servers distributed world wide.
Using FTP
There is now an enormous amount of reliable information on the Internet which you can use for your business and to assist you to comply with regulatory requirements of various kinds.
You can download application forms, tender documents, government policy documents and legislative requirements. You can access all Federal Government departments and agencies through the Australian Government Entry Point(10), and most States and Territory governments also have substantial Web presences. There is a large number of arts organisations with websites and you can find them using the Search engine(11).
4. Distribution lists
Distribution lists and discussion lists have elements in
common, but they are worth considering separately as their functions
are quite different. Distribution lists operate using either Listserv(12)
or Majordomo(13)
software.
There is also now a number of different free Web-based distribution lists you can use. Using their set-up and software you can create - free - a distribution list or electronic newsletter without needing to understand Listserv or Majordomo commands. The disadvantage can be their advertising appearing on your distribution list messages.
Distribution lists can work like electronic newsletters. They can operate within an organisation - for example to send out the latest staff notice to all staff, or can be used by an organisation to promote its activities to its external audience. Organisations or individuals may operate a number of different distribution lists for different purposes.
The main features of distribution lists are:
- They operate using email software.
- They allow one-way communication: from someone/some organisation to you.
- They are generally subject-, theme- or area-specific.
- You subscribe to them.
- You may be on them automatically because you have an email address in an organisation.
- Information is sent to you.
- You do not contribute information.
ausculture-newsletter(14)
The ausculture-newsletter is a free newsletter produced and distributed (via electronic mail) by Australia's Cultural Network. You will discover the latest from Australia's Cultural Network as well as emerging Internet and Web technologies. Type your email address in the box and click on the subscribe button.
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5. Discussion lists
Discussion lists(16) are also called mailing lists. They differ from newsgroups (see below) in that the only software you need to be involved in a mailing list is email software. They differ from distribution lists (see above) in that they encourage two-way or multi-way communication - a discussion in fact!
The person who runs the mailing list also uses Listserv or Majordomo software that contains the email addresses of everyone on the mailing list.
The main features of discussion lists are:
- They operate using email software.
- They allow two-way or multi-way communication: from one to all, from all to one, from one to one, from some to some, from many to many.
- They are generally subject-, theme- or area-specific.
- You subscribe to them.
- Information is sent to you.
- You contribute information.
When you send an email to a mailing list it is copied and sent to everyone else on the list.
Mailing lists usually have a theme or topic. They can be general or very specific. And like newsgroups (see below), they are a great way of staying informed, and of exchanging information. Despite list members being in different countries and belonging to different cultures, these lists can allow up to hundreds or thousands of people with an interest in a topic to exchange ideas and information.
We have a number of cultural discussion lists(17) listed.
6. Newsgroups
If you have an interest in a particular topic, you can be almost certain there are others who have a similar interest, and have formed a newsgroup to discuss that topic. A newsgroup works very much like a discussion list except that it's based on your Web browser software rather than on your email software.
Special news reader(18) software is required to handle the messages received from a newsgroup, although this is built in to some Web browser applications.
The appeal of newsgroups and discussion lists to cultural workers is that you need never feel isolated. There are dozens of newsgroups out there discussing issues related to the arts, culture and heritage. You can read more about newsgroups(19) in a future guide.
7. Web chat
With the right software and hardware in your computer, you can communicate live in real time(20) with other users of the Internet. You can do this by using the keyboard, by voice, or by video link.
While some of the communications that take place in real time are no more exciting than listening to the chat over a CB radio, with a little imagination these real time communications can be put to good use. For example, the ABC website frequently hosts an online chat session related to and following on from the screening of a television show. Participants in the chat session can ask questions of the ABC journalists and their guests. This is currently text based where questions and responses are typed. In the future, though, it may be that we will be able to participate in television programs from home via the Internet.
Audio links over the Internet can be cheaper than phone calls, although the quality is not as good yet. And there is now software which enables you to see the person you are talking to on your computer in real time.
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References
- Netscape Navigator http://www.netscape.com/computing/download/index.html?cp=hom08tdow
- Microsoft Internet Explorer http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/search.aspx?displaylang=en
- Guide 3 screen 3 http://culture.gov.au/resources/guides/g3/s3.htm
- Guide 7 screen 4 http://culture.gov.au/resources/guides/g7/s4.htm#plugin
- Guide 1 screen 2 http://culture.gov.au/resources/guides/g1/s2.htm
- Guide 3 screen 8 http://culture.gov.au/resources/guides/g3/s8.htm
- Email software http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/
- Guide 3 screen 8 http://culture.gov.au/resources/guides/g3/s8.htm#software
- Guide 3 screen 11 http://culture.gov.au/resources/guides/g3/s11.htm
- Australian Government Entry Point http://www.australia.gov.au/
- Search engine http://culture.gov.au/
- LISTSERV http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/1.8d/user/user.html
- Majordomo http://www.greatcircle.com/majordomo/
- Free ausculture-newsletter http://culture.gov.au/newsletter/
- ausculture-newsletter help http://culture.gov.au/newsletter/index.htm
- Discussion lists http://culture.gov.au/lists/
- Cultural discussion lists http://culture.gov.au/lists/
- Guide 3 screen 12 http://culture.gov.au/resources/guides/g3/s12.htm
- Guide 3 screen 12 http://culture.gov.au/resources/guides/g3/s12.htm
- Guide 3 screen 17 http://culture.gov.au/resources/guides/g3/s17.htm
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