iCheck Microsoft Office 2003 Introductory

These articles further explore computer safety, ethics, and many other topics covered in the Technology Handbook found in the student edition.

Online Communication (p. H42)

Introduction Learn more about online communication.

Directions Read the information below and apply what you learn to answer the questions. Check your work carefully, and click Check Answers.

Forms of Online Communication

E-mail

The most popular form of online communication is e-mail, or electronic mail. This global service enables families, friends, business associates, and even complete strangers to communicate with one another. All that is needed is an e-mail account, Internet access, and a Web browser or e-mail software, such as Microsoft Outlook.

E-mail addresses function much like physical addresses do: they are used to identify the “mailbox” of the person to whom you are sending a message. E-mail addresses take on the following form: username@location.com. The username is the “address” of the person; the location is the “post office.” However, since many users often share the same location, avoiding duplicate addresses can be a problem. Perhaps you have tried to create a username with a popular e-mail provider such as Hotmail, only to find that this name was already in use.

Newsgroups

Newsgroups, which are a group of individuals on the Internet with a common interest in a particular subject, present an increasingly popular form of online communication. In newsgroups, users personally exchange news through online posts to discussion groups and real-time chats. This type of Internet service is managed by the Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP), which is used to distribute newsfeeds, or collections of articles, to newsgroups according to their subject of interest. Essentially, this protocol functions as a filter, sending pertinent news to interested users as it omits other subject areas.

To access a newsgroup, you need a program called a newsreader. Then you must subscribe to a newsgroup that interests you. This subscription is free of charge, but it is necessary so that your newsreader program knows to watch for new posts in that group. Usenet is one of the most well-known newsgroup services. Usenet’s subscribers can post messages on a huge “bulletin board” any time of the day or night. When more than one user responds to a message, the original topic is called a thread.

Instant Messaging

Instant messaging enables two or more people to establish a private, real-time communications channel, similar to calling someone on the phone. To some extent, instant messaging reduces the need for e-mail and long-distance phone calls. Most Internet providers offer instant messengers in which you can contact someone in real-time using his or her e-mail address. Some instant messengers now include voice recognition, so typing is no longer necessary.

1			Why is avoiding duplicate e-mail addresses a problem?
2			What is Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP) used for?
3			What does a newsreader program do?
4			Why is it necessary to subscribe to a newsgroup?