Module 4: No 1 Most Relevant Site

The best or most relevant site was from the Community Learning Network, found at http://www.cln.org/lists/nuggets/tools.html. It was keyword searchable, fairly unbiased, had a wide topic coverage, and came from a very feasible author (CLN). Its currency was not that recent, but the information still had relevancy. As it came up through Google’s site link ranking system, it is likely other sites link to it, thus making it recognized.

Module 4: Most Relevant Links

Best Five Links related to ‘Advanced Internet Users’

URL: http://www.k12science.org/tutorials/advanced/
Author: CIESE
Institution: Stevens Technology Institute, Centre for Improved Engineering & Science Education
Blurb / Summary: Advanced Internet Users Tutorial

URL: http://www.refdesk.com/factbeg.html
Author: Bob Drudge
Institution: None
Blurb / Summary: Well stocked resource page for Internet Skills.

URL: http://www.cln.org/guidebooks.html
Author: Community Learning Network
Institution: Community Learning Network
Blurb / Summary: ‘Guidebooks and resources which can assist teachers to learn more about the Internet. Most of the resources on this page are for novices, but there are some that even advanced users would find helpful.’

URL: http://www.cln.org/lists/nuggets/tools.html
Author: Community Learning Network
Institution: Community Learning Network
Blurb / Summary: Keyword Searchable and Indexed database of Internet Tools, Hints, and Announcements.

URL: http://www.msen.com/1997/adv_links.html
Author: MSEN .INC
Institution: MSEN .INC
Blurb / Summary: Links that ‘may be of interest to advanced users.’

In order to retrieve this information I used a combination of Copernic Metasearch, Google and Teoma, and Firefox webbrowser. I copied the URL via Firefox's copy URL function, and then pasted the information into a word document. I then copeid it into my blog.

Module 4: Boolean Searching

To find the biggest number of hits relating to ‘Advanced Internet Users’ I would enter: Advanced Internet Users

To find sources relating to skills based information on 'Advanced Internet Users' I would enter: ‘advanced internet users’ +skills -news

To find information on 'Advanced Internet Users' coming only from university sources, I would enter: ‘advanced internet users’ +University

Module 4: Pagesucker

I downloaded Pagesucker and played with it, but then failed to see its usefulness as my internet connection is 1.5mb/ps broadband. This could be useful for dialup users though.

Module Four: Bookmark Buddy

I downloaded Bookmark Buddy and immediately found it very useful. On most of my format / reinstalls of Windows I have saved my IE favourites, but since switching to Firefox I have been unable to save them for some reason which I have not yet figured out. Bookmark Buddy will be useful not only for this, but also for better filing and categorisation of links.

Module4: Metasearching

The 'Surviving the Storm: Using Metasearch Engines Effectively' link is broken, and I was unable to find it through google.

First I downloaded Copernic Basic and entered the search term 'Internet Governance,' just to test it out. It came up with a number of different websites of interest. I then did the same search in Google, and noted which of the websites that had appeared in Copernic Basic also appeared in Google. They all did, though not on the first page. Unfortunately, Copernic Basic is not also functional web browser; it opens links in Firefox, overriding whatever was already loaded. So using Google through Firefox is actually faster (Tabbed browsing, browsing plugins etc). I will continue to experiment with Copernic, but still feel that it may be more trouble than its worth.

I then undertook the task outlined.
I opened Google and searched for ‘advanced internet users.’ It came up with 116,000,000 Hits. First Hit was: http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/global/asiapac/news/2005/pr_09-21.html, a news site about ‘China Supports Advanced Applications for Internet Users and Educational Centers.’
Used Copernic to search for the same term. It came up with 101 hits. The first link was http://www.k12science.org/tutorials/advanced/, an Advanced Internet Tutorial.
Copernic came up with less results, which narrows the resources to a more manageable amount. On first glance, Copernic’s results appear to be more relevant links.

Google Hits
http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/global/asiapac/news/2005/pr_09-21.html
http://www.advancedis.net/main.htm
http://www.k12science.org/tutorials/advanced/
http://www.advancedinter.net/
http://www.cert.org/

Copernic Hits
http://www.k12science.org/tutorials/advanced/
http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/usingwindows/internet/tips/advanced/2advanced_list.asp
http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/global/asiapac/news/2005/pr_09-21.html
http://www.ciese.stevens-tech.edu/tutorials/advanced/cookiemonster.html
http://www.softstack.com/advink.html

Module 4: Assessing Player Software

After perusing the list of recommended programs that could be assessed, I noted that I already use or have used many of them, such as Adobe PDF Reader, Flash and Shockwave Players (I designed my assignment 2 with Flash), and all of the media players (I prefer Quintessential Player for music, and JetAudio for video files.

Beginning Assignment 3

I have just begun to research assignment 3. On doing so I found that the link to Information ecologies: using technology with heart given in the webct unit instructions appears to have changed. Using google, I found that it is now located at :
http://www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue4_5/nardi_chapter4.html

Uploaded Assignment 2

I uploaded Assignment 2 to
http://users.tpg.com.au/archflip/Net%20Studies%20202/Intro.html

I used a program called Swish to make the site animated, as well as a combination of Homesite 5 and Word to create the web pages.

Module 3: Web Blog

Here is my blog, on my blog. Postmodern to the max.

Module 3: FTP

I downloaded an FTP program which did not work using the OASIS instructions. I then downloaded Core FTP lite, which did work using the instructions on OASIS. I uploaded my site, the URL of which is:

http://www.student.curtin.edu.au/~12188707

Module 2: Legal Issues

I have not used copyright images to publish, though i do use them at home, for instance in home videos.. I'm fairly well aware of copyright issues, as a film and television 3rd year student. I subscribe to the Creative Commons system. However, I'm not sure if it would be a breach of copyright to use the curtin logo on an assignment. I assume that despite me being a curtin student, the use of the logo is not viable because it denotes official curtin sanctioning of my views outlined in the assignment, which is not the case.

Module 3: WWW Standards

5 Things to keep in mind while writing Webpages

1. People are scanning for information, therefore keep information close to the surface of the page, and not hidden deeply within it. Otherwise nobody will ever find it.

2.People are used to meaningful links with the advent of blogging, so hyperlink text which actually tells the reader something about where it will go. This also helps sight impaired users, who use voice software to read links.

3. Make sure your page is easily navigated. If it leads to places where there is no way back without using the browser back button, people may become frustrated with its poor design and look elsewhere.

4. 'Keep it Simple, Stupid.' Everyone likes good graphic design, but not at the expense of easy simplicity. The two things work best when they go hand in hand, like a Zen monastary.

5. Make it friendly. People like to see the author as a like minded individual. keeping the style condusive to a friendly atmosphere will keep people coming back.

Module 3: Webpage

I found the webpage fairly easy, as I've made a number of them before. I encountered no major difficulties

Module 2: ICQ

Downloaded and installed ICQ 5. Added Advanced Netstudies: Details were 'About: This is the ICQ identity I use just for my 'advanced internet use' students!'

Loaded up a few NET 202 people's ICQ numbers from Yahoo Group, and added them. Chatted to Francis Richard. Details of Messenger program choice bellow:

wildeel (02:13 PM) :
at the moment (use ICQ) just for 202, other people are on AIM and MSN

Discussed other issues about NET 202, such as viewing each other's web pages, and then moved onto more general chats.

Module Two: Usenet Groups

Tried to use a newsgroup reader, downloaded 'Newsgroup Commander' but had trouble figuring out how to get it to recognise news servers etc. Decided I'd rather use a net based one like Google provides (they are taking over the world so might as well go with it).
Found google groups easy and intiuitive to navigate, which saved me time and stress.

Joined http://groups.google.com/group/rec.music.hip-hop
A hip hop music group. Checked out their converstaions for a while then posted my own:

Pigeon John
Bodes - Sep 9, 1:50 pm
Has anybody heard of Pigeon John? He accompanied Ugly Duckling on their last Australian Tour (I'm from Perth), and in my opinion dominated the show. I bought a CD of his at the show, and its dope as. All about trying to make it and never getting a recorde deal etc, but awesome style.
read more » 1 new of 1 message - 1 author

Module Two: Lists

I browsed the Yahoo Lists but realised I have no available time for any group right now. The pros of group lists are that a constant stream of information from a subject is sent to your email account. The cons are the same: if you want to take a rest from a group, it is still constantly sent to your email (if you have it set up like this).

Module Two: Reflective Questions

1. It is possible to tell the username, at which domain it belongs, and often whether or not it was a forwarded mail, and through whom it has been forwarded.
2. CC: is used if you want to send a copy of the message to someone else apart from the recipient. Useful for notifying a connected thrid party that a communication has been made between two people. BCC: Is same as CC except adds the function that the recipient is not made aware of the copy sent out. Reply All is useful in order to send a reply to every person on the recieving list of a message you've recieved, such as in in group communications, ie clubs, friends. Can be a dangerous function!
3. Use easily opened file types eg .txt, .jpg. Make files smaller, eg. convert .bmp to .jpg. Zip or RAR large files or large numbers of files (another from of compression), but be aware that file types must be opened by the end user, so inform them that the will need WIn RAR if you have sent a .Rar or Acrobat if you have sent a .Pdf for example.
4. I have my email account set to exclusive, so only emails that have addresses saved into my address book or safe list are put into my email inbox. This filter out Junk Mail, but requires, however, that I check my Junk Email (where everything else goes) occasionally to make sure that people are not sending me things that I do want to recieve but from unrecognised accounts. I then add them to my contacts or safe list to avoid future slip ups (Junk Mail is deleted every ten days).
5. My folder structure is organised into inbox, junk mail, comedy, writing.
Most emails remain in my inbox, organised by date, where i can search for mails by keywords and usernames. Comic emails are transferred into Comedy folder, so there is a stock of comedy for future reference. Writing is saved for emails relating to my business, writing childrens books. Junk mail is used as per answer 4.

Module Two: Task 1: Email

Began Task, though without enthusiasm, as Email seems too basic for much consideration. Started tutorial, learned 3 Billion Emails sent per day. 2 Billion Spam perhaps? Nothing new in Net Tutor Tutorial, as first thought.

Module 1: Task 3: Traceroute

I attempted to use Samspade.org to do a traceroute from WebCT to Samspade. It didn't work. I then remembered a post on WebCt by Brent who had had a similiar problem. Cynthia's reply made it clear that the Samspade.org traceroute task was a trick, in that it was known not to work. Note to self: beware of trickery in this unit. I then tracerouted from Webct to www.Telstra.net via a different website (found by typing traceroute into Google): http://www.completewhois.com/traceroute.htm.

The Ip Address of WebCT was:

134.7.34.197

There were 18 'Hops' between the two sites.

The average hop time appears to be around 50 ms.
The entire time taken would be around 900 ms.

Module 1: Task 2: FTP

When instructed to undertake the File Transfer Prorocol Task, I already had an FTP Browser, included with Getright Download Manager. I entered ftp://recall.curtin.edu.au as the FTP Address and downloaded the readme, where I learned that CAPITALISATION MATTERS. This task was quite easy as I have already had a lot of experience with FTP, both in downloading files and uploading files to Web Servers.

Task One: Telnet

I used my windows telnet application (accessed by typing telnet:// in the URL box of Firefox browser) to access library.deakin.edu.au. I searched for Author: Bennahum, and emailed the resulting record to my oasis account. The title of the book was:

Managed care : financial, legal, and ethical issues

Web Addresses

There is generally no need to type in the www prefix when entering a web address.

Getting Started with 202

Today I started work on my Net Studies Interent Communications unit. I created a Yahoo account as instructed, emailed my tutor as I had not yet recieved a discussion list email to my university (oasis) email account, read through the assignment list and created a blog in which to log my progress (assignment 4).