Internet Surfing
The internet can be a huge and scary
informational jungle for a non-expert.
Given the enormous amount of
information that the internet contains, this is no
surprise. There are things
that one can do though, to make their quest for
knowledge easier. When
looking for a specific item in this cyberactive library
it is easier to have
a plan, and then focus on a particular subject. Most
likely, using a search
tool will be your first means of finding what it is that
you need. When using
a search tool for the first time it is best to develop a
general
understanding of it. First, get to know how it works, and the type
of
language used when dealing with it. For example, each search tool usually
has
its own unique criteria, thus making the search for information that much
more
difficult. Responses to a particular query can vary greatly from search
tool to
search tool. Also the same query sent by the same inspection tool may
come up
with various responses from day to day, because web pages are
constantly being
added, removed, and updated. You will find, if you
consistently use the
internet, that things will become much less difficult
for you as your experience
broadens. The very first time I used the internet
I was very intimidated, and
thought that anyone who could use such an
elaborate thing must be a genius. The
many search tools and the complexities
of their use baffled me. Now, I zip
around the information highway like a
whiz kid, and I have come to view the
whole thing as one huge library. To
speed up your searches, bookmark your
favorite search tools for future use.
You can also bookmark certain helpful
sites while you are searching, so that
you can come back to them later without
wasting time by searching for them
again. By bookmarking sites you eliminate the
risk of typing errors when the
address or URL is long and complicated. When you
are in a hurry and you come
across long articles it is helpful to copy the
article on the clipboard and
then paste it to the word processing window to read
or print at a later time.
When you are not rushed you may come back to the
article and decide which
parts, if any, you wish to keep for future reference.
Some, like my
father, say that the internet is the doorway to the devil. Others
say it is
an impossible, confusing, and frustrating piece of trash, but I say
that when
used properly it is a great tool for learning. Many times it has been
a
lifesaver when I needed information quickly, and did not have the time to
go
to the library. Yes, it is confusing for people who do not understand it,
but
like learning to ride a bike the more you try the better you become.
Suddenly
the jungle can become your backyard, and the novice can become a
wizard.