The Online World resources handbook

PREFACE

This is the online version of the Online World handbook. It deals with practical aspects of using the rapidly growing global on-line information resource,in which the Internet plays an increasingly important part.

The book is distributed in a form designed to be easily accessible with the maximum range of computers, printer types, and search programs. In this way, it is compatible with most electronic reading devices for the blind. Many frills, such as fancy formatting, extraneous characters or tags, have been omitted to achieve this.

The main subject of the handbook is what you can get out of the global online resource.

Expect an outline, not a comprehensive list or directory of all available offerings. We explore selected applications across network and service boundaries to show how selected needs may be satisfied. In the process, we give information about how to reach many interesting offerings.

The applications range from entertainment and the bizarre to databases and special services for professionals and organizations.

You are not expected to live in the United States or Norway. Focus is on international offerings available through major services and networks like the Internet, Usenet, CompuServe, and others. These services can be accessed from almost anywhere.

Talking about the Internet, we must still assume that many readers are unable to get full interactive access at an affordable price, and therefore only have access to these offerings by electronic mail.

I wrote The Online World for anybody interested in knowing more about this "Global Village", they be parents or youth, teachers, students, business people, social workers, psychologists, young, or old.

You can read it like a novel to get an idea of what goes on, as a practical guide book to databases and news sources, or a book of reference. It is meant to be both tutorial and practical, so there are lots of actual commands and Internet addresses listed herein. However, you do not have to be a computer expert or an experienced "onliner" to find it useful!

The hypertext version can be used as a navigation tool, and the TOW mailing list as a awareness service (http://listserv.nodak.edu/archives/tow.html).

While not a textbook on data communications, it contains information to help novices get started. For an introduction to telecommunications, read appendix 2 and 3 before continuing with Chapter 1.

Warning: New services are born every day, while others are closing down. Most services in this book are probably still around when you read it, but the text certainly needs to be updated regularly. Therefore, all feedback is welcomed with thanks!

Please tell me what you like, what you don't, what you think I have missed -- or have got hopelessly wrong.

This book is not free

The book is not public domain. It is copyrighted material, and can only be distributed in accordance with this license. - You are granted a limited read and use license of the book to see if it is for you.

Please give to others

Permission is granted to reproduce and distribute the Online World book if:

(1) No remuneration of any kind is received in exchange. A distribution fee may be charged for the cost of a diskette, shipping and handling, if the total (per disk) does not exceed US$8.00.
(2) Distribution is without ANY change to the contents of all accompanying text files, including the copyright notice and this license. All files in this package are to be distributed together.
(3) No publication of the book or individual articles from the book in print is permitted, in any language, without the express written consent of the author.

Any other use is prohibited without express, written permission in advance. This includes bundling of any of the book's chapters or appendixes for your own distribution,

If archiving this book for use in a library, please include all files. Use the name ONLINE34, as in ONLINE34.ZIP, or ONLINE34.LZH. This will provide consistency for future updates.

How to read the book

You may read the handbook using any web browser or search program. My favorites are:

Using Windows 95/98
Internet Explorer 4.0 for browsing, and AltaVista Discovery for searching (see Chapter 14).

Print versions of The Online World

The Online World handbook is not meant for any specific area of the world. Local versions are being printed and published in various countries through local partners. These versions of the book are adapted to local conditions, and contain many local examples and references.

The following local versions of the book have been printed:

English/Canada

"The Online World - How to Profit from the Information Superhighway" by Mike Weaver and Odd de Presno.  Publisher: Productive Publications, P.O.Box 7200, Station A, Toronto, Ontario M5W 1X8, Canada. ISBN: 0-920847-89-7.

German

"ONLINE-world," by Dr. Karl Sarnow and Odd de Presno. 312 pages. ISBN 3- 88229-035-8. Publisher: Verlag Heinz Heise GmbH & Co KB, Helstorfer Strasse 7, D-3000 Hannover 61, Germany. Fax: +49-511-53 52-129. Price: DM 58. Email to Dr. Karl Sarnow: karl@dadoka.h.ni.schule.de.

Icelandic

"Netheimar" by Lara Stefansdottir, Lars H.Andersen and Odd de Presno. 280 pages. ISBN 9979-60-112-4 Published December 1995. Email addresses: lara@ismennt.is, and lars@aknet.is.

Norwegian

"Ut i verden fra egen skjerm," Norwegian text, Datatid A/S, 1992. 220 pages. ISBN: 82-90628-67-6.

Do you want to become a partner?

If you are interested in becoming the coauthor of a local language version of the book for your country, please write me at presno@eunet.no to discuss.

Saltrod (Norway)

Yours,

Odd de Presno