Make the most of the internet

You can use the internet to:

• Keep in touch with friends and family
• Save money with your shopping
• Save time by managing your utilities and banking online
• Search for information on absolutely anything

This guide has been produced with the support of BT‚ one of the world’s leading providers of communication products and services.

Getting started

Before you use the internet‚ there are several items you will need.

A personal computer (PC) with mouse and keyboard

Some people like desktop computers while others prefer more portable computers that you can carry around and use on your lap (known as laptops).

A mouse is a hand-sized control that allows you to direct an arrow‚ or cursor‚ around your computer screen and to click on things on the screen and is how you navigate your way around the internet. They come in different shapes and sizes and are comfortable even if you have limited dexterity.

Desktop computers usually have keyboard and mouse as separate items but on a laptop they are built in and the mouse is usually a track pad. The computer‚ keyboard‚ mouse are all hardware.

Internet connection

There are two ways to connect to the internet‚ dial-up and broadband.

Dial-up internet connection
With a dial-up connection the computer is plugged into your phone line and dials a telephone number. It keeps your telephone line busy and is the slowest form of connection.

Broadband internet connection
A broadband connection is fast and allows you to use your phone and be on the internet at the same time. You can shop around for cheap ‘bundles’ of services, ie all your television‚ internet and phone services from one provider.

There are different types of broadband connection to the internet:

• ADSL broadband uses a standard phone line and is supplied via BT. You plug in a box (known as a modem) and your phone line can be used simultaneously for the internet and for phone calls
• Broadband is also available from cable and satellite TV companies
• Wireless broadband (known as WiFi) involves connecting wirelessly to your home broadband so that you can use the internet in any room in your home. Increasingly‚ you can also connect wirelessly in public areas such as airports and coffee shops – these are called WiFi hotspots. BT Openzone provides wireless internet access throughout the UK and Ireland
• Mobile broadband – you can access the internet from anywhere with mobile phone coverage using a small device called a dongle provided by the major mobile phone networks. You pay for them in the same way as you pay for your phone.

Protection from viruses

When using the internet‚ you must ensure the security of your personal details and the safety of your computer from viruses – computer programs on the internet designed to access your computer without your consent.

There are several free anti-virus programs that allow only safe content from the internet onto your computer.

Taking your first steps

Once you are connected‚ try the BBC Computer Tutor – a useful online guide to using a keyboard‚ mouse and computer screen.

• Age UK’s network of computer training courses aimed at older users is made up of over 150 local community technology projects for older people across the UK
• Public libraries all offer computer and internet access through the People’s Network‚ with library staff on hand to provide support
• UK online centres are available in over 6‚000 libraries and community centres throughout England. Call freephone 0800 77 1234
• AbilityNet provides information‚ resources and training on adapted technologies (including screen-readers‚ voice recognition software and large-button keyboards) to support older people with physical and mobility difficulties to use computers and the internet. Call freephone 0800 269 545
• Age UK also has a range of relevant publications‚ including How to be a silver surfer and Computing for beginners‚ available from our online bookshop and in leading bookshops.

Keeping in touch

The internet has revolutionised how we communicate with each other. There are many new ways to keep in touch and lots of opportunities to meet new people – sometimes even for free. Here are some of the most popular.

Email

Electronic mail (email) is the quickest‚ easiest and cheapest way to contact people. You can send an email to friends and family‚ wherever they are‚ and attach pictures‚ photos‚ music and voice recordings.

Setting up an email account is straightforward – you could get one from your internet service provider (ISP) or you could use a web-based service like Google Mail‚ Hotmail or Yahoo! Mail.

Instant messaging

Instant messaging is a cross between emailing and text messaging.

If someone is on their computer at the same time as you are on yours‚ you can contact them and start a conversation. Type your message‚ press enter‚ watch your words appear on the screen and the other person can then reply.

Instant messaging is usually hosted by email-account providers. Your best option for instant messaging is a program called Trillian which allows you to chat across many instant messenger services (including MSN Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger). You can even have audio and video chats.

Internet telephony

Using the internet for phone calls is becoming popular because it is often free or cheaper than fixed-line telephones. You will need a microphone and so will the person you are speaking to. If you both have a web camera (web cam) you can also see the person you are talking to.

Skype is the most popular provider. You can chat away on free Skype-to-Skype calls and never worry about cost‚ time or distance. You can also make local‚ long-distance and international calls to fixed-line and mobile phones at reduced rates.

Download the free software from Skype.

Social networking websites

Websites that focus on connecting – social networking websites – provide a great way to find like-minded communities‚ expand social circles and keep in touch with family and friends.

Friends Reunited can put you in touch with people you knew at school‚ college‚ university and even former workplaces. Other websites like Facebook and MySpace allow you to search for friends registered with the site and also to meet new people.

Twitter and blogs

A blog is a bit like an online diary: it tells the world what you’re up to and you can choose to keep it private‚ share it with friends or publish it for the whole world to see.

Twitter is a ‘micro-blogging’ service where your posts, known as tweets, are limited to 140 characters.

Set up a free blog at Blogger or Twitter.

Glossary

Blog
A shorthand term for weblog, the online equivalent of a diary or journal.

Broadband
A fast connection to the internet using an ADSL modem‚ cable or wireless connection.

Browser
A piece of software that enables your computer to load and display pages in a website. The most popular web browsers are Internet Explorer‚ Firefox‚ Chrome‚ Safari and Opera.

Desktop computer
A computer designed to fit on top of a desk that typically comes in separate parts connected during installation: the base unit or tower‚ the display monitor or screen‚ a keyboard and a mouse.

Download/load
Transfer file(s) from the internet to your own computer: when used with email‚ it usually refers to collecting new messages; when used with the web‚ it usually refers to requesting a web page through a web browser.

Email
Short for ‘electronic mail’‚ it is the internet version of the postal service: you send a message from your computer to another person who also has access to email.

Email address
To exchange email messages with friends and family‚ and to register for many types of internet service‚ you need your own email address‚ which will typically look something like this: yourname@serviceprovider.co.uk

Hardware
Any piece of equipment that is part of a computer system‚ eg printer‚ keyboard‚ hard drive (which stores information) and memory card (which affects how fast your computer works and how many concurrent tasks it can undertake).

Hyperlink
A hyperlink can be a word or a graphic. When it is clicked with a mouse‚ a new web page or part of the same page opens automatically in your web browser. A text hyperlink is typically a different colour and may also be underlined.

Internet/the net
A worldwide collection of computers joined by networks‚ which are linked to each other via communication links such as telephone lines. To join the internet all you have to do is connect your computer to one of the networks. Internet service provider (ISP) A company that provides you with access to the internet from your computer.

Laptop
A portable computer‚ which is smaller and lighter than a desktop computer and is designed to be easily moved around.

Load
See download/load

Online
This means working on a computer that is currently connected to the internet.

PC
Short for ‘personal computer’ – a generic term for both laptops and desktop computers.

Podcasts
These are recordings of radio shows available from the internet that you can listen to when you choose.

Search engine
A website that allows you to enter words or select from a list of subjects and categories to search for a topic.

Social networking websites
Websites that provide dedicated web pages to share information‚ photographs and updates.

Software
Any program that can be loaded onto a computer‚ from games to accounting or word-processing packages.

Web
see World wide web

Web(site) address
Identifies the location on the internet of a website or page. Typically looks something like this: http://www.agecymru.org.uk/ or http://www.bbc.co.uk. 

Web cam
A video camera connected to the internet through your computer.

Web page
Viewed with a web browser – a document that can consist of text‚ pictures‚ moving images‚ and sound‚ which together provide information or describe an organisation‚ product or service.

Website
A collection of related web pages published by a single organisation.

Window
A separate viewing area on a computer display screen. A window can usually be resized by the user – for example‚ it can be stretched on any side‚ minimised‚ maximised and closed. You can have several windows on your screen at the same time.

World wide web (www or web)
The web pages stored on computers connected to the internet.