Internet Basics

On Oct. 20, 1969, a computer at UCLA talked to a computer at the Stanford Research Institute and the Internet was born. What was originally intended as a way for researchers to share information has transformed the way people around the world live their lives. Whether it’s students researching Antarctica through Web cams and communicating with scientists or doctors making online diagnoses, the Internet has spurred major changes in such fields as education, business, entertainment and communications. Learn about the Internet’s history and applications as well as important safety tips for its use through the direct links on The Times Launch Point Web site: https://www.latimes.com/launchpoint.

Here are the best sites for getting your schoolwork done or for just having fun.

Level 1

Internet 101: Every World Wide Web page has an address called a URL, which stands for Uniform Resource Locater. Learn the basics about the World Wide Web as well as important safety tips, such as never giving out your name, address or phone number.

https://www.wowusa.com/kids/internet101/index.htm

Internet Safety Game: It’s important to not break copyright rules by taking words, pictures, sound or video clips from someone’s Web site without asking their permission. Try both a beginning and an advanced version of this game that tests your knowledge of Internet safety rules and good manners.

https://www.kidscom.com/orakc/Games/newSafe/indexright.html

TekCamp for Kids: The World Wide Web enables you to conduct research without a library card and to communicate with others from all over the world. Try seven safe adventures that teach you about the World Wide Web, from learning how to click on Web browser buttons to searching techniques and sending e-mail.

https://www.pawisland.com/mainmenu.html

Level 2

Life on the Internet: From selling stocks and researching genealogies to visiting art museums and making medical diagnoses, people use the Internet in a dizzying number of ways. Explore the Web’s history, get acquainted with its applications and test your knowledge with an online trivia quiz.

https://web-cr02.pbs.org/internet

Safe Surfin’: Earn your Web license for driving down the information superhighway by learning important safety tips from such Web users as Olympic gymnast Keri Strug and actor Taran Smith.

https://www.safesurfin.com/kids.htm

The Internet Playpen: Whether you’re wondering what hypertext and HTML are or you’re interested in how computers from all over the world can communicate with each other, this illustrated guide explains the Internet in simple terms and offers information geared for both the beginner and the more knowledgeable user.

https://www.fuzzylu.com/docs/home.htm

Level 3

Nerds 2.0.1: A Brief History of the Internet: Explore the history of the Internet through a timeline, articles and biographies of key figures. Get acquainted with Internet terminology through the Glossary of Geek and try a fun quiz that asks such questions as which came first, “.org” or “.com”?

https://www.pbs.org/opb/nerds2.0.1/index.html

Scientific American: Molding the Web: “The Web can help people to understand the way that others live and love and are human, to understand the humanity of people,” says British physicist Tim Berners-Lee, who developed the software that makes the World Wide Web possible. Explore the history of the WWW through this interview with its inventor.

https://www.sciam.com/1297issue/1297profile.html

Teen Safety on the Information Highway: Learn about the risks as well as the benefits that Web sites, chat rooms, news groups and e-mail can offer, and learn tips to navigate your way on the Web safely.

https://www.safeteens.com/safeteens.htm

Launch Point is produced by the UC Irvine department of education, which reviews each site for appropriateness and quality. Even so, parents should supervise their children’s use of the Internet. This column was designed by Anna Manring.

EXPLORER’S QUEST

The answer to this Internet quiz can be found in the sites at right.

What part of a URL tells the computer where to send the request?

CLUE: See the Internet Playpen

Find What You Need to Know: Have a project on California history? Need help doing a math problem? Launch Point now covers more than 100 topics for getting your schoolwork done. Go to https://www.latimes.com/launchpoint/ for the full list of subjects and direct links to the best Internet sites.

Answer to last week’s Quest: The Earth’s water, or the “hydrosphere,” helps regulate the Earth’s temperature and climate.