Omnibus Q&A
Q.
I'd like to start using the World Wide Web as a research tool, but it's so vast that I don't know where to begin tracking down the information I
need. What resources can I use to make the World Wide Web work for me?
A.
One of the classic problems with the Internet is that there's so much stuff and so little organization. Fortunately, this problem is being addressed, and there are already several fine directories and search tools you can use to locate information on the Infobahn. An excellent place to start searching is the Yahoo directory, which provides both an extensive subject index and a powerful search engine. Using Yahoo to browse the World Wide Web is simply a matter of reading the subject headings or document titles available on a particular page, selecting the heading or title that interests you, and then continuing to follow the "hotlinks" until you arrive at a useful page. Among the broad subject headings Yahoo uses to organize its index are the following: Arts, Business and Economy, Computers and Internet, Education, Entertainment, Government, Health, News, Recreation, Reference, Regional, Science, Social Science, and Society and Culture. Yahoo also welcomes keyword searches: simply enter a keyword or a set of keywords, using Boolean algebra to refine your search, then select the 'search' button. (If you need help composing a query, check out the 'options' information.) Try submitting a search request to the Yahoo directory and search engine for 'cherry pie' just to see what happens.
One final note on Yahoo: it contains a random-link button which will send you flying out to a random World-Wide-Web site when you select it. The pundits say it's a heckuva time-waster!
You can find additional Internet directories at the Internet Directory.
A variety of search engines on the Internet Search page.
Q.
I used SLIP for modem access to the Internet last year, but have heard that there's a new modem protocol called PPP? Should I change over to PPP, or should I just keep my SLIP account? If I should change, how can I do it?
A.
I would definitely recommend switching from SLIP to PPP, primarily because the PPP software is significantly more stable than the SLIP software that's available. That means fewer dropped telephone connections, more consistency in file transfers and data transmission, and generally more smiles and fewer frowns. Also, Yale itself has added an incentive to encourage people to migrate to the more effective PPP modem protocol: Yale accepts PPP connections at 28,800 baud, which is twice as fast as the 14,400 baud connections available through SLIP. To sign up for a PPP account, you should come to the User Accounts Office at the Yale Computer Center, 175 Whitney Avenue, between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. There is a fee, which depends on your status at the university. The people at User Accounts will give you all the software and written instructions necessary to install and begin using PPP.
Q.
I need the latest in sports news. Where should I look on the Internet to get an up-to-date sports fix?
A.
Take a look at the ESPN Sports Zone!
Q.
Where can I go to get more help with all of this networking stuff?
A.
The Internet Information Center maintains an online documentation system at the following World-Wide-Web address:
<http://www.yale.edu/iic>
;If you don't find the answers to your questions here, please contact the IIC directly. The IIC is located in the Yale Computer Center, 175 Whitney Avenue, and is open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The telephone number is 432-5116. If you have a question that can be answered via e mail, feel free to write the IIC at <iic@yale.edu>.
Lane Witt is a consultant at the Internet Information Center.