What's on the 'Net?

Roger Guttentag

There is an array of resources on the Internet, including:

* Text and Graphics. Text-based information can be the digital versions of articles, fact sheets, press releases, newsletters or reports. It can be viewed directly from your computer screen, printed or saved to a computer file.

* Files. Web sites commonly distribute information through files that can be downloaded to your computer. Typical files that can be downloaded are those that can be imported directly into a word processor or read as electronic documents. The most common electronic documents are portable document formats (PDF) that allow the user to read documents in their original format without needing the software that was used to create them.

Other downloadable files include executable software applications, graphics, such as photographs, clip-art and audio recordings. Because of the danger from computer viruses, you should have an anti-virus program installed on your computer to scan any downloaded files to intercept computer viruses.

* Directories. These are informational lists such as for companies or products.

* Databases. These computerized lists can be searched using one or more keywords or other terms such as a zip or product code, document title or names. Information that can be found in Internet databases include documents, companies, web sites or quantitative data.

* Contacts. Often, the best use of the Internet is for finding names of individuals or organizations along with their addresses, telephone or fax numbers and e-mail addresses.

* Links. "Hot Links" to related sites are typical features on a Web page. You can access these related sites by double clicking on the highlighted word or icon.