Introduction
to the Internet
... for Family Historians
by Eddie Spackman
|
Introduction
to the Internet
|
|
by Eddie Spackman |
return to Contents (the Internet)
A communication Network
but .....
Provides access to - it is reported - over 1,000 million Web-browsable pages.
return to Contents (the Internet) or Top of Page
| late 1960s | ARPANET | Advanced Research Project
Agency NETwork - US project to provide a resilient communication system to resist nuclear attack |
| 1973 | arrived in London | |
| 1983 | split into Military and Public Networks | |
| JANET | Joint Academic NETwork for the
Universities - a tool for the 'educated elite' |
|
| 1994 | INTERNET | Demon Internet was launched and provided low-cost access for many |
| MOSAIC | first graphical Web Browser formed the basis for Netscape Navigator |
|
| 1996 | Internet Explorer introduced by Microsoft |
Current users around 300 million worldwide.
... said to be used by 50% of Americans and 30% of British
return to Contents (the Internet) or Top of Page
| send/receive Email | said to be the best internet tool for Family Historians |
| subscribe to Discussion Groups (multi-addressee Emails) | goto www.rootsweb.org for some lists |
| read/post messages on: | Newsgroups (need
newsreading software - often Email browser) - over 33,000
USENET NewsGroups There are a number on genealogy including:
Forums/Bulletin Boards (usually Web pages) |
| take part in on-line ‘chat’ rooms | |
| view Web-sites | |
| get Data from searchable Databases | e.g. Family Search, Wargraves Commission site, ... |
| download documents and software | e.g. PAF v4 from www.familysearch.org |
| purchase Books and Fiche | e.g. from GenFair, Amazon |
return to Contents (the Internet) or Top of Page
| Data | Very little 'Primary' Family
History data resources But
a growing amout of near-primary sources are becoming
available e.g. There are ‘pointers’ to ‘primary’ sources |
| History (social and military) | e.g. Battle of Waterloo, St Helena |
| Information | e.g. from the FRC site at www.familyrecords.gov.uk |
| Family History Socities and organisations | Berkshire Family History Society is at www.berksfhs.org.uk/. The Federation of Family History Societies is at www.ffhs.org.uk/ The Society of Genealogists is at www.sog.org.uk/ |
| Top of Page | Home | Contents | Intro | The Internet | Getting started | Handouts |
| How to ... | Web-sites | Other issues | Background information |
| prepared by Eddie Spackman | Written
2nd February 2000 |