Introduction
to the Internet
... for Family Historians
by Eddie Spackman
|
Introduction
to the Internet
|
|
by Eddie Spackman |
Other Issues
NB (Aug 2002) Much of
the information on this page is still relevant but some details
may have changed.
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Much information is placed by (enthusiatic) 'amateurs' and is NOT peer-reviewed.
So, one has to establish what is:
This is a general problem of interpreting 'historical' information! Generally need to confirm by going to original records.
Sites come, go, move and change often with alarming speed!
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Email: Messages sent to a subscribed set of Email Addressees on a given topic.
Main Genealogical Topics are:
Web: Bulletin Boards, Forums are 'pages' on the Web which normally have to be browsed whilst on-line.
Discussion Groups: Web v Email
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| Web | ||
| Browsed | On-line (usually) | Off-line |
| Layout | Good (potentially) | None |
| Use of Screen space | Uneconomic | Economic |
| Subject matter | Good/well organised | Variable, repetitive |
| Download time | Effectively Slower | Faster |
NOTE: Email sent and received using On-line Email services (such as HotMail, Yahoo, Netscape on-line(?), ...) can now be downloaded and browsed off-line using MS Outlook Express 5.
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| Use automated software on ISP web site | |
| Use automated software at Family History sites such as FTM, RootsWeb(?) | |
| Use specialised software | Available as part of latest versions of Genealogical software (such as PAF4, FTM, ...) |
| GEDCOM to HTML converters (probably will be made obsolete by latest genealogy software!) | |
| Write own HTML using a text editor- stated to be 'easy' - a relative term! | e.g. using NotePad or a Word Processor |
| Use Word processor and save as HTML | |
| Write own HTML using HTML editor or Web Authoring packages | (WYSIWYG = What You
See Is What You Get)
NOTE: This site was created using MS FrontPage Express 2 |
will need:
Examples of 'personal' Web-sites are at member website page.
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The BerksFHS Research Centre at Yeomanry House
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Opening in Spring 2000
Will have:
Computer suite and, it is anticipated, access to the Internet
The Society hopes to organise Computing Workshops on:
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There are several sources of nuisance material. In particular:
| SPAM - this is un-solicited Email sent to multiple addressees | IGNORE IT- never reply (even to 'remove') |
| Virus - this is a bit of software
that gets put maliciously onto a computer to do damage. A
virus usually arrive in files that can be executed (.exe
type) of run (.com etc type). Viri are rare and, if you take appropriate precautions, you should never be troubled by one |
use 'up-to-date'
anti-Virus software NEVER 'run' or 'execute' an attachment to an Email unless you know what it is and that it has come from a verifiable source You can check the anti-virus manufacturers sites for information on viruses (and hoaxes). Further information can be found by navigating from the following Home pages of the main anti-virus software firms: It is possible to download anti-virus software from some of these sites 'for evaluation'. |
| Hoax Virus - this is a message warning of a non- existent
virus. It is like the 'chain-mail' letters of our youth
with the exhortation to forward to all our friends. They
are far more common than a true Virus. Here is an example: "Just received the following
message and thought it wise to pass it on. |
Go to one of the above
addresses to discover whether the message is a hoax. If
so ... Read and enjoy - forget - do NOT pass on Some indicators of hoaxes:
|
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The Internet may have started 30 years ago but has only become available to you and me in the last 3 to 5 years!
Much has yet to happen:
| cheaper connection phone call charges in UK | on their way and possibly may become ‘free’ this year? |
| permanent internet connections and faster data-transmission | will come |
| development of better standards | needed |
| improved catalogues and indexes | necessary |
| putting your genealogy on the Web will become simpler | PAFv4 and other FH software already demonstrates this |
| more genealogically relevant information will be published by public institutions | UK 1901 census will become available in 2002 |
| Internet will become a standard and essential tool for the genealogist | maybe it is already |
"We have the eternal hope that eventually all the 'hidden files of yesteryear' will eventually be available via the Internet."
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Choose according to your need and level of expertise
| Computer magazines | e.g. PC Pro, PC Magazine, PC Advisor | Around
£3 per month free CDs on the cover |
| Internet magazines | e.g. internet magazine, Internet ADViSOR, .net | Around
£3 per month free CDs on the cover |
| Family History Magazines | e.g. Family Tree Magazine | £2.20 (monthly) |
| Family History & Computing Magazines | e.g. Computing and Genealogy, ... | £2.50 (quarterly) |
| Books and other publications | 'Internet for Genealogy' by David Hawgood | £1.60 |
| 'Finding Genealogy in the Internet' by Peter Christian | £1.80 | |
| 'Web publishing for Genealogy' by Peter Christian | £4.99 | |
| The Internet and Internet discussion groups | ||
| Members of the Society, friends and colleagues | ||
| BerksFHS Email Discussion Group | contact: listowner@BerksFHS.org.uk |
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Some are already wondering what they did before they had E-mail? (E = electronic).
New facilities are always coming. For instance, the Gateway www.ancestry.lycos.com - a joint venture by Ancestry.com and Lycos Portal - has only relatively recently been set up.
Without the Internet life line (Websites & E-Mail), off-shore members of, for example, the Berkshire Family History Society would be isolated with respect to local research.
| 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 |