Fair Shake | Computer Skills – Browsing and Searching Tips

Web Browsers

To use the internet, you first must open a web browser. To do this, move you’re the cursor over one of the icons below and double-click on it.

To ‘surf’ the internet, simply enter key words in a search engine (such as google) and look through the search results to see if you can find what you are looking for.

Search Engine Tips

Here are some of the more frequently used search engines available. They are quite different from each other, so take a little time to see the value of each one ~ Available online only

Tips for quick and accurate searching

Use six to eight key words, preferably nouns.
Most users submit only one or two key words per search, which is not enough for an effective query.
Avoid verbs. Use modifiers if they help define your object more precisely, e.g. feta cheese rather than just cheese.
Spell carefully, and try alternative spellings.
and or + between key words means: I want only documents that contain both or all words

Tips for Qualifying Internet Sources

Authority Who owns/operates the server/site? Where is it located?
Coverage Is the material relevant?
Objectivity and Accuracy How accurate, objective, balanced is the site?
Currency Is the information up to date?

Some of the clues you will find at the end of a URL are:

URL STANDS FOR

.org Non-profit organization

.museum Museum

.info Informational

.coop Business Cooperative

.aero Aviation

/users Personal page from a private net provider

~name Personal page from a private net provider

.state or .us State or Local Government

.edu Educational (School or College)

.biz Business

.com Commercial

.pro Professional

.net Personal page from a private net provider

/members Personal page from a private net provider

.name An individual’s web address

(~ is pronounced tilde) (Warning: some non-profit groups are not harmless.)

Internet

Advertising on the internet is as aggressive as any other media outlet. Regardless of what ads or spam email tells you, no-one is giving money away, nor can you make money simply by clicking on a button. Don’t waste your time! They are all scams. Remember, the computer and the internet are tools for you to control.

If you are shopping online, be specific in your search for what you are looking for. When you have made your purchase, leave the website. Marketing and ‘consumer behavior’ professionals are paid well to devise ways to get more money out of your wallet. They will offer special deals, appeal to your shopping tastes and make One-Time-Offers. Resist their ploys. Put your credit/debit card away. Remember: you are in control.

Downloading

Like shopping on the internet, only download what you are looking for! Read or listen to reviews to find out if the programs, music, movies etc. that you’d like are safe to download.

Uploading

Be careful where you upload data. Sometimes servers make it difficult to remove or transfer your data, and some websites, like Facebook, have the right to use the images you upload.

Internet Connection

If you use encounter a ‘Server not found’ error or ‘Connection problem’ sometimes the modem just needs to be restarted. Unplug your modem from the wall for a few seconds and plug it back in. Hopefully this will take care of the problem.

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Computer Skills – Browsing and Searching Tips