Chapter 6

Understanding Internet Technologies and Security


What is a computer network?  In its simplest form, a network consists of two or more connected computers- as we found out earlier in the earlier chapters.  Major hardware, software, and transmission components are used in a simple network.  The network can and does get more complex when things like network interface cards (NIC), network operating systems NOS), hubs, routers, LAN's,  MAN's and WAN's, client server network, and more are added to mix.  All of these components help the computers communicate with on another by packet switching.
Ok, still with me?  Because it's about to get a little more complicated...

Sometimes LAN's are described in the way their components are connected together or their topology.  There are three major LAN topologies: star, bus, and ring.  (See photos  because its mush easier to see what these look like rather than explain)


Networks use different types of physical transmission media, including twisted wire, coaxial cable, fiber optics, and media for wireless transmission - infrared, radio, microwave.

So, we have small, medium, and large networks...now the way in which all of these systems communicate is quite complex.  The Internet infrastructure breaks it down.  As we know, every computer on the Internet is assigned a unique IP address, its 32-bit number represented by four strings of numbers ranging from 0 to 255.  Because it would be incredibly difficult for Internet users to remember strings of 12 numbers, the Domain Name System (DNS) converts domain names to IP addresses.  Its  the English-like name that corresponds to the unique 32-bit numeric IP address for each computer connected to the Internet.  Remember ISP's from the beginning of the term?  ISP's are an important part of the network as are NSP's, peering, and TCP/IP.  These all make up the computers IP address.


All these computers "talking" to one another 24/7 raises some security issues.  Vulnerable systems could lose data in a blink of an eye if precautionary measures are not taken.  Have you ever had a computer crash?  Or a computer virus? Malware, spyware? Worm? Trojan horse error?  These are example of security breaches. The potential for unauthorized access, abuse, or fraud is not limited to a single location (like paper files in a drawer) but can occur at any access point in the network.  Which translates to a lot of access points on a network, like; client, communication lines, corporate servers, corporate servers, etc.  The large the network, like the Internet, the more vulnerable it is.  It is extremely important to back-up your omputer and data and to have a disaster recovery plan!

Heartbreaker

One thing is for certain, I was put on this Earth to be my adorable little guy's mom!  I love being a mommy, especially to a super cute four year old, however, that leaves me (literally) ZERO time to get anything done.  He is with me 24/7 and always provides me with "entertainment" and always makes me smile.
So, when attempting to come up with a clever and unique sound to record into SoundCloud, my main squeeze crawled onto my lap and just started talking.  Some of our conversations were sweet, funny, silly, etc., but this one broke my heart a little :(
Audio Recording

The assignment p oration of SoundCloud will be posted here.

Thanks!

Chapter 5

Online portals are fantastic.  Portals refer to a Web site or service that offers a broad array of resources and services, such as e-mail, forums, search engines, and online shopping malls plus more!  Horizontal portal, such as MyYahoo! Specialized website (portal) that serves as an entry point to several firms in the same industry or to the same type of suppliers. These are customizable to your personal preferences.  Vertical portals or vortals Specialized website that serves as an entry point to a specific market or industry niche, subject area, or interest.  Portals lead us all around the Web and act as gateways to  additional content.  Other types of portals include industry and corporate portals which can have customized specifics well like for a company or vendor.




  

Since just about everything is done online now-a-days, having news oriented websites makes life so much simpler!  It takes just a "click" and everything from News, sports, weather, and traffic which are updated constantly gives me instant results.  No more reading/skimming the newspaper or waiting for the evening news to come on and wait to get what I want.  I can now hop on my computer or phone and see what I'm looking for. It's instant gratification! What makes these sites so great is that (most) have interactivity and you-the user- can input specifics to get details about your region. Ever see an "Enter your zip code" search box on a website? This type of customizability targets your wants and needs not the stations or companies.  It's kinda nice to have things be all about me for a change, HA!

Chapter 4, post #2- You've Got Email

Electronic mail or email has revolutionized the ability to communicate almost instantly with anyone, anywhere at anytime.  Email is defined as being able to send messages and files over a local computer network or the Internet.  Several components make up an how an email message is sent and received.
For example a sender creates a message using an email client, a SMTP server determines the best route to the message's destination (including contacting the DNS name server to resolve the host domain name), the message is then routed through multiple Internet routers, the mail server receives the message (usually an ISP incoming mail server mailbox), then the recipient receives the message using an email client.  Whats really impressive is that all this take place in nano second or seconds.  It's almost instant.

The composition of an email has several components.  There's a "to:" line, which is the recipient's email address; "Cc:" line which is a carbon copy or courtesy copy of the composed email.  This can be sent to any email address.  The "Bcc:" line ticks me off sometimes!  It stands for blind courtesy copy which does not allow the original receiver of the email message to view what email address is within this line.  The "Subject:" line states the purpose, description or title of the email.  The "attach:" line can be used to add files to the email such as photos, videos, documents, most types of digital media.  The "message body:" is where you type your message.  It's the text of the email.  Some people use an email signature as their closing to the message body, much like a signature on a paper letter.  Except, here a digital representation would be used, either typed text or an uploaded signature file.
Here's a shot of my Yahoo! mail composer.

Chapter 4 post #1

Communicating online is an everyday occurrence for me.  I check my email, IM (instant message) people or PING them, Skype, read articles from the Associated Press, update blogs, and connect with family and friend through several social networks.  I honestly can say I've never thought of how I'm able to do these things.

Learning the components of email systems as well as e-mail etiquette was something that was just known to me, never explained or taught.  After reading Chapter 4 I can now say I do!  In the next few posts, I'll explain what I learned from Chapter 4 in more detail!

Past Life

In a previous career, I was able to use on-line survey's in order to predict the number of participants for an event.  I could use the survey for just about anything from; meal choices, satisfaction levels, shirt/clothing sizes or an overall rating of "How we're doing", you name it, I could create a survey for it.  It was great and very informative.  However, I had to manually insert the responses into a spreadsheet, which usually came back to me via snail mail or email or sometimes a duplicate would cross my desk.

Google docs has made this process so much simpler!  The "Forms" option within a spreadsheet is an awesome feature to collect data from the participants of the survey.  I love how I can use the data in charts, graphs, etc.  and add it to a report for an amazing presentation aid.  Very cool. 
I plan on using Google forms for personal as well as professional reasons.  Personal - I can send out an e-vite to a get together (for example).  Professionally, I can create a survey and chart the responses and data immediately for any type of scenario. 

Just another cool tool I can use in a future endeavor!

Thank goodness for email

GoAnimate.com: EMail by Captainsjewel

Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It's free and fun!

Getting started with an email is quick and easy.

The Doctor is In

Examination time! 

So, you've picked a search engine...you entered your query...and TA-DA...you have a million options to choose from.  How do you know which sites are valid with credible information?  Are all of the sites listed accurate to your query?   Why are there so many to choose from? There are images too?  And videos? AHHHHHH its INFORMATION OVERLOAD! (IO)


Have you ever had a conversation like this  (real or in your head)...Here's a sample of the voices in my head...
Me: "Doc, I can't keep up, I'm overwhelmed with information, it's everywhere! What do I do?"
IO Doctor: "Your problem: Unlimited information on limited human bandwidth. "
Me: "What do I do, how do I fix it?"
IO Doctor: "Simple, accept that you can not keep up with the wealth of information out there, understand the difference between what you want to know and what you need to know, allow time for evaluating the site/source, and create a system that brings relevant information to you. Make a follow-up appointment to see if evaluating is working"

Sounds simple right? Well, if your tuned into Web 2.0 tools and Chapter 3, your almost good to go, we'll take it one step at a time, OK?  

Evaluating the credibility of search results has an art to it.  A few quick tips to get you started...


1.  Look at the authority of the source. Do this by checking who owns or sponsors the site, check information about the author. Look at the domain and/or the primary source.  Is it recognizable?  
            
2. Check the objectivity of the site.  Be sure to see if the information listed on the Web is not skewed and is fair.  


3.  Check the scope and quality.  Is the information detailed?  Who is the intended audience?  Is the site updated?


4.  Is the site current and updated regularly? The design and functionality are great indicators of more valid sites although not a guarantee of high-quality sources.  

http://www.wordle.net/create

Re-discovering the Internet

Searching the web has become an everyday occurrence for me.  I check Yahoo!'s OMG for juicy gossip, The Weather Channel for the forecast, and Facebook to update people on my so not exciting life. Yet, with all the surfing I do, I realized I needed a search tool to fit personal style.  

Chapter 3 has brought the search process up a notch for me.  I can now search more easily, get quicker results, find images/videos/multimedia to use, and check if a site is legit or a paid sponsor.   I'm a Google gal at heart, especially for general information.  But, when I'm doing research for a paper, I find I switch search engines for more precise and creditable information- like LexisNexis and my school's vast online library.  *Google tends to have too many options even with a specified search query.  

What's your favorite search tool?

Almost Unlimited

Businesses must deal with both structured and unstructured data from many different sources, including mobile devices and the Internet.  Utilizing mobile technology allows people to no longer be tied to their desks and desktops.  You can do so much on today's mobile devices like smartphones and tablets!  For example; you can jump on a social networking site, search for a nearby restaurant, upload a presentation, get GPS directions, check the weather, do quick banking transactions, buy something, watch a movie... and more!  Mobile devices (with a connection to the Internet and worldwide web) are not just telephones and gadgets anymore.  They represent new emerging computing platforms based on a new array of new hardware and software technologies.   Businesses and managers are using these devices to coordinate work, communicate with employees, and provide information for decision making.  The advantages of these devices continue with options like; file sharing, Web-based note taking, word processing.  Some businesses even use the poplar Apple iPhone or iPad to attend an online meetings, checking on orders, working with files and documents, or obtaining business intelligence.  Basically, these devices provide unlimited possibilities for business users from just about anywhere!

 Some disadvantages to this technology are the constantly blurred lines between work and personal life.  Because these devices are able to access information 24/7, some people are always connected to work, bosses, upper management.  Another disadvantage is the device must be able connect to the Internet.  Some remote areas may not have quick access or the data package plan with the mobile device is limited or expensive.  

Are you a fan of this emerging technology?  Do you use your smartphone or tablet a lot for business purposes?

Career Connected

I am now LinkedIn.  What a great site for networking and branching out into the work force.  Career-minded individuals flood groups with information that is geared towards my specific interests.  
I don't plan on using LinkedIn for social reasons (although a few of my friends do), it seems far too professional for casual chit chat.  
I do plan on updating my profile often with experience and knowledge gained.  Connecting with more groups/communities that can shine a light on Instructional Design.
One of the cons thus far has been the number of email updates I get.  I'm sure there is a way to filter this and I will figure it out hopefully sooner than later. 

AMAZING video from PBS and where we (the United States) are headed with the use of technology and the Internet. I just added PBS to my PLN!
*Warning this video is over an hour long. It is completely worth the time to watch* 

Watch Digital Nation on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE.

True or False?

The Internet and World wide web are the same thing?  Hopefully by now we all know that these two terms describe two different things.   

Chapter 2 had some more terminology that was clarified further for me.  For example, I now know what an IP address is, a URL is, as well what a domain name is.   I thought they were all the same thing all this time, haha, chalk it up to ignorance ;) 
*An IP address is the unique numerical address of a computer on a network, a URL or web address that consists of the hypertext transfer protocol (http) domain name (path if necessary) and file name; ex: http://www.julieisawesome.com (not a real site fyi) and a domain is the easy to remember text alias for one or more IP addresses.*

ICANN is a non-profit organization that operates under the U.S. Department of Commerce? !?!?!  Well, color me surprised.  I had no idea ICANN controlled domain name registration.  The top-level domains I was familiar with, however, I was not prepared for how many there are. I can't wait to see how fast the domains in the DNS will grow.  I had no idea so many existed already!  
Finding out web browser shortcuts was beneficial as well.  Especially for customizing my screen.  I now have RSS feeds in a more handy spot.  Thanks Web 2.0 & Shelly, Napier, Rivers!
I'm still tweaking with browser options and am more aware of security while surfing the web.  Security is a BIG issue with me so I'm very interested in finding out more about this. 






them.pro

Personal Learning Network (PLN)

*I'm looking for a job in warmer weather* lol

This is great...I've been creating a PLN and didn't even know it! Before I enrolled in school, I created a "favorites list" of websites/blogs that were important to my future.   First of all, when I want to "find out" the answer to a question I have, whether its personal or professional, my go-to place is the web.  Google, Yahoo, and BING are my search engines of choice. (I find the world wide web is the quickest, most accurate source of information.)   Then from there, I weed through the millions of options that usually pop-up and choose one or more that peak my interest.  


Some sites link me to more reputable sources, for example:
The word "reputable"...I can simple type it into the Yahoo search bar, (spelled incorrectly on purpose)  and BAM...Yahoo displays a merrian-webster's definition and several other definitions of the word including pronunciations, etc; companies that have this word as their name, legal definitions, and more.  I can click on "images" within the Yahoo page and WHAM-O logos and visual representations show up.  It's amazing...anything I want to learn about is literally at my fingertips, 24 hours a day, seven days a week!


That brings us to my PLN... I recently made the commitment to my degree plan and my future plans.  I want to be able to help people learn about technology while using the web.  I want to enable, motivate, and empower people to utilize this awesome source of information!

I am still in the beginning phases of what will be a HUGE personal network, but for now, I'm reading blogs, micro-blogs, Facebook, twitter, wiki's, YouTube as well as hard copy magazines.  I've been watching certain blogs, not following as of yet, about the career path I'd like to pursue.  I kind-of feel like an detective when I find a subject that intrigues me.  


*A side note* when I watch YouTube tutorials about Web 2.0 Tools such as the video below (podcast on iMacros), I often get bored by the person's demonstration and monotoned voiceover.  I feel as though these presentations could be "spiced up" and engage the audience more, take it to the next level if you know what I mean......i've embedded the short video from one of my searches...what do you think? 

 

Someone's Following Me!

I feel like I've been a wizard on the computer lately... registering for twitter, tweet deck, JING, Symbaloo, updating Facebook and using Wordle for a home project.  
I hope I remember all these passwords I had to create :)

*still trying to figure out how to fit these pictures on here nicely*

 I love to use what I learn as soon as I can. I recently started making wine at home and immediately thought to use Wordle to create the simple, clean labels for the bottles.  

Which one do you like?

1.

2.

3.

4.

By the way- follow me on twitter:

JulieKras

*All pictures/icons captured by using JING :)

Symbaloo is a visually appealing way for me to organize my "go-to" websites.  The tiles can be rearranged to fit my personal likes and I change out the icons.  

Bookmarking my favorite sites this way gives me an easy access page from any computer that has an Internet connection.  


It's also a great add to my PLN for quick references like blogs, wiki's, twitter, etc.

WORDLE HURDLE

Network neutrality or Net neutrality has been in the media quite often recently, especially with SOPA and PIPA being voted down this past month. What's all the hype about? In a nutshell, Internet service providers (ISP's), like large telecommunication and cable companies, want to limit, ban, block, etc. certain sites and are pushing for metering Internet use. Basically, having a tiered pricing structure based on the amount of bandwidth consumed.  These large companies believe that differentiated pricing is the "fairest way" to finance necessary investments within their network infrastructures.  What a bunch of BS, right?  Is it just about money?

  

Let's take a closer look...ISP's point out the upsurge in piracy of copyrighted materials on the Internet, illegal file sharing for example (remember the huge Napster disaster?). Back in 2008, Comcast, the second largest Internet service provider in the United States, started slowing transmission of BitTorrent files.   The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) stepped in and ruled that Comcast  had to cease slowing peer-to-peer traffic.  Long story short, Comcast filed a law suit against the FCC challenging its authority to enforce network neutrality.  The federal court ruled in favor of Comcast and *poof*, the great debate was ignited!

So now what?  Well...advocates of net neutrality are pushing Congress to find way to regulate the industry to prevent large corporations/companies from adopting Comcast like practices (for lack of a better term).   They also argue that the risk of censorship increases when network operators can selectively block or slow access to certain content.  Proponents state that a neutral Internet gives everyone, especially small and/or new businesses, a level playing field to compete in the market.  (There are many more reasons, such as discrimination, that could be debated forever!)

Network owners believe regulation to enforce net neutrality will impede U.S. competitiveness, discourage new network's and possible loss of capital.  

I am an advocate for net neutrality.  I believe that open use of the Internet allows for more   economic growth, education opportunities, and communications around the world.  I also believe that reasonable network management is imperative to net neutrality, however, I am eager to learn what "reasonable network management" will look like.  

"We had an Instant Connection" 

The Internet.  

By definition, it's a global network of computers able to communicate and share information with one another. Sounds simple, right? Not so much...this enormous network has changed the world and the way we live. The Internet and the WorldWide Web are often mistaken for one another.  The WorldWideWeb is a way to use the Internet, such as browsing or surfing webpages/websites. Chat, IM, email and other daily activities are also ways to use the Internet.

Robert Kahn

Vinton Cerf

How did this all start?...Well, once upon a time,  back in the early 1960s...ARPANET became the world's first computer network.  ARPANET was a conglomerate of American educational academia, industry and government networks that became the core of what the Internet is today. ARPANET was able to connect computers to one another and share information from each via packet switching. Thanks to ARPANET, the TCP/IP was established and Internet pioneers like Lawrence Roberts, Vinton Cerf, Robert Kahn and Tim Berners-Lee laid the foundations of the modern Internet. 

Tim Berners-Lee

Lawrence Roberts

To connect to the Internet, people and businesses use several methods.  One option is by a LAN or Local Area Network.  This way connects computers together in a specific area, like a building, then the LAN connects to the Internet.  


An ISP or Internet Service Provider is a company that provides Internet access for home use and businesses.  ISP's are a hot topic at the moment because there is talk about providers limiting or trying to control what portion of the Internet can be used by the subscriber.  (more to come on this topic in the Net Neutrality debate)  ISP's use bandwidth to determine the speed of the connection.  Ever notice your connection at home being slower than usual?  Or trouble connecting to the Internet?  It could've been that too many people on your LAN were on-line at the same time as you.  All of this information flowing through the bandwidth got congested and caused a slow down.  


Other connections to the Internet for people and businesses alike include; Dial-up, Cable, Satellite, Microwave, Wi-Fi and Mobile wireless to name a few.  Each method to connect has Pro's and Con's; such as cost, installation, service, availability and so on.  I'd suggest doing research for your area to discover which option is best for you.  Personally, I have a need for speed!  What about you?


          

Blog Assignment

Blogger-ific

Creating a blog isn't too difficult.  Most blog websites (like blogger.com) make the blogging experience simple and user-friendly.  The directions are straight forward and most people should be able to follow along.  It's the maintenance, updating, linking, finding/creating images & videos, interacting with your followers, returning questions and comments and keeping your audience interested in your blog that makes the blogging experience somewhat of a challenge.  

So you might ask yourself..."How do I make this blog effective for its purpose?".  Don't worry, it's not complicated, there are a few *tips* some expert bloggers put out there to help guide us through this whole process. The "How to Blog" article by Farhad Manjoo reminds us to blog on a schedule, not be too wordy with our posts (I'm guilty of this one), and add something new (duh!).  The ProBlogger site also states that regular posting to your blog is beneficial for both the author and its followers.  Darren Rowse the author of the article on ProBlogger, makes a key point about not taking on too much at once especially with the multimedia world.  Keeping up on all of these social forums can be very time consuming!

Blogging for business purposes has skyrocketed over the past few years.  This way of marketing and business customer service has potentially huge returns, both positive and negative for a business. Highlights from Matthew Bandyk article on Business Blogging include; to be a reader of other blogs, not stressing too much about the content, and my personal favorite, telling a story without ranting.  Darrell Zahorsky points out how blogs can be beneficial for small business owners in his "What a Blog Can Do in Business" piece and shows us that blogging can be useful for personal gain as well as business.  His business focus on blogs explain how they can be cost effective as well as an opportunity to share your experiences with others.  Zahorsky gives tons of examples for ideas, inspiration, and insight.  

So, what are you waiting for?  Whether its for personal therapy or for business, starting typing and see where your blog can go!