The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Two Views of the Internet - for the bookshelf Major Keary

The Internet has many facets. One is what might be called its social face, and another is the technical face that confronts users (as distinct from engineering at various levels). Two recent books look at each of those facets.

Over the past few of years there have been a number of texts that deal with aspects of history and the observable social effects of the Internet.

Shift! The Unfolding Internet: Hype, Hope, and History is a philosophical examination of the Internet and its possible future direction. Works of that kind are often heavy going for lay readers, but Edward Burman has managed to present an eminently readable discussion without compromising the book's philosophical integrity.

If your interest in the Internet does not extend beyond bumming around the web, cruising for eBay bargains, or executing minor financial transactions, then Shift! is not likely to be of interest.

If, on the other hand, you are interested in the Internet as something that is alive, so to speak, with the potential to effect social and cultural change, then this is sure to interest you. In his preface the author says, "The basic proposition of this short work is that only a reading of the different pasts of the
Internet will enable us to provide a meaningful interpretation of the present, and thus to designate the imminent new paradigm".

The author uses the writings of Thomas Khun as a framework for much of his discussion; Khun's The Structure of Scientific Revolution placed "paradigm shift" in the English language, and led to the recognition of social and cultural factors as important elements in the shaping of scientific work and thought.

Shift! is wide ranging, touching on topics such as globalisation and changes in telecommunications. Informed general readers will find it stimulating, as well as amusing, such as the brief account of "Pixelon, which spent $16 million of its $30 million capital on its launch party, and went bust without even reaching the stage of developing a product", which reminded me of an event some fifty years ago: a planter in the New Guinea highlands-a former WWI flying ace-built the first hotel in the highlands and offered the traditional free drinks on opening night. By morning his entire stock had been consumed and the venture was broke.

This is a book that deserves to be widely read. It deals with concepts not usually encountered by ordinary readers-or users of the Internet-but the language is remarkably clear and often informal, and the arguments short and to the point.
 

The Internet Does Not come With a Manual

Online! The Book carries the sub-title, "Because the Internet Does Not Come with a Manual", a situation the authors set out to rectify with a reference-cum-tutorial that covers just about everything any user wants to know. Actually, this title is about the Web rather than the Internet at large. That is neither here nor there because most people who are connected to the Internet are in fact Web users and have little, if any, appreciation of the difference. The authors do address that topic, but their primary purpose is to provide practical information about using the Web and the tools, software, hardware, and peripherals that are available.

That practical information ranges from an overview for novices to in-depth technical discussions. Some mention of the Voice over Internet Protocol was to be expected, but I was surprised to find a thirty-four pages had been given to a sound and comprehensible account of VoIP's development, how it works, and its future prospects. An excellent example of technical communication.

Of course, one cannot expect a book of this size and scope to provide an encyclopaedic account-supported by tables of data-for every application and piece of equipment to do with the web. What it does achieve is an account of all the tools and technologies that web users need to understand. Some of those are not related solely to 'getting connected', such as hard disks in their various forms, SCSI, USB, networking, and VDUs; however, they are topics that are highly pertinent to web users and have been included to make this book a one-stop-shop.

Apart from the things that home users want to know, the book includes information about business web sites, enterprise instant messaging, peer-to-peer communication, and Internet marketing. Those discussions are relevant to both small business operators and non-technical executives of large businesses.

Topics for the general users include gaming, e-mail and spam, security and virus attacks, music, ISPs, modems, blogging, streaming media, Web cams, downloading, creating a Web presence, and hardware basics. There are useful product comparisons throughout.

Online! The Book is highly recommended to novices and experienced users; it contains a remarkable range of information with lots on interesting notes. A book that lends itself to browsing, or reading on the train; it can be opened at random and one will find some interesting piece of information or advice.
 

Local Guide to Using Google

Google is widely regarded as the premier Web search engine and has attracted its own body of literature. Books about using Google can be very useful, but they lack a personal touch. A local, Made in Australia, solution is offered by Tony Stevenson who publishes a newsletter, Internet Update Subscription is free at http://www.mkdsoftware.com.au/maillist.asp.

He has produced a Google tutorial in six parts; part 1 can be downloaded from http://www.mkdsoftware.com.au for evaluation without charge. There is a fee ($44.00) for the other five tutorials, which includes direct access to Tony for help-not just with the lessons, but any Google-related problems or questions. This is a help-line that works. The tutorials are a well presented, no-frills, product that comes in plain-text e-mail format and includes 'live' links for the purpose of the lessons.

This innovative approach to learning how to use Google is well-suited to novices as well as users with some experience. Anyone who works his or her way through the lessons, and who uses Google regularly, probably won't need them again. For those who are retention-disadvantaged (a moth-eaten memory like mine), it is worth the trouble of making hard copies for reference.

The style is very good, using a mix of "talk", informal asides, and hands-on activity. I would expect users to breeze through each lesson without any difficulty, and to come out at the other end with a clear idea of how to build a Google search. Just as important, the hands-on activities (using the links) will instill confidence.

There is a lot to using search engines, and a lot to learn about techniques. Working through the tutorials will equip the user with the basic skills on which more sophisticated methods can be built. Experimentation is the key to developing techniques, and Tony Stevenson encourages users to explore, and thus discover for themselves, how to construct the best methods for individual needs.

If you are having trouble with Google, or would like to improve your search skills, try the free tutorial for yourself. The idea is to work through each lesson while online in order to experience the hands-on approach that makes this a way of learning that is different from just reading a book. Books are great as references, but this is a an effective, personalised way of building a sound base of skills and confidence.

Reprinted from the March 2004 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia

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