PC101-Personal
Computer 101
What kinds of functions can I do if I get internet access?
Having a computer without internet access makes sense for
some people, i.e. they just need a word processor, game machine,
dedicated company terminal or maybe just something to play videos or
music.
However, having access to the internet can offer you a "world" of
options, both figuratively and actually. Some of things you
can do with internet access are:
- Do all
your banking: transfer money, deposit payouts, send checks, balance
accounts, contact your bank, pay bills automatically or manually, etc.
- You are never alone on the internet, i.e. there are people
in chat rooms and other places that are "surfing" the internet just
like you, all the time.
- You can find the answer to almost any question, if you have
the time, patience and expertise to manipulate the web, and even if you
don't, the answer is there.
- You can communicate with friends, relatives and strangers at
any time via many communication options, including email, messenger,
chat rooms and creating your own web pages. You can find cheap or
even free ways to talk to others via web phone services and instant
messenger services.
- You can ask a question, pretty much about anything, pretty
much to about anyone, and have a good chance of eventually getting an
answer if you "shotgun" (ask several people the same question) your
inquiry.
- You can not only totally manage your investments via the
web, get pie charts of your allocations and summaries of your gains and
loses. Transfer funds to new or existing investments, research
stocks, companies, mutual funds, bonds, or even investment companies.
- Find out if you're owed money at any address you ever lived;
get a copy of your driving record; get notified of your next High
School reunion; learn a new language; join a class action law suit;
order a part for your furnance; tell a legislator what you think; join
a club or organization of your choice; see if Vanuatu has cable TV;
book a train ride in Norway; etc., etc., etc....
You are only limited by your
imagination and your desire to find answers and responses to your
imagings. The WWW is
actually a portal to to the world in your own home. It does
not have everything, but it has more information than you will ever be
able to access in your lifetime even if you start at age 3.
So, find out about your relatives; when the next major comet will show
in your area; what people eat in for breakfast in Holland; how many
children die each day in Africa; what space looks like via NASA; how do
you find a cheap B&B in Alabama; what is a TURP operation, how many in
a bakers dozen... you get the drift I'm sure ... good luck and have fun!
Got
questions you would like answered? Yes
keoni@isp.com
