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What types of things can I do on the Internet?
What types of things can I do on the Internet?
What are the types of things I can do on the Internet? Learn and Research There are many places on the Internet that offer information on just about anything you can think of. Individuals and a variety of organizations offer information for free. Several popular sources are listed below:
Most people enjoy using search engines to "surf" or discover sources of information. Sites such as Google, Yahoo, and MSN use powerful search engine technologies to help you find what you are looking for. You can use any search engine you like. Talk and Share information: Chat, E-mail, Forums, IM, Blogs, VOIP The Internet gives you a wide variety of ways to stay connected to friends and family quickly without using a traditional phone service or post office. Chat Chat is a popular method of having a live text communication with other users who are interested in the same things you are. You can use a free chat program such as MSN messenger, Yahoo messenger, or AOL messenger. You do not have to have a subscription to use any of these chat programs, but you will have to create a user name and password. There are other chat programs too. Ask friends, family, or co-workers what chat program they like to use. Many people think of E-mail as sending letters without stamps, but it is much more than that. E-mail is a way to receive newsletters, collect coupons, participate in discussions, and send photos or files to other people. Forums / Bulletin boards A forum, bulletin board, or message board is a place for users to post questions, messages, and other conversations and allows hundreds and even thousands of users to participate in something they enjoy. Many web sites have forums where people can share information. Type a subject or topic you are interested in and the word "forum" into a search engine and see what turns up. Blogs A blog or weblog is an online diary that can be private or public. Corporations and non-profit organizations as well as individuals use Blogs to share information and news. There are many sites such as http://LiveJournal.com that will let you set up your own blog for free. It is an easy way to share current news or maintain a simple web site without having to learn HTML. VOIP Users who have broadband connections can use VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) to talk to other users all around the world, using their computer or their own phone. See the other articles about VOIP to learn more. Shop Online stores and Auctions Internet shopping is another popular and fun thing to do on the Internet. For example, online auctions such as EBay is one of the most popular destinations on the Internet. Below are a few examples of popular online stores and auctions.
Multimedia : Music, radio, podcasts, videos, and vlog The computer can be used as a radio and video entertainment center easily with a broadband connection. There are many different sites including most radio stations, that allow you to listen to your favorite music or news while surfing the Internet. Music With the introduction of MP3 files and the ability to download full songs as small files, downloadable music has quickly become another very popular thing to do on the Internet. It is important to download legal music files. Downloading music illegally can lead to fines or even jail time. Radio / streaming audio Internet radio / streaming audio is yet another popular service on the Internet provided by companies and millions of different users that allows you to listen to other people's songs live over the Internet. Today, many of the audio players, such as Microsoft Windows Media Player, Winamp, and the iTunes player, already include a radio function and simply opening these programs would allow you to play radio stations for almost every type of music. In addition to these players, there are several web sites that list millions of different stations and users' play lists, also often listing online radio for stations in your local area. Below is a short listing of some of these sites.
Podcasts / Talk radio Internet podcast and talk radio shows are radio broadcasts where one or more people talk about something they enjoy or share news. Many radio stations and news web sites offer podcasts, as well as individuals. Videos Videos are also now becoming a great source of entertainment on the Internet. News sites, portal sites such as Yahoo and MSN, and many other web sites offer video clips you can download or view over the Internet. Be careful to download only legal video clips or movies. Downloading movies or videos from illegal peer to peer, Usenet, or other sites could expose you to fines, jail time, and could violate your Internet service agreement. Vlog A vlog, or video log, is similar to a blog except it's a video. Games Gaming is another very popular Internet activity enjoyed by people of all ages. In addition to being able to purchase games at a local retail store, users can also play millions of different online games by simply visiting a web site. Maps Finding directions and getting maps to almost anywhere in the world is also becoming another popular destination on the Internet. Google, Yahoo, and MSN as well as many other popular portal sites offer map or driving direction services. |
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