Welcome to MS Pantherina Online
	THE INTERNET The Internet is the worldwide "network of networks" that links millions of computers together via copper wires, fiber-optic cables, wireless connections, and other telecommunications channels. It is a massive network of networks, a networking infrastructure, forming a network in which any computer can communicate with any other computer as long as they are both connected to the Internet. Information that travels over the Internet does so via a variety of languages known as protocols.This publicly accessible network of interconnected computer networks communicate using a set of protocols and standards, the most basic of which are TCP/IP. TCP/IP consists of the Transmission Control Protocol in conjuntion with the Internet Protocol. Other protocols such as DHCP, DNS, FTP, HTTP, IRC, MIME, POP3, SMTP, SSH, TELNET, RTP and many more help hold the whole thing together. This learning resource will look mostly at the technical aspects of the Internet, but may eventually cover social, economic, historical and other aspects. A popular way to visualize the complexity of the Internet is to see it as a stack of layers known as the OSI model, short for Open Systems Interconnection model. OSI Layers: * Layer 7: Application Layer – the main interface for the user(s) to interact with the application and therefore the network * Layer 6: Presentation Layer – transforms data to provide a standard interface for the Application layer * Layer 5: Session Layer – controls the dialogues (sessions) between computers * Layer 4: Transport Layer – provides transparent transfer of data between end users and machines * Layer 3: Network Layer – provides the functional and procedural means of transferring variable length data sequences from a source to a destination via one or more networks * Layer 2: Data Link Layer – provides the functional and procedural means to transfer data between network entities and to detect and possibly correct errors that may occur in the physical layer * Layer 1: Physical Layer – defines all the electrical and physical specifications for devices and the communications media WEB 2.0 webmail Web-based or webmail is email that is accessed through the web and stays on the web. The main benefit is that the user can access their mail at any location with a computer that has a internet connection. The first webmail service was Hotmail and is still one of the most popular. Discussion boards replacing newsgroups, a discussion board is an online bulletin board where you can read and leave messages for the public or members of that site. The first discussion boards were available on bulletin board systems. IM Instant Messaging - Anyone on a given e-mail system can send a message and have it pop up instantly on the screen of anyone else logged onto that system. examples of instant messaging systems are AOL, MSN and Yahoo PROS: allows a faster way of communication than email, and can reduce long distance bills CONS: lack of privacy, many IM products don't communicate with another, and can destroy concentration when working. Blog A blog (short for weblog) is a personal online journal that is frequently updated and intended for general public consumption. Blogs are defined by their format: a series of entries posted to a single page in reverse-chronological order.Blogs generally represent the personality of the author or reflect the purpose of the Web site that hosts the blog. Topics sometimes include brief philosophical musings, commentary on Internet and other social issues, and links to other sites the author favors, especially those that support a point being made on a post. Before blogging became popular, digital communities took many forms, including Usenet, commercial online services such as GEnie, BiX and the early CompuServe, e-mail lists and Bulletin Board Systems (BBS). VoIP Voice Over Internet Protocol is a type of internet telephony in which the net is used to make phone calls, either one on one or for audio-conferencing. You can make long distance phone calls that are surprisingly cheap or even free. Skype is one of the most popular program that use VoIP, and is currently expanding into the wireless cellular division. The expansion of the WiMax network will dramatically change the current market of cellular technology. Webcast Webcasting is where customized text, video, and audio samples are sent to you automatically on a regular basis. You choose the categories or channels of websites that will automatically send you updated information. It saves time because you don't have to search for the information.