Right then, lets start. So what is the internet anyway? Below is part of the written manual which sits beside the computer in the family centre. If you're in there at this moment, it might be a good idea to have that manual ready to use while you go through this tutorial. Alternatively, another version is available on-screen by clicking here, or alternatively by clicking the "On-line manual" link at the bottom of every page in this tutorial. Anyway, here's what you need to know:-

What is the internet, and why should I use it?

You might already have heard terms like "The information superhighway" and "The world wide web" bandied around before without knowing what the heck was really going on, but the amazing thing is that behind all the jargon it's actually really simple. Don't believe me? Well read on.

Right. Imagine one of those great big spiders webs that you always walk into as you go through the front door on a Monday morning. Yuck! Ok, because you don't want to imagine it, I'll draw it for you :-

Believe it or not, this is a perfect model for the internet. The net (short for internet) is made up of a vast number of pages (represented by anywhere two threads cross) which contain the information on lots of different computers all over the world. To move around you follow a thread (known as a hyperlink, or link for short) between one page and another (you are actually linked to the other computer by a phone line). Finally, an inter-linked collection of pages which have been put there by one particular person or organisation is known as a web-site, or site for short.

The only other thing to remember is that none of the information on the can be viewed without a computer program called a browser. What this does is organise all the information the way the person who wrote the page wanted you to see it. Browsers have a number of controls which you can use to help you move around the internet quickly and effectively, but I'll tell you more about these later.

So, to summarise :-

That's it! You now understand everything you need to know about the internet and how to move around it. But why? What's the point? Why should you use it?

Think of the biggest library you could possibly imagine, crammed to the gills with books, journals, music, magazines, and every other form of information you could possibly need. Well, you're not even close. The internet can be thought of as an effectively infinite resource of information on every subject under the sun, which is fully searchable and regularly maintained by those who use it. Anything and everything is there, all accessible, ready and waiting for you to find it.

Still not convinced? Well here's an example. Your child has just been diagnosed with a condition you know nothing about. What can you do? Well, you could go down to the local library, but chances are they'll have precious little extra info that you don't already have. Your G.P.'s probably rushed off his feet, and you'd like some information fast - what can you do?

Get on-line! (this means use the internet). You can find information on your child's condition, the drugs and treatments used, and the latest medical research. You can get conference dates, discuss the problems and frustrations with others across the world who know them by experience, and subscribe to specialist magazines and newsletters associated with the sufferers, carers and national associations all dedicated to helping people like you. Overall, it's a brilliant system for getting the information you want whenever you want it!

So now you understand what the internet's about and how it's constructed. Lets now use a link to travel from one page to another. Just before we do though, take a look at the address bar at to top of the screen underneath the row of buttons. Found it? Right. Don't bother memorising all of that rubbish, just the very last bit - it should read "tutorial2.htm". Right then, lets go. Just click on the words below...

Click me!