Basics. Dayton Metro Library

Transcription

1 Basics Dayton Metro Library Class Description: The purpose of this class is to introduce you to the basics of signing up for and using electronic mail. Some Internet experience is strongly recommended. I. What is ? A. Electronic mail a way of sending messages between computers linked through a network. B. The parts of an address: Username At sign Domain Extension JAD1960@yahoo.com II. III. IV. How works A. When you send an message, your service provider sends it from server to server until it reaches the recipient s server. B. The message remains on the recipient s server until the recipient retrieves it. C. There is no charge for sending and receiving messages. service options A. Option 1: Free accounts are available through online providers such as Yahoo, Google or AOL. B. If you subscribe to an Internet service provider (ISP) for home service, your E- mail account is usually included in your service. Registration process A. Username/ID/Login name must be unique to the service First Middle Last JAD1960 Four Numbers of Choice B. Password Case sensitive (however, you type it in during registration is how you have to type it in every time you log in: UPPER CASE, lower case or MiXeD). Choose something that will be easy for you to remember, but hard for someone else to guess. C. Security/Secret question and answer If you forget your password, this is the question you will need to answer in order to reset your password. D. Security Image (CAPTCHA) is a tool used by service providers to prevent spam and fake registrations. Basics 1 5/11/2010

2 E. Problems with registration check for the following: 1. Not using the proper format when entering dates. 2. Taking too long to fill out form. 3. Hitting the enter key before completing the registration form. F. Memorize your User ID and Password 1. Write down your Username/ID and password. Keep it in a safe place for easy retrieval. V. Logging In A. Enter your username and password B. Signing off 1. Always remember to sign off, this will ensure that your account is not open in case someone else uses the computer after you. C. Retrieve Username/Password 1. Most providers have a retrieval process for Username or resetting your password. a. Usernames can be ed to a secondary account you provided at the time you signed up. b. Passwords can be reset by providing the answers your security questions that you chose at the time of singed up. VI. Account Features A. Inbox -- An inbox is the main folder that your incoming mail gets stored. B. Parts of a message 1. Sender Person sending the message. 2. Subject Short descriptive title of the message. 3. Date the message was sent 4. Size of the message Indicator of memory used to write your message. 5. Cc or Bcc Send a copy of an message to someone other than the recipient. 6. Attachments Process used to electronically send files over the internet. C. Composing/sending a message D. Saving/Deleting a message E. Folders A way of storing and categorizing messages. F. Address book Electronic equivalent of your list of people and their addresses. VII. Things to remember A. Check your regularly 1. Delete unwanted message 2. Organize your messages 3. Report Spam 4. Never open mail or attachment some one you don t know. Basics 2 5/11/2010

3 Glossary of Terms Basic Parts of an address Username At sign Domain Extension At sign Used to separate the username from the domain name in an address Domain name Indicates who the account provider is. Extension Usually two or three letters, tells you something about the account provider. Examples:.com Commercial.edu usually a college or university.gov government.mil military.org nonprofit organization.net network Username / ID / Login name The part of an address before sign. Use a combination of first name and/or last name, nickname and/or numbers to create a unique username. Other Terms Address Book This is the electronic equivalent of your list of people and their addresses. Most services allow you to put their regular mailing address and phone number(s) as well. Acronyms and Expressions Abbreviations for commonly used phrases. Examples: BTW By the way FWIW For what s worth FYI For your information IMHO In my humble opinion LOL Laugh out loud ROTFL Roll on the floor laughing TIA Thanks in advance <g> -- grin Attachments Files or documents attached to an message. Must be downloaded onto recipient s computer. Blind Carbon Copy (BCC:) This enables you to send a copy of an message to someone other than the recipient without the recipient knowing it. For example, let s say that you are sending an to your co-worker about a project of which you are collaborating and Basic 3 5/11/2010

4 you would like your boss to see it. However, you do not want your co-worker to know that you sent a copy of the to your boss. If you enter your boss s address in the BCC: box, your co-worker will never know that your boss has a copy of it. See also Carbon Copy. Bounced message A returned, undeliverable message. Carbon Copy (CC:) This allows you to send a copy of an message to someone other than the recipient. The recipient can see who all received a copy of the if this protocol is used. For instance, let s say you are sending an to your co-worker about a project on which you are collaborating and you would like your boss to see it too even though it is not addressed to her. You would like your co-worker to know that your boss received a copy of the , so you send your boss a carbon copy. See also Blind Carbon Copy. Delete Permanently remove a message from an Inbox. Disk space Amount of computer space allotted to a user of a free service. Once reached, the user will be unable to receive messages until some are deleted. Emoticons Also called Smileys. Help to convey the tone, or emotion of an message. Examples: :-) happy/smile :-( sad/frown ;-) wink :-o shocked :-p tongue-sticking-out Folders A way of storing and categorizing messages. Inbox This is the place where all of your incoming mail (the mail that you receive from others) resides. ISP (Internet Service Provider) is a company which offers their customer s access to the Internet. Paid ISPs (ex. RoadRunner) may provide Internet accounts along with many other services for a monthly subscription fee that free ISP provider (ex.yahoo) may not. Log in Entering your username and password in order to gain access to your account. Netiquette (Short for network etiquette) Acceptable practices of using various Internet resources. Password A secret sequence of letters, numbers and symbols needed to log into an account. Choose something that will be easy for you to remember and hard for someone else to guess. Registration The process of signing up for a free account. Server Computer that holds/stores an account and its messages. Sign off Properly exiting an account. Spam Unsolicited commercial . Basic 4 5/11/2010

5 For more information: A Beginner s Guide to Effective Learn the Net Directories of free services: Free Providers Guide Free Web-based Accounts Free Web-based Services CAPTCHA Basic 5 5/11/2010

6 Basic 6 5/11/2010 Sign Up Template