|
Welcome to today's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, January 27, 2002
In this Issue:
Featured Computer Term: Broadband Transmission
This Week's Topic: Websites Not Responding
Learning Series: Microsoft Word and Works - Auto Correcting Partial Words
Featured Website: Timelines of History
***********************************************************************
Today's Computer Term: Broadband Transmission
A type of data transmission in which a single medium (wire) can carry several channels at once. Cable TV, for example, uses broadband transmission. In contrast, baseband transmission allows only one signal at a time.
Broadband technology is the always-open gateway to Internet services delivered at lightning-fast speeds. Think of a broadband connection to the Internet as a fat pipeline running into and out of a home or business. In most cases, that pipeline has been laid by a cable, telephone or independent service provider.
Digital and fiber-optic technologies are used in broadband. Digital applications compress vast amounts of voice, video and data information that are broken down into what are called "bits." A broadband pipeline, in turn, can move a lot more bits -- they become words, pictures and other components on our computer screens -- than regular telephone connections. Think of the difference between broadband and dial-up service -- often referred to as "narrowband" -- as the difference between a fire hose and a garden hose.
***********************************************************************
Today's Topic: Websites Not Responding
The following is a question from a newsletter subscriber:
I find it very frustrating to get the "Website Not Responding" message. I have tried using "reload", and that usually doesn't work either. Is there something I am doing wrong or missing? Thanks so much for a great place to ask computer questions!!
Answer:
There are a few reasons that this may be happening. Your Internet connection might not be working correctly. The address you’re inputting may be incorrect or you may be mistyping the address. If you clicked on a link from another page, that address might have been input in that website incorrectly, or the website could be what's called a gravesite. (That means it was there at one time but the people who ran it lost interest, ran out of money, or whatever and took it down.)
It could also be server problems. Perhaps you and a thousand other people are trying to visit the website at the same time. The computer that this website is on may not be able to handle all that activity.
A quick way to tell if the problem is on your end or theirs is to try a few other web sites. If you can get to them with no problems, then the problem is not yours.
In any case, try back a few times -- later that day, the next day. If you keep getting the same error message for the website, you can assume the address is wrong or the website is gone.
None of this is unusual behavior for the Internet -- sort of the "nature of the beast."
***********************************************************************
Progressive Learning Series: Microsoft Word - Auto Correcting Partial Words
A very nice Microsoft Word feature, AutoCorrect, can be used to correct partial words. For example, if you commonly type the ending 'tion' as 'toin,' you could set up AutoCorrect to correct just the ending.
To do this, choose Tools/AutoCorrect. When AutoCorrect opens, type
toin
into the 'Replace' entry box. Now, type
tion
into the 'With' entry box. Click Add, then click OK.
If you now type in 'natoin' AutoCorrect will turn it into 'nation'.
Note: AutoCorrect is also available in Microsoft Works
***********************************************************************
Today's Featured Website: Timelines of History
What was going on in the world a hundred years ago?
This site lists major events in chronological order, so you can view the events by date (going back to 1,000 A.D.), by State, by U.S. city, by world country, or by subject (Computers, Environment, Footnotes to History, Films, Medicine, Proverbs and more). http://www.timelines.ws |
