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12
12
CHAPTER

The Internet
and website
development
Syllabus outcomes
5.2.1 Describes and applies problem-solving processes when
creating solutions.
5.2.2 Designs, produces and evaluates appropriate solutions to a
range of challenging problems.
5.2.3 Critically analyses decision-making processes in a range of
information and software solutions.

Overview
This chapter will develop your understanding of the Internet and
intranets. It examines the uses of the Internet, Internet software
and types of protocols used on the Internet. You will learn about
the World Web Wide (www) and developing a website.
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12. 1 The Internet and

intranets
The Internet (the ‘Net’) is a connected set of networks using the
TCP/IP standard. It links millions of computers all around the
world. The Internet provides instant access to information such as
news, weather reports, sports scores, share prices and educational
material. It also provides services such as sending messages, banking,
shopping, playing games and listening to music. People access the
Internet in their homes, at school, at work or even at the beach.
Establishing a connection to the Internet involves one of three
basic types of connections: direct connection, dial-up connection
and broadband connection. Direct connection is through a LAN
and is used in many schools and organisations. Users are not
required to dial-in, files are stored on their computer and response
time is fast. Dial-up connections require a modem and telephone
line. A typical connection is much slower and often less reliable
than a direct connection. Modems are capable of delivering data at
56 Kbps or faster. Broadband connection uses a higher bandwidth
than a dial-up connection and is much faster. The bandwidth is the
capacity of the channel or transmission media. Broadband users are
not required to dial-in and the Internet is available all the time.
Both broadband and dial-up connection are delivered using normal
telephone lines, a direct connection uses a dedicated data
connection.
Accessing the Internet requires an ISP. An Internet service
provider (ISP) is an organisation that provides access to the Internet
for a fee. There are hundreds of ISPs in Australia, such as Telstra
BigPond, OptusNet and Ozemail (see Figure 12.1). Each ISP offers
a different level of service and support for a specified charge.

Figure 12.1 BigPond is an Internet service provider

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Historical perspective
Even though the history of the Internet is relatively short it has
undergone many significant developments.
ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network) was the
basis of the Internet. It was established in 1969 by the US Department
of Defence. The aim of ARPANET was to allow scientists at different
locations to share information and protect against a nuclear attack.
The ARPANET was built with no central authority because that
would make the entire network vulnerable to attack. Lit 5.1
Telenet was the first commercial version of ARPANET and was
launched in 1974. In 1979 Usenet was established with a focus on
newsgroups. Newsgroups allowed users to conduct discussions on
particular topics. In 1981 BITNET (Because It’s Time Network)
connected IBM mainframes around the educational community and
the world to provide mail services. A link (gateway) was provided to
connect BITNET to ARPANET.
The Internet arrived in 1982 when ARPANET adopted the TCP/IP
standard. The number of hosts on the Internet reached one thousand
in 1984. The domain naming system (DNS) was first implemented
in 1984. In 1986, the National Science Foundation (NSF) agreed to
be the ‘backbone’ for the US Internet service. It connected its huge
network (NSFnet) to the Internet and provided five
Interactive
supercomputers to service the increasing volume of traffic.
A friendly user-interface to the Internet started in 1990. A simple
menu system called gopher was developed to access files and
information for the University of Minnesota. HTTP (HyperText
Transfer Protocol) was developed by Tim Berners-Lee for
embedding links in text. In 1991 the World Wide Web (or Web) was
introduced using this HTTP protocol. It has changed the appearance
of the Internet. Mosaic was developed by Marc Andreessen in 1993.
It was the first graphical browser to display hypertext documents.

Intranet
An intranet is a private network that uses a similar interface to the
Web. It is essentially a smaller version of the Internet that exists
within an organisation. Intranets support email, newsgroups, file
transfer, web publishing and are accessible to users by a browser.
The main purpose of an intranet is to share information and
computing resources among the members of an organisation. The
information may be staff news, product information, telephone
directories, policies, employee manuals and calendars. This information

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can be displayed in a web page using a similar method to that used

on the Internet.
Extranet is an intranet that is accessible to customers, suppliers
or others outside the organisation. It provides information such as
product descriptions, frequently asked questions, warranties and
how to contact customer service. Organisations are attempting to
make extranets easy to use and a source of relevant information.

Internet addresses
Each computer
connected to the
Internet has a
unique address
called an IP address
(Internet Protocol
address). Most IP
addresses use four
bytes (32 bits)
grouped in four
8-bit segments,
separated by a full
stop (period). For
example, the IP
Figure 12.2 An Internet address is used to locate information on the Web
address for
Microsoft is
205.188.200.58. IP addresses are difficult for people to understand,
so another addressing system is used based on a domain name.
A domain name is the address of a specific computer on the
Internet. Domain names are translated into IP addresses. Domain
names are easier for people to remember than IP addresses as they
are based on natural languages. A domain name consists of a number
of separate parts. Each part is separated by a full stop and is called a
domain. For example, the domain name ‘www.hi.com.au’:
• ‘www’ stands for World Wide Web
• ‘hi’ is the name of the specific computer
• ‘com’ is the organisational domain
• ‘au’ is the geographical domain.
Organisational domains include ‘edu’ for education, ‘mil’ for
military, ‘gov’ for government, ‘com’ for commercial, and ‘org’ for
non-profit organisations. The United States is the only country
without a geographical domain, although some US sites have
adopted ‘us’ as the geographical domain. Geographical domains

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include ‘au’ for Australia, ‘uk’ for United Kingdom, ‘fr’ for France,
and ‘ca’ for Canada.
A URL (Uniform Resource Locator, pronounced ‘you-are-el’) is
the address of a file or resource on the Web. It is usually in lower
case in a single unbroken line, with no spaces, such as:
http://www.hi.com.au/heinneman/default.htm
There are three parts to a URL:
• Protocol—indicates access to a particular resource on the Web.
For most cases the protocol will be http://. It allows access to
web pages based on hypertext.
• Domain name—address of the specific computer where the
resource is located such as www.hi.com.au. The domain name is
interchangeable with the IP address.
• File path—full path to the file to be retrieved. It may be a simple
file name or a directory path, such as /heinneman/default.htm.
The domain name and the file path are separated by a forward
slash (/). The file being retrieved in this example is default.htm.

Exercise 12.1
1 True or false?
a Broadband connection uses a higher bandwidth than a dial-up
connection.
b The Internet arrived when ARPANET adopted DNS standard.
c The Web was the first graphical browser.
d A URL contains a domain name.
2 What am I?
a An organisation that provides access to the Internet for a fee.
b The basis of the Internet.
c Private network that uses a similar interface to the Web.
d The address of a specific computer on the Internet.
3 Copy and complete the following by replacing the letter in brackets
with a suitable term:
The Internet is a connected set of (a) using the TCP/IP standard. A
dial-up connection requires a (b) and telephone line. The (c) was
introduced in 1991 using the (d) protocol.
4 a What is provided by the Internet?
b List three ways of establishing a connection to the Internet.
c What contribution did the NSF make to the development of the
Internet?
d Explain the difference between an intranet and an extranet.
e Describe an IP address.
f What is a URL?

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Development
5 Do research into the history of the Internet. Identify the key
historical events for the Internet. Include additional events not
mentioned in this section. Construct a timeline of these events.
Briefly describe and state the importance of each event.
6 Compare and contrast an intranet and the Internet. Outline the
features of the school intranet.

12. 2 Uses of the Internet

The Internet has many different uses such as email, research,
chatting and messaging.

Email
Email (electronic mail) is the transmission of electronic messages
using a computer. Email is the most widely used Internet service.
It requires email software to send, receive and manage email. Most
browsers include an email component and there are also separate
email applications such as Microsoft Outlook Express and Netscape
Mail. In addition to email software the user needs an account and
an email address.
Email addresses are unique and consist of two parts separated
by the @ (‘at’) symbol in the form ‘name@domain name’. The first
part is the name of the account. It is often a person’s username and
is chosen where a user signs up for an account. The second part is
the domain name. It is the location of the person’s account on the
Internet. The domain name identifies the specific computer or
server where the email messages are stored. For example, the
address [email protected] consists of the following parts:
• adam is the username
• yahoo is the name of the account on the Internet
• com is the organisational domain.
An email message is usually short without a lot of details. When
email is sent, it is stored on the server where the recipient has an
account. It stays on the server until the person checks their email.
Email is sent using a header. The header contains information
needed to deliver the message. The sender’s email address is usually
automatically inserted. The email header contains four main parts:
• To—email address is the address of the person receiving the
message, which must be correctly typed

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• Cc—carbon copy sends

the same message to
other people apart from
the main recipient
• Bcc—blind carbon copy
sends a copy to other
people without revealing
who else got the message
• Subject—is the topic of
the message or brief
description—this is very
useful for the receiver of Figure 12.3 Email message
the message.
After the email is read it can be deleted, printed or stored in an
appropriate folder. The user can reply to an email message simply
by clicking on the ‘Reply’ or ‘Respond To’ command. A new
message window is opened with the address of the original sender
automatically inserted. The previous message can be retained to
remind the person of their original message. This is called quoting.
The prefix ‘Re:’ may be added to the original subject line to identify
the ‘thread’ of the message. Forwarding messages involves sending
messages you receive to someone else. An address book is used to
store email addresses. This saves time typing the address and avoids
the problem of remembering each address. A mailing list is a group
of people who want to receive the same messages. A signature is
several lines automatically added to the end of all email messages.
It may include an email address, website, graphic, occupation and
telephone number.
An attachment is a file in its original condition and format that
is sent with the email message. It can be any kind of file, including
text, graphic, video, audio or a program. Attachments are a useful
means of file transfer, as the receiver of the attachment will have an
exact copy of the file. To send an attachment click the ‘Attach’ or
‘Insert File’ command and select the file you want to send. When
sending an attachment it is important to include a brief
explanation in the main body of the email message. The file name
and the format of the attachment should be easily understood.
Netiquette is a code of acceptable behaviour users should follow
on the Internet. It covers rules for all aspects of the Internet such as
the email, chatting, newsgroups and discussion groups. If you
follow the rules of netiquette, you will be doing your part to make

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life on the Internet easier for everybody. Some of the rules for
netiquette include:
• keep messages short and to the point
• be polite and avoid offensive language
• avoid sending abusive or insulting messages (flames)—do not
participate in flame wars
• avoid using all capital letters as it is considered shouting
• use emoticons to express feelings such as :) for happy or :( for
sad
• use abbreviations and acronyms such as ‘IRL’ for ‘in real life’ or
‘BTW’ for ‘by the way’
• make the email subject line as meaningful as possible.

Research
A search engine is a program that finds websites and web pages. It
accesses a database of indexed websites that can be searched using a
keyword. This index is built by regularly scanning for new websites
and accepting submissions from website authors. A search engine is
accessed using a browser. There are dozens of search engines
available on the Web, including Yahoo!, Alta Vista and Google (see
Figure 12.4). Each search engine has a different method of building
its index and often obtains different results from the same search.
Some search engines provide web directories. A web directory
organises the Web into categories and then smaller subcategories.
This allows the user to browse through the categories until they
find a relevant site.
Search engines require the user to enter one or more keywords
related to their topic of interest. Most search engines allow users to
search for specific items such as images. When the user enters a
keyword and clicks the ‘Search’ button, the search engine scans its
index and lists the
websites that
contain that
keyword. Some
search engines
allow a search to
be restricted to
just Australia.
This can be an
advantage when
researching. The
Figure 12.4 Yahoo! is one of many search engines on the Internet listing of websites

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is usually in order of relevance and is in the form of hyperlinks.

This allows the user to access the listed web pages by simply clicking
them. Selecting a keyword is crucial to the success of a search. To
avoid being overloaded with information it is sensible to use
keywords that are very specific. Advance search options provide Archie was
developed in
users with more accurate results. The search can be restricted to 1989 at McGill
files that were updated recently, particular file formats or websites University in
without certain words. Canada. It was the
first search engine.
Administrators
Chatting found out that
half the traffic
A chat provides a real time conversation with one person or with going into Canada
hundreds of people. People meet for a chat in a chat room (or chat was accessing
channel). A chat room is a virtual room usually on a particular Archie on their
computer. They
topic where people talk in groups or privately. To start a chat the closed down
user connects to a chat server through a chat program. A chat Archie to outside
program is included in your browser or can be downloaded from access.
the Internet. Chat rooms supporting voice chats and video chats,
where you can hear and see others, are becoming more popular.
Most chat rooms are open for everybody and users can
contribute to ongoing discussions by typing a few lines. People
make friends and even have met future partners through chat
sessions. However, people can make up different personalities and
pretend to be anything they want to be. There are dangers for users,
particularly children, from being exploited. Personal information
such as address, phone number or bank details should never be
given out in a chat session.

Messaging
A newsgroup is an online area in which users conduct discussions on
a particular topic. People read messages and join in discussions by
sending or posting messages. The entire collection of newsgroups is
called the Usenet (Users’ network). Newsgroups are read each day
by people from all over the world and provide a large diversity of
opinion and knowledge. Each newsgroup is classified into eight
major categories: computers (comp.), social issues (soc.), science
(sci.), recreation (rec.), discussion (talk.), miscellaneous (misc.),
newsgroups (news.) and alternative (alt.).
A message board (or discussion group) is a popular web-based
discussion group (see Figure 12.5). Message boards are provided by
many websites. Discussion groups contain useful information. For
example, FAQ (frequently asked questions) provide concise and

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detailed information
relevant to that group.
Some discussion groups
and newsgroups are only
for authorised members
and require a username
and password. For
example, a discussion
group for a university
course would be restricted
Figure 12.5 Discussion group to students taking that
course.
Instant messaging (IM) is a real-time Internet service that
notifies users when one or more people are online. It has become
one of the most popular Internet activities. Instant messaging
services are provided by many organisations such as ICQ, AOL,
Microsoft and Yahoo!. They enable users to create buddy lists, check
whether a buddy is online and exchange messages. There are
currently no standards for instant messaging. Individuals on a
buddy list need to be on the same or compatible instant messaging
program.

Exercise 12.2
1 Explain the difference between:
a email and chatting
b an attachment and a search engine
c forwarding and replying.
2 Copy and complete the following sentences:
a _______ are unique and consist of two parts separated by the @
symbol.
b A mailing _______ is a group of people who want to receive the
same messages.
c A web directory organises the Web into _______.
d A _______ is a popular web-based discussion group.
3 What am I?
a Used to store email addresses.
b Code of acceptable behaviour users should follow on the
Internet.
c Online area in which users conduct discussions on a particular
topic.
d Real-time Internet service that notifies users when one or more
people are online.

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4 a List the four parts of an email header.

b Explain how a user replies to an email message.
c Describe some of the rules for netiquette.
d How does a search engine work?
e What is a chat room?
f What is provided by an instant messaging service?

Development
5 Create or obtain two email addresses.
a Create a brief email message.
b Send an email message to one of the email addresses.
c Send a carbon copy and blind carbon copy to a friend.
d Read and reply to the email message.
e Create a simple mailing list.
f Create and send an email message that contains an attachment.
6 Use three different search engines to find information about
netiquette. Compare and contrast the results of the three search
engines. Which search engine do you prefer? Give reasons for your
answer.

12. 3 Internet software

and protocols
There is a range of Internet software and types of protocols over
the Internet.

Browser software
A web browser (or browser) is a software program that allows users
to access and view web pages. The most widely used web browsers
are Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator (see Figure 12.6).
Online service providers (OSP) such as America Online (AOL) and
CompuServe provide a browser free of charge as part of their
subscription package. Web browsers display web pages, link to
other web pages and download information to your computer.

Figure 12.6 Internet Explorer is one web browser

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A web browser will display a website if the address (or location)

is entered directly into the browser. Web pages that have video and
animation take longer to download, as they are larger in size.
Browsers have the ability to store the addresses of frequently used
websites. These stored addresses are called favorites or bookmarks.
Favorites save time accessing frequently used web pages. The
websites recently visited are called history. History can be displayed
using the browser. Web browsers also have a range of commands or
buttons that make them easier to use.
Table 12.1 Browser commands

Command or button Use

Back Displays the previous web page
Forward Displays the next web page
Stop Interrupts the download of a web page
Refresh Reloads the current web page from the
server
Home Returns to the home page
Search Displays web search tools
Favorites/Bookmark Addresses of frequently used websites

Web authoring software

Web authoring software is used to create and manage a multimedia
website. Websites contain a range of data types such as animation,
audio and streamed video. The web authoring software will
position and display objects, as they would be viewed through a
web browser. Many programs allow the user to manage entire
websites using tools that automate repetitive tasks. Some popular
web authoring software includes:
• Macromedia Dreamweaver—currently the industry standard
used by professional designers. It creates HTML code that is
Tutorial
lean and compatible with any browser or platform.
• Microsoft FrontPage—used by small business and home users.
It has an intuitive layout with easy to use templates. Users have
the ability to view and edit the HTML code (see Figure 12.7).
Web authoring software allows the user to create a website structure.
This may involve different levels and arranging groups of pages.
Authoring software is designed to handle different data types. Text is
created and formatted in many different ways such as using different
fonts. Text can be placed in ordered and unordered lists. Images are
added to a web page and edited as required. Users can also create

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and edit thumbnails. Audio, animations and video are easily inserted
onto a web page. Authoring software also allows users to create
tables, frames and forms. These are powerful tools used to create
professional web pages.

Types of protocols
A protocol is a set of rules that governs the transmission of data
between computer devices. Some of the protocols used on the
Internet include TCP/IP, HTTP, FTP and SMTP. TCP/IP was originally
developed by the
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is a United States
common language for data transmission and error detection across Department of
the Internet. It works by breaking information into smaller packets Defence for
computers using
of data. Each data packet contains the information and the address the UNIX
of the receiving computer. The TCP standards inform the receiving operating system.
computer what is inside the data packet and the IP standard tells It is now used by
every computer
the computer where and how to send the packet. Each data packet on the Internet.
might take a different route but eventually reaches the same
destination where all the packets are reassembled into the original
information.
Hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) is a standard for transferring
the contents of a web page into a browser for viewing. It does not
download files that make up the web page. HTTP is a one-way
system as data is only transferred from the web server to the
browser. Whenever ‘http’ appears in a URL the user is connecting to
a web server and using the HTTP standard.
File transfer protocol (FTP) is a standard to upload and
download files. An FTP server is a computer that allows users to
upload and download files using FTP. Whenever ‘ftp’ appears in a
URL the user is
connecting to a file server
and not a web server.
Some form of file transfer
will then take place.
Simple mail transfer
protocol (SMTP) is a
standard for outgoing
email. Most email
messages are sent using
SMTP. POP3 (Post Office
Protocol) is a standard
for incoming email. Figure 12.7 Popular web authoring software for the home user
includes Microsoft FrontPage

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Project: My website
Preneeth Kumar is a student who wants to create a website about his
family, friends and interests. His sister Rani has agreed to supervise and
assist in the development of the website. Preneeth solved the problem
using the four stages in project development.
• Define and analyse the problem: Preneeth ‘surfed’ the Internet
and gathered design ideas from other personal websites. He
investigated the possibility of including pictures and videos of the
family. A project plan was written.
• Design possible solutions: Preneeth developed two possible
solutions. Each solution had a different website structure and
design. Both solutions had a large multimedia component.
Preneeth made a choice and presented his recommendation to
his sister. Rani agreed but suggested a simplified version.
• Produce the solution: The website was constructed using Microsoft
FrontPage. He created the website structure and used a consistent
layout for each page. Preneeth imported pictures, audio and video
into the appropriate pages. Links were added and tested. His sister
provided some technical advice on using tables and creating
animation. Web pages and files were uploaded to a web server
to become part of the Internet.
• Evaluate the solution: Preneeth tested his website using another
computer. He checked each web page and ensured all links were
working. Preneeth was happy with his website.

Tasks
1 Outline a website structure that would be appropriate for this
project.
ICT 12.1
2 Describe any social and ethical issues that would be a concern in
this project.

Exercise 12.3
1 Copy and complete the following sentences:
a Web _______ software is used to create and manage a
multimedia website.
b The refresh command _______ the current web page from the
server.
c The _______ interrupts the download of a web page.
d _______ is a standard for incoming mail.
2 True or false?
a OSPs provide a browser as part of their subscription package.

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b The ‘back’ command displays the next web page.

c TCP/IP is a common language of data transmission and error
detection over the Internet.
d FTP is a standard for outgoing email.
3 Copy and complete the following by replacing the letter in brackets
with a suitable term:
A web (a) is a software program that allows users to access and
view web (b). It will display a website if the (c) is entered directly
into the browser. Web pages that have video take longer to (d).
4 a What is the advantage of ‘Favorites’ or ‘Bookmarks’?
b Describe a website structure.
c What is a protocol?
d How does the TCP/IP work?
e What protocol is used to upload and download files?
f What is the hypertext transfer protocol?

Development
5 Examine the range of software in your school to create a website.
Investigate any templates and wizards available with this software.
Which piece of software do you prefer? Give reasons for your answer.
6 Create a web page that briefly describes the types of protocols
used on the Internet. Do research into Internet protocols to ensure
that the information on your web page is current.

12. 4 World Wide Web

The World Wide Web (www, also the Web) consists of a worldwide
collection of electronic documents that use the HTTP standard.
The Web provides a user-friendly interface to the Internet.
Resources on the Web are organised so that users can easily move
from one resource to another. The connections to other computers
are made automatically without being seen by the user. These
connections are made with the use of hypertext and a browser.
A browser allows users to access and view websites.
A website is a group of electronic documents that present
information on a particular topic. Each electronic document is Lit 5.2

called a web page. A web page can contain text, images, sounds,
video clips and links to other pages. Web pages are stored on
powerful computers called servers or web servers. Each server may
store thousands of web pages from different websites. To view a
particular web page your computer asks the server for a particular
page to be sent.

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Figure 12.8 The ninemsn website contains different types of information

The Web is an information medium that covers a vast range of

topics on all aspects of society. It is used to access research,
businesses, entertainment, software and personal interests. A key
feature of the Web is interactivity. It allows the user to choose their
experience on the Web. For example, you can access information,
communicate using email, download software, listen to music,
watch a video or play an interactive game. There are many types of
websites:
• commercial—exist to sell their goods or services
• information—present factual data
• business—sites that provide support for an organisation such as
technical support
• news—present information on the current events, sports,
money, life and weather (see Figure 12.8)
• portal—provide Internet services such as search engines, email,
news, sports and reference material
• personal—an individual’s web page and these sites contain
information on every topic.

Internet security
The Internet has generated a whole underground industry of
threats such as viruses, hackers and spam. However, there are many
ways of controlling access to information on the Web.
A cookie is a file that is stored on the hard disk after the user
visits a website. It is used to measure a user’s behaviour and work
flow habits. Privacy is often an issue raised with cookies. Cookies
store the information about the web pages visited and the transactions

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completed. However, most cookies are designed to improve your

experience and allow organisations to target advertisements to your
tastes. Users do have the option of blocking all cookies or having
your browser prompt you before accepting cookies.
A proxy server is a barrier to the Internet to ensure users are
Lit 5.3
securely and productively accessing network resources. It lets
administrators limit access to objectionable content by filtering
URLs. Administrators can control user access to specific documents
or websites. Proxy servers distribute and manage information
reducing network traffic and user wait times. Traffic time is reduced
as the proxy server caches frequently accessed documents or entire
websites. The proxy server only requests data from its source when
that source has been updated or has expired.
Firewalls are used on the Internet or any network to check all
incoming data for the purpose of verification and authentication. It
aims to protect a computer system from hackers trying to access
sensitive information. Firewalls are an important security measure
on an intranet. All messages entering or leaving the intranet pass
through the firewall. It examines each message and blocks those
that do not meet the specified security criteria. On large systems
more than one firewall is necessary because barriers need to be
placed at all critical points.
Anti-virus software is used to scan a file or disk for a range of
known viruses. A virus is a small program that attaches itself to an
application. There is no guarantee that anti-virus software will stop
every virus, as new viruses are constantly appearing. However, if
users download the latest virus definition files and regularly use the
anti-virus program it will minimise the problem. Anti-virus
software will also protect against email viruses, worms and Trojan
horses. An email virus
attaches itself to an email
message. It spreads by Proxy server
automatically mailing User
itself to each contact in
the user’s address book. Internet
Worms have the ability to
Firewall User
copy themselves from
machine to machine.
Worms normally move
around and infect other User
machines through
networks. Trojan horses Figure 12.9 Proxy server

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are programs that claim to be one thing, such as a computer game,

but will cause damage when the program is started.
Spam blocking software is protection against spam. Spam is the
sending of a message through the Internet as a mass mailing to a
large number of recipients. The message is unwanted and often
The term ‘spam’ commercial. Fighting spam has been an ongoing battle. Anti-
comes from a spammers develop a tool to block spam and spammers defeat the
‘Monty Python’
tool. For this reason spam blockers need to be regularly updated.
sketch called the
‘The Black Eagle’. There are different technologies used to block spam. The success of
The sketch spam blocking software is not only the quantity of spam it stops
contained an
but also ensuring genuine email is received.
annoying and
repetitive song Anti-spyware software is protection against spyware. Spyware is
about spam. software that installs on a computer in secret and transmits data
from that computer. The data transmitted is usually personal
information or information about computer usage. Users are
infected with spyware when they visit a website and are tricked into
installing it or they download a program with a spyware
component. The spyware component may be advertising software
or adware. Anti-spyware software is a tool that removes spyware
and prevents it from being installed.

Exercise 12.4
1 What am I?
a A worldwide collection of documents that use the HTTP standard.
b A file that is stored on the hard disk after visits to a website.
c Checks all incoming data for the purpose of verification and
authentication.
d A program that claims to be one thing but will cause damage
when the program is started.
2 Copy and complete the following by replacing the letter in brackets
with a suitable term:
A (a) is a group of electronic documents that present (b) on a
particular topic. Each electronic document is called a web (c).
Websites are stored on powerful computers called (d).
3 Unjumble these words:
a ewb gepa
b oxpry rseevr
c asntirviu aroswfte
4 a What is a key feature of the Web?
b List six different types of websites.
c What is the purpose of most cookies?
d How does a proxy server improve security?

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e How is a firewall used on an intranet?

f What is spam?

Development
5 Find at least one website where the focus is commercial,
information, business, news, portal and personal. What are the
features of these websites? Justify your classification of these
websites.
6 Why is the Web an important medium to publish information?
Describe the ways the Web is different from other publishing
media.

12. 5 Website development

A website is made up of three types of web pages: home page,
intermediate pages and content pages. Home page (index page) is
the first page viewed by a visitor. It provides information about the
purpose and subject matter of the website. A home page provides a
link to other web pages. Many websites have intermediate pages. An
intermediate page is the next level down from the home page. An
intermediate page is accessible from the home page and links back
to the home page. Intermediate pages provide structure and assist
in the navigation of the website. They are a way of grouping the
content pages. Content pages contain topic details and are usually
accessible from intermediate pages. Content pages usually contain a
link back to the home page.
Hypertext markup language (HTML) is used to create web
pages. HTML is a set of special instructions (called tags) that
Lit 5.4
indicate how parts of a document will be displayed. HTML code
can be created with any word processor or text editor, however, you

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do not need to write HTML code to create a web page. Many

programs will automatically convert basic formatting features into
HTML codes. Web authoring software is used to create and manage
Tim Berners-Lee a website. You can layout text and graphics exactly the way you
developed a
method of Internet
want them to look and the software creates the HTML code.
addressing called
URL, the language Features of a website
for encoding and
displaying hyper- The features of websites are changing to take advantage of new
text documents developments in information technology. Some common features
called HTML and a
method of linking
found in websites include:
hypertext docu- • Contact information—traditional contact information is
ments called HTTP. needed on most websites such as address, phone, fax and email.
It is appropriate to include as many different contact methods
as possible.
• Text—the look and style of text is an important factor in a web
page. The text content of a web page should display the essential
content.
• Graphic—pictures add interest and attraction to a web page.
The most common formats for web images are JPEG and GIF.
• Thumbnail image—small preview representation of the ‘real’
full size image. It downloads faster than the full size image. If a
visitor wants to see the full size image they simply click on the
thumbnail.
• Rollover—picture, icon or button that changes when the mouse
is moved over it. A rollover is actually two images: one image
for the ‘on’ condition and one image for the ‘off ’ condition. GIF
file format is often used for images as they must be displayed
quickly.
• Animation—a flashing object quickly gets the visitor’s
attention. It is used to direct the visitor to an area of the screen
or an interesting feature.
• Streamed audio—used to provide background music or sound
effects. Streaming audio is heard before the entire file has been
transferred.
• Streamed video—video clips that play before the entire file has
been transferred. It is more dependent than streamed audio on
a high bandwidth.
• Hyperlink—a link to another part of the same web page, a
separate web page, or location on the Internet. Hyperlinks are
made using text (hot word) or image (hot spot). Links are
usually identified using an underlined character and/or a
different text colour. Popular graphic links use buttons and

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icons. Links are

often arranged in
horizontal rows or
vertical columns to
form a navigation
toolbar.
• Tables—rows and
columns of cells
that are filled with
characters or
graphics. Tables are
used to arrange
Figure 12.10 Features of a website (these materials have been reproduced
information in a with the permission of eBay Inc. Copyright eBay Inc. All rights reserved)
precise row and
column format. A variety of attributes can be applied to tables
and their cells, such as shading and borders.
• Lists—unordered lists do not have a numbered sequence. Entry
in an unordered list is usually shown with a bullet. Ordered lists
provide a more structured look using a numbered sequence.
• Frames—space or boxes that hold an object. Each frame is
considered a separate window and could be a separate HTML
document. Frames allow a banner, advertising message or
animation to be held in place while the visitor navigates the
website.
• Web forms—are tools to collect information, such as orders for
goods and services and results from surveys. Web forms have an
invisible part that processes the data and stores it in a database.
Information is entered using text boxes, option buttons, check
boxes, list boxes, spin boxes.

Designing a website
There are three basic design principles for a website (see Figure 12.11):
• Consistency—layout, format and style should be the same
throughout the website unless different data types demand a
change. Readability is improved when similar items are
grouped.
• Navigation—people need to understand the structure of the
web pages. Colouring different areas of the page, using visual
symbols (icons and arrows), inserting clear page headers and
creating simple hyperlinks improves navigation.
• Simplicity—do not overuse design elements as this will create
visual clutter and confuse the visitor. The overuse of colour,

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Figure 12.11 Website Tips

sound and animations can be distracting. First impressions on

the Web are important. A visitor often forms an opinion of a
website within the first minute of accessing the home page.
In addition to the above design principles there are design factors
for these elements:
• Text—clear and legible text using at most three different fonts.
Care should be taken using font styles such as bold and italic.
Lit 5.5 Underlining is only used for hyperlinks. Long lines of text are
difficult to read.
• Colour—many different colours can be distracting and reduce
readability. A colour scheme should not interfere with the main
message of the web page. Dark text on a light background or
vice versa usually works well. Blue is often preferred for unused
links and purple for used links.
• Graphics—are used to create interest, however, they are slow to
download. When using graphics consider the size of the graphic,
recognisable icons and whether the graphic fits easily on the screen.
• Animation—visitors seeking information from a website are
distracted by inappropriate animation. A small creative animation
such as a comet-type effect can be effective.
• Audio and video—should not be an essential part of a web page
as some visitors might not have the right hardware or plug-in. It
is good practice to advise visitors about the size of audio and
video files.

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Exercise 12.5
1 Copy and complete the following sentences:
a A _______ image is a small preview representation of the ‘real’
full size image.
b Links are usually identified using an _______ character and/or a
different text colour.
c Each _______ is considered as a separate window and could be a
separate HTML document.
d Many different colours can be distracting and reduce _______.
2 True or false?
a HTTP is used to create web pages.
b Streaming audio is heard before the entire file has been
transferred.
c Ordered lists are usually shown with a bullet.
d Web forms have an invisible part that stores data in a database.
3 What am I?
a The first page viewed by a visitor
to a website.
b A set of special instructions that
indicate how parts of a document
will be displayed.
c A picture, icon or button that
changes when the mouse is moved
over it.
d Rows and columns of cells that are
filled with characters or graphics.
4 a Describe an intermediate page of a
website.
b How do you create HTML code?
c Identify the contact information
that is needed on most websites.
d What is a hyperlink?
e Describe some of the information
often displayed in a frame.
f Why is navigation an important
design element?

Development
5 Investigate the features of three different
websites. Identify the features that you like and
those you dislike. Write a report that summarises your
investigation.
6 Create a simple website on a topic you find interesting.
a Describe the features of the website.
b Create and test the navigation used in your website. ICT 12.2

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Part A: Multiple choice questions

Select the alternative (a), (b), (c) or (d) that best answers each question.
1 Which of the following describes a 6 Which of the following is a command
historical event introduced in 1991 or button that stores the addresses
using the HTTP standard? of frequently used websites?
a ARPANET a Explorer
b World Wide Web b Save
c Email c Favorite
d NSFnet d List

2 Which of the following is a private 7 What is a proxy server?

network that uses a similar interface a A barrier to the Internet to ensure
to the Web? users are securely and productively
a Intranet accessing network resources
b Extranet b A file that is stored on the hard
c ARPANET disk after the user visits a website
d BITNET c A computer used to store web pages
d A computer used to store email
3 Which of the following is a program
that finds websites and web pages? 8 Which of the following statements is
a Find command incorrect?
b Search program a Cookies are an important security
c Search engine measure for the intranet
d Attachment b Fighting spam has been an
ongoing battle
4 Which of the following describes c Anti-virus software is used to scan
chatting? a file or disk for a range of well-
a Online area in which users known viruses
conduct discussions on a particular d Worms have the ability to copy
topic themselves from machine to
b A popular web-based discussion machine
group
9 Which of the following is a set of
c A real-time Internet service that
notifies users when more than one special instructions used to create
person is online web pages?
d A real-time conversation with one a HTTP
person or with hundreds of b Hypertext
people c HTML
d Web manager
5 Which of the following is a standard
to upload and download files? 10 Which of the following describes a
a SMTP picture, icon or button that changes
b FTP when the mouse is moved over it?
c HTTP a Thumbnail
d TCP/IP b Rollover
c Hyperlink
d Graphic

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Part B: Match the term

For each of the following statements (1 to 10), select from the list of terms (a to j)
the one that most closely fits the statement.

Statements
1 A connected set of networks using 6 A software program that allows
the TCP/IP standard. users to access and view web pages.
2 A private network that uses a similar 7 A standard for transferring the
interface to the Web. contents of a web page into a
3 An online area in which users conduct browser for viewing.
discussions on a particular topic. 8 A worldwide collection of electronic
4 Transmission of electronic messages documents that use the HTTP
using a computer. standard.
5 A program that finds websites and 9 A file that is stored on the hard disk
web pages. after the user visits a website.
10 The first page of a website.
Terms
a Cookie f Intranet
b Email g Newsgroup
c Home h Search engine
d HTTP i Web
e Internet j Web browser

Part C: Extended response questions

Write at least one paragraph for each of the following:
1 Describe four major events in the 4 What is the World Wide Web? Your
history of the Internet. Which event answer should explain interactivity,
do you consider the most important? websites and web pages.
Give a reason for your answer. 5 Spam is causing a problem for many
2 The Internet is having a significant people. Why is spam a problem?
impact on our society. Outline four How can spam be reduced?
ways we are using the Internet. 6 Tables, lists and frames are an
3 Explain the difference between these important feature of many websites.
terms: Distinguish between these tools.
a HTTP and FTP
b web browser and web authoring
software.
e Tester

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Project: Internet website

Create a website that presents information about the Internet. Suggested topics
could include history of the Internet, intranets, email, search engines, chatting,
messaging, browsers, authoring software and some aspect of Internet security.
This is a group project that requires each member to create at least one page in
the website. The design of the website and the navigation are important
characteristics for this project. Your solution should be developed using the four
stages in project development.

Project 5.1
Project 5.2
Project 5.3
Cross project 2
Cross project 3
Cross project 4

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