USE OF THE INTERNET

This topic must be done together with "Scientific developments "

Vocabulary

site

webpage

log in

a password

code

cypher

upload

a link

download

forums

chats

communities

online

connected

offline

irresponsible

challenge

ignore

data

information

archives

modem

pop-up ads

viruses
trojans

file sharing

e-mail

auctions

purchases

security

research

investigation

information

The Benefits of the Internet at home

Most parents and children alike seem to view the Internet as a positive new force in children's
lives. Despite recent negative headlines about online isolation, violence, pornography,
predators and commercialism, parents and children generally are upbeat and favorable about
their own Internet experiences.

Parents, in fact, are more positive on this issue than children. They believe the Internet is a
powerful tool for learning and communicating within families and friends, and the Internet can
be an equally powerful tool for schools that want to increase public engagement and family
involvement–and to help bridge the digital divide between students who have computers and
Internet access at home and those who do not.

In almost half (49 percent) of households surveyed, at least one child uses the Internet. By the
time they are teenagers, nearly three out of four children are online. Teenagers who use the
Internet are more likely to log on at school. Younger children who are online are more likely to
log on at home than at school.

The main reason families buy computers and connect their children to the Internet at home
is for education. The most common reason parents cite for buying home computers is
children's education. Education is also the single-most common motivation parents cite for
their children to use the Internet from home. Moreover, education-related use of the Internet
goes beyond learning activities for required schoolwork. Children also go online for learning
activities that are not connected directly with school. Many parents whose young children use
the Internet at school believe the Internet has improved their child's attitude toward school.

The Internet does not disrupt children's everyday habits and typical, healthy activities. In
fact, once they start using the Internet, many children spend less time watching television;
increased time reading newspapers, magazines and books; increased time playing outdoors;
and increased time doing arts and crafts.
 Contrary to conventional wisdom, the Internet does not appear to isolate children from their
families, peers or communities. Instead, the Internet is a powerful communication tool that
connects children (and parents) to others–and could bolster the home-school connection.
Children (and parents) use e-mail, chat rooms and instant messaging, for example, to connect
with other people, not avoid them. Parents, including low-income parents, would like to be
able to communicate with their children's teachers as well–and that would be a powerful way
for schools to increase parental involvement.

Girls use the Internet as much as boys, but in different ways. In fact, the Internet may be one
of the few public places where girls are equally as involved as boys. The findings indicate that
girls are comfortable and competent on the Internet. Girls use the Internet for education,
schoolwork, e-mail and chat rooms. Boys are likely to use the Internet for entertainment and
games. Overall, there is no statistical difference in the proportion of girls and boys who use the
Internet. Clearly, this encouraging news debunks any remaining stereotypes about technology-
phobic girls when it comes to the Internet.

Schools have the opportunity to help narrow the gap between the haves and have-nots.
Already, schools are providing significant Internet access for students who otherwise would
have none. In addition, low-income families have a strong belief in the Internet as a vehicle for
their children's advancement. Internet use seems to have a strong effect on the school
attitudes of low-income children, children from large families and children in single-parent
households. In addition, there are no differences between children of various ethnic groups.

Parents trust their children's use of the Internet; however, they do have some concerns.
Despite these concerns–and some gaps between parents' and children's perspectives of
Internet use–parents generally believe that the Internet is a safe place for their children. Most
parents use a common-sense, balanced approach to overseeing their children's use of the
Internet. They monitor the sites their children visit, limit the time their children spend online
and set usage rules similar to those they set for television viewing. There are gaps between
parents' and children's perceptions about the amount of time children spend online, the
amount of supervision children get and their respective attitudes about Internet use. But even
with these gaps, parents–and their children–believe that parents have a good deal of
awareness about their children's Internet use at home. Overall, parents generally are satisfied
with their children's Internet use–and they seem to trust their children to explore. Indeed,
many parents want their children to have access to the Internet.

OTHER USES OF THE INTERNET

file sharing

Finding information on courses, jobs, holidays, offers etc...

Buying products otherwise difficult or impossible to find in your city.

Making friends across the world / dating.

Internet

Do you often use the Internet?

When did you first use the Internet?

About how many hours a day do you use the Internet?

About how many hours a week do you use the Internet?

Who uses the Internet the most in your family?

What computer do you use to access the Internet?

What are some security issues you must think about when you access the Internet?

Have you ever bought something using the Internet?

How can the Internet be improved?

How often do you use the internet?

Do you think our lives have been improved by the Internet?

Do you have any ideas or ambitions to start an Internet company?

Do you think the Internet favors men or women?

Do men and women use the internet for different purposes?

Do you use the Internet for fun or education?

What are some of the ways the Internet can be used for education?

What are some of the ways the Internet can be used for entertainment?

What are the sites you most commonly access?

What is the best thing about the Internet?

What problems does the Internet create? What problems does it solve?

Which company is your Internet provider?

Why did you choose this company?

Are you satisfied with their service?

How much does it cost you?

Is it expensive to access the Internet by mobile phone in your country?

Does your family have wireless Internet access in your home?

Do you access the Internet from your mobile phone?

What type of pages do you access with your phone?

Do you have more many e-mail addresses?

Why do you need more than one e-mail address?

Have you ever chatted on the Internet?

Is it dangerous to meet people on the Internet?

Would you like to go on a date with someone you meet on the Internet?

Do you think that the Internet safe for children? Why

Do you think that it is important for schools to have Internet access? Why?

Can you believe all the information that is published (available) on the Internet?

Do you think that people should put photos of their friends onto the Internet?

Why is it a good idea to have books and magazines published on the Internet?

Do you think that it is a good or bad habit for young people to play computer games?

Why should you be careful about giving out personal information to people that you meet in
chat-rooms?

Give me a reason why you think that email is a good way for people to communicate.

The Internet can help people work from home. Do you think that this is a good or bad?

Many disreputable companies get personal information from your computer when you visit
their web site. Why is this bad?

Many people download MP3 music without paying any money for it. Do you think that this is
a problem?

Would you consider going out with someone that you met on the Internet?

In your opinion, what is the most important feature of the Internet?

Do you think that meeting people is easier than meeting people face to face?

Are old people disadvantaged by today's usage of the Internet? How?

When you buy something on the Internet, trust is very important. Why?

Do you think that the Internet will replace Libraries?

In many big cities it is possible to buy your groceries online and have them delivered to your
home. Why has this become popular?

Why is it illegal to download movies and music from the Internet?

What is a computer virus and how do we protect our computers from being infected?

How does the Internet help people from different countries to communicate with each
other?

Information on the Internet is linked together; it is not just single documents. Why is this
important?

How do we stop young children from looking at Internet sites that have inappropriate
content?

Do you think that some people spend too much time on the Internet and does this stop
them from seeing their friends? Why?

Do you think that having Internet access is mainly for rich people? Will poor people be
disadvantaged?

In some countries you can sell personal items on the Internet (E-Bay). Do you think this is a
good idea?

Many Universities are now offering online courses. Give me some reasons why this is a good
thing.

Many Universities are now offering online courses. Give me some reasons why this is a bad
thing.

If you want reliable and good information from the Internet, then you should look for sites
operated by which types of organizations?

Do you think that the Internet usage is an anti-social activity?

E-commerce (buying and selling things on the Internet) has become very popular. Give a
reason for this?

Is it better to buy online or to go to a shop? Why?

Why is it very important not to give out personal information on the Internet?

Many sites require you to have ID's and passwords. Why do we need to keep these safe?

Some web sites hold very dangerous information, for example how to make a bomb. How
can we control these Web sites?
 If you give personal information to a Website do you think that they will always keep this
private? Sometimes they sell this information. Is this a good or bad thing?

Search engine are used to find information. Do you think that they always give you the best
sites or do they give you sites that pay money in order to be on the top of the list?

What is copyright? How do we break copyright law on the Internet?

Many students use the Internet to help them do their assignments and they just ¡°cut and
paste¡± information from the Internet. How do we stop this?

We can use the Internet to find jobs overseas. Is this good or bad for both the employer and
employee?

If you employ someone via the Internet, how do you check if the person is giving you
truthful information?

To be current, that is to be up-to-date, is an important feature of the Internet. Why is this

In Japan, many young men lock themselves in their bedrooms, sometimes for years, to
escape the pressures of study. They refuse to see people, but they still use the Internet and
mobile phones. Do you think that this will happen in other countries?

Is the Internet making people more impatient? Are we becoming a society were we all want
instant satisfaction?

Many people use the Internet for fun and entertainment at work. Do you think that this is
right?