Explains how to access the Internet, discussing hardware and software considerations, connectivity, and types of access available to users. Describes the uses of electronic mail; TELNET, a method for remotely logging onto another computer; and anonymous File Transfer Protocol (FTP), a method for downloading files from a remote computer. (MAB)

C-Print captioning is a computer-aided speech-to-text service for people who are deaf/hard of hearing and prefer printed text rather than sign language as an accommodation. C-Print often is used in educational settings (see C-Print Tipsheet http://www.netac.rit.edu/publication/tipsheet for further information or visit the C-Print Web site at…

Until recently, professionals in the humanities have had access only to mainframe computer technology. The advent of microcomputers offers a range of new options. The experiences of one individual indicate that with personal computer technology and simple programming, and occasionally the help of a mainframe, textual, visual, and auditory…

In these days of increasing concern for the state of the environment and declining biodiversity, it is important that students and teachers come to appreciate the value of life in all its forms. Natural history provides students with an opportunity to understand better how life on the planet interacts, as well as the place and responsibility of…

Examines a family-centered approach to the prescription and delivery of computers to children with disabilities. Discusses effective team decision making regarding computers in the home environment, and the relevance of family and cultural factors, such as family routines, stress, cultural value systems, and time constraints. Considers…

A podcast is a method of distributing multimedia files, usually (but not limited to) audio in the MP3 format, over the Internet to subscribers. Anybody can be a subscriber--one only needs the proper software to receive the subscription. In this article, the author discusses how to create one's own podcast. Before creating the podcast, one needs a…

This textbook is designed for a one-semester introductory course in which the goal is to give students a foundation in the basics of information technology (IT). It focuses on how the technology works, issues relating to its use and development, how it can lend personal and business advantages, and how it is creating a globally networked society.…

Going digital is the way to minimize handling of damaged materials, but the imaging process is demanding and must be done with oversight by preservation staff and with a high enough level of quality to ensure the reusability of the archival electronic file for as long as possible. This paper focuses on the scope and needs of digital preservation,…

An overview of the basics of computers is presented. Definitions and discussions of processing, programs, memory, DOS, anatomy and design, central processing unit (CPU), disk drives, floppy disks, and peripherals are included. This article was designed to help teachers to understand basic computer terminology. (CW)

Examined observed occurrences of written knowledge exchanges embedded in kindergartners' play interactions while at the computer. Found that computers, with and without speech-synthesized feedback, placed in an environment that fosters playful written language exploration, can contribute to learning about functions and features of print; however,…

This paper traces an educator's experiences with computers over a span of 20 years, and describes the computerization of and concomitant obstacles faced by the Humanities department at the American University in Cairo, Egypt (AUC). The computerization of AUC began in the 1980s, with workstations mainly in the science, math, engineering, and…

This brief paper considers ways in which people with sensory impairments can benefit from the assistive technology available with computers. Assistive technology practitioners are urged not to focus on the disability, but on the individual's abilities and the tasks to be performed. Explanations of the major sensory disability areas precedes…

The teaching of computing, like all subjects, requires a range of strategies to take the curriculum content (skills, knowledge, understanding and attitudes) and put it in a form that is more easily learned by students. Metaphor has a particular role in the world of computing: embedded in the design of computer hardware and software; part of the…

The Trace Center gathers and organizes information on communication, control, and computer access for handicapped individuals. The information is disseminated in the form of brief sheets describing print, nonprint, and organizational resources and listing addresses and telephone numbers for ordering or for additional information. This compilation…

This guide contains questions and answers about Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended in 1986 by Public Law 99-506, which required the federal government to establish, in consultation with industry, guidelines to ensure that individuals with disabilities may use electronic office equipment with or without special peripherals. The guide…