The Online World book's text on paper, disk and in any otherelectronic form is (C) copyrighted 1993 by Odd de Presno. Allrights reserved worldwide.
xxxx SHAREWARE BOOK
********************* * THE ONLINE WORLD * *********************
Version 1.1 - September 1993
By Odd de Presno
4815 Saltrod, Norway (Europe)
Voice (registrations only): +47 370 31204
Internet mail: opresno@extern.uio.no
Data/BBS: +47 370 31204
FAX: +47 370 27111
PREFACE=======This is the ASCII online distribution of the Online World. It dealswith the practical aspects of using the rapidly growing global onlineinformation resource. The book is distributed in a form that is designed to be easilyaccessible with the maximum range of computers, printer types, andsearch programs. Also, it has been designed to be compatible withelectronic reading devices for the blind. Therefore, many frills(such as fancy formatting, extraneous characters or tags) have beenomitted. The main subject of the book is what you can get out of theonline resource. Expect an outline, not a comprehensive list or directory of allavailable offerings. This book explores selected applicationsacross network and service boundaries, to show how these needs maybe satisfied. In the process, it gives access information for a large numberof specific online offerings. The applications range from entertainment and the bizarre todatabases and special services for professionals and organizations. You are not expected to live in the United States or in Norway.Emphasis is on major international offerings available throughservices and networks like the Internet, BITNET, CompuServe, Echo,FidoNet, Usenet, Dialcom, Dow Jones/News Retrieval, MCI, NewsNetand UUCP. These services can be accessed from almost anywhere. Talking about the Internet, we do not expect that it will beeasy for you to get full access. We assume that most people can getaccess to this network by electronic mail only. I wrote The Online World for parents and youth, teachers,students, business people, social workers, psychologists, young,old, for anybody interested in knowing a bit more about ourcurrent "Global Village." You can read it like a novel, to get an idea of what is goingon. It can be used as a practical guide book to online data basesand news sources, or as a book of reference. You need not be a computer expert or an experienced "onliner"to find it useful. While not being a textbook on data communications, it containsmuch information to help novices get started. For an introductionto telecommunications, check out appendix 2 and 3 before continuingwith Chapter 1. Before you start, one word of warning. New online offerings areborn each day, while others are being closed down. Chances are thatmost services in this book will still be around when you read it,but I will need to update the text regularly. Therefore, allfeedback is welcomed with thanks. Please do also tell me what you like, what you don't, and whatyou feel I may have missed — or have gotten hopelessly wrong. Sendby electronic mail to me at opresno@extern.uio.no .
This book is not free——————————-The Online World book is NOT public domain. It is copyrighted workand may be distributed only pursuant to this license.