Internet Personal History
I began really using the tools of the internet my first year of college. I had used computers ever since elementary school but only for word processing needs (and that began using the DOS systems) or learning games. Of course, at that time the first desktop workstations were just coming into use and the domain naming system had just been introduced. During junior high and high school I used computers still for word processing and a little bit of searching, but nothing that really stands out in my memory.
In my first year of college I was introduced to email. It was great. I could eaily and very cheaply communicate with my friends who had moved to go to school at other universities. Of course, I could only access this from the school computers. I didn't have that access at home yet. And nbeknown to me, there was a lot going on with the uinternet at that time. After I was married I moved to Logan, Utah where I really began to dig into school and I learned so much more about computers and the internet. From this time until graduation in 2000 I was sending and receiving emails and learning more about how search engines on the world wide web worked. My husband and sister introduced me to online gaming. Although I did not actually go in and do any of this, I watched them participate in some games.
It wasn't until after graduation that I used the internet for more than email and searches. With a need to learn more about some health issues, I joined a discussion group that would email responses to me. I could then go into the group and post my own response. It was great. There was a lot of relevant information and some that wasn't interesting to me. But it opened up a little network that I need at the time. In my new job I was designing and updating a web page, so I learned some html and would save the pages I created to the server provided. I also was ftping information (text and images) to a company that made postcards. I guess I was learning most of this as I went. I hadn't every had a class that taught me about the internet.
In 2003 I went back to school to work on a masters degree. This degree would require me to take classes at a distance. So I learned how to use a learning managment system called webct so I could upload assignments, email within the class, and read & post to the discussion board. This opened up a big network of people and information to me. Here I was learning from people I hadn't met or had only met once. Then, with the acquisition of a new job I was once again using ftp at work, along with email.
It wasn't until half way through this degree (in 2004) that I learned about 'social software'. What was that? Oh yeah, a term I han't really heard before, but one that is beginning to really fascinate me. In a workshop I learned about instant messaging, why hadn't I heard of this before? Oh I had seen icons for it, but never asked anyone how to use it or tried it on my own. But wow, what a great tool for communication. My networking literacy was beginning to grow. In the same class I learned about wikis and blogging. Oh my, I feel like I'm really behind. I should have learned about these tools when they first came into existence: the 1990's. I am now interacting with people who have been using and studying this idea of 'social software' for some time now. I have some catching up to do, but I'm excited to do it. For example, in my current class I am learning more about the history of the internet. It is amazing how much was going on around me that I was unaware of. I had no idea the internet had been used for so long. So much happened with it before I was even born.
So for now, I can look back and see how important the internet has become for me. In my professional and personal life. Using the technology is like an itch I can't every stop. I find myself checking my email to see if anyone has written to me. I want my family to all have an IM address so we can talk easier and I am always interested in what new technology is coming out. I know I still have a lot to learn, but with such a changing area there always will be.
In my first year of college I was introduced to email. It was great. I could eaily and very cheaply communicate with my friends who had moved to go to school at other universities. Of course, I could only access this from the school computers. I didn't have that access at home yet. And nbeknown to me, there was a lot going on with the uinternet at that time. After I was married I moved to Logan, Utah where I really began to dig into school and I learned so much more about computers and the internet. From this time until graduation in 2000 I was sending and receiving emails and learning more about how search engines on the world wide web worked. My husband and sister introduced me to online gaming. Although I did not actually go in and do any of this, I watched them participate in some games.
It wasn't until after graduation that I used the internet for more than email and searches. With a need to learn more about some health issues, I joined a discussion group that would email responses to me. I could then go into the group and post my own response. It was great. There was a lot of relevant information and some that wasn't interesting to me. But it opened up a little network that I need at the time. In my new job I was designing and updating a web page, so I learned some html and would save the pages I created to the server provided. I also was ftping information (text and images) to a company that made postcards. I guess I was learning most of this as I went. I hadn't every had a class that taught me about the internet.
In 2003 I went back to school to work on a masters degree. This degree would require me to take classes at a distance. So I learned how to use a learning managment system called webct so I could upload assignments, email within the class, and read & post to the discussion board. This opened up a big network of people and information to me. Here I was learning from people I hadn't met or had only met once. Then, with the acquisition of a new job I was once again using ftp at work, along with email.
It wasn't until half way through this degree (in 2004) that I learned about 'social software'. What was that? Oh yeah, a term I han't really heard before, but one that is beginning to really fascinate me. In a workshop I learned about instant messaging, why hadn't I heard of this before? Oh I had seen icons for it, but never asked anyone how to use it or tried it on my own. But wow, what a great tool for communication. My networking literacy was beginning to grow. In the same class I learned about wikis and blogging. Oh my, I feel like I'm really behind. I should have learned about these tools when they first came into existence: the 1990's. I am now interacting with people who have been using and studying this idea of 'social software' for some time now. I have some catching up to do, but I'm excited to do it. For example, in my current class I am learning more about the history of the internet. It is amazing how much was going on around me that I was unaware of. I had no idea the internet had been used for so long. So much happened with it before I was even born.
So for now, I can look back and see how important the internet has become for me. In my professional and personal life. Using the technology is like an itch I can't every stop. I find myself checking my email to see if anyone has written to me. I want my family to all have an IM address so we can talk easier and I am always interested in what new technology is coming out. I know I still have a lot to learn, but with such a changing area there always will be.
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