Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
each.time.someone.accesses.any.of.those.resources.a.record.
is.created..This.is.the.focus.of.this.section.of.the.topic,.so.let's.
begin.to.explore.the.what,.when,.how,.why,.and.where.of.the.
data.created.each.time.you.open.up.your.Internet.browser.
The.“what”.part.of.that.question.is.almost.ininite.because.
of.the.many.uses.to.which.one.can.put.the.Internet.in.its.cur-
rent.manifestation..For.instance,.you.can
•. Create.and.access.documents
•. Read.and.write.and.comment.on.blogs.or.news.arti-
cles,.or.other.online.messages.of.varying.lengths
•. Research.nearly.anything.and.contribute.to.new.research
•. View,.upload,.or.download.photographs.and.video.of.
any.kind
•. Search.for.or.disseminate.information.on.any.subject
•. Make.audio.or.video.phone.calls
•. Connect.to.friends.and.develop.communities
•. Raise.money.or.promote.your.favorite.charities
•. Buy.or.sell.anything.imaginable.(and.some.things.you.
might.prefer.not.to.imagine)
•. Offer.things.or.bid.on.them.in.auctions
•. Listen.to.lectures.and.take.classes
My.son.recently.introduced.me.to.an.online.service.that.
I.cannot.in.good.conscience.recommend..I.won't.name.it.as.
I.don't.want.to.promote.any.speciic.tools.or.services.here..
However,.it.is.a.service.that.takes.your.input.as.to.what.sub-
jects. you. are. interested. in. and. recommends. Web. sites. you.
might.enjoy.from.its.vast.records.of.the.billions.of.sites.avail-
able. on. the. Internet.. Then. it. asks. you. to. rate. each. site. it.
serves.up.as.one.you.like.or.do.not.like,.and.it.learns.from.
that.which.sites.are.most.likely.of.interest.and.continues.(for.
as.long.as.you.keep.asking).to.serve.up.more.and.more.sites,.
each.of.which.seems.more.compelling.than.the.last.(because.
it.is.learning.from.your.feedback).
It's. extremely. easy. to. burn. up. entire. days. cruising. from.
one.extremely.cool.Web.site.to.another.on.this.service..And.
