The Online World

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 deals with the practical aspects of using the rapidly growing global online information resource. The book is distributed in a form that is designed to be easily accessible with the maximum range of computers, printer types, and search programs. Also, it has been designed to be compatible with electronic reading devices for the blind. Therefore, many frills (such as fancy formatting, extraneous characters or tags) have been omitted. The main subject of the book is what you can get out of the online resource. Expect an outline, not a comprehensive list or directory of all available offerings. This book explores selected applications across network and service boundaries, to show how these needs may be satisfied. In the process, it gives access information for a large number of specific online offerings. The applications range from entertainment and the bizarre to databases 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 through services and networks like the Internet, BITNET, CompuServe, Echo, FidoNet, Usenet, Dialcom, Dow Jones/News Retrieval, MCI, NewsNet and UUCP. These services can be accessed from almost anywhere. Talking about the Internet, we do not expect that it will be easy for you to get full access. We assume that most people can get access 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 our current "Global Village." You can read it like a novel, to get an idea of what is going on. It can be used as a practical guide book to online data bases and 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 contains much information to help novices get started. For an introduction to telecommunications, check out appendix 2 and 3 before continuing with Chapter 1. Before you start, one word of warning. New online offerings are born each day, while others are being closed down. Chances are that most services in this book will still be around when you read it, but I will need to update the text regularly. Therefore, all feedback is welcomed with thanks. Please do also tell me what you like, what you don't, and what you feel I may have missed — or have gotten hopelessly wrong. Send by 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 work and may be distributed only pursuant to this license. You are granted a limited read and use license of the book to see if it is for you. Any unregistered use other than to determine if the book meets your needs is a violation of this license and is forbidden. If you like the book, please become a registered reader. Your contribution will support further research and development of the text. The important benefit of registering is that you will receive the latest version of the book on diskette (MS-DOS only). This will allow you to have current information on your hard disk that you can search whenever you want to. The online world is dynamic. Services and offerings come and go. So read appendix 8 to find out how to stay updated.

The registered shareware version of The Online World including shipping and handling is

NOK 105.00 for payment by credit card
(around US$ 15.00)
US$ 20.00 for all other types of payment
(check or SWIFT bank transfer)