The World Wide Web

   The fastest-growing part of the Internet is the World Wide Web, an interconnected assortment of Internet computer servers that conform to the same network interface protocols. Because all of these systems use the same protocols, Web-based information can be read on any type of computer. The basic unit of a Web site is a page. Individual Web pages are linked together to create an entire Web site. The home page is the first document that users encounter when they visit a site. Home pages introduce the user to the site, inform users about the purpose of the site, state what type of information can be found on the site, and provide links to other relevant documents. Web sites run the gamut from corporate sites to personal ones.

   Increasingly, the Web is being utilized as a medium of interpersonal communication. For example, Weblogs are a new form of personal journalism in which an individual takes on the role of columnist, reporter, analyst, and publisher to share information through the Web. Individuals use Weblogs as a form of personal expression. Adding guest lists and e-mail addresses to these sites provides methods of feedback and interaction. Similarly, Web rings connect personal home pages together into Web communities. These communities are usually organized around a topic of interest. Members of these communities often read each others sites and comment on them.

   Although the Web is most often used as an informatics system to store and access information, many sites incorporate discussion and feedback features that enable Web users to respond to Web content and discuss topics of interest. As a result, many Web sites combine informatics and conferencing features.