And on the 8th day…The internet was invented! !10 great web sites for those new to online

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The internet can be a daunting place for those unfamiliar with its protocols, acronyms and popular places. It’s an ever changing world and just when you think you’ve mastered Google, Facebook, and Ebay along comes Twitter, Google Streetview and Microsoft’s Silverlight (I knew that last one would get you.

This blog will take you through the online world. It’ll include new online tools, opinion, recommendations, links, reviews and allsorts.

The ultimate aim will be to inform and educate…but not with jargon or by patronising.

To start here’s a list of ten web sites I think are critical to help you through the gates of that big blue ‘e’ (internet explorer) on your screen or that fox like creature (firefox) or even that compass (safari).

1. www.google.co.uk

search engine above all search engines

2. www.amazon.co.uk

THE online shop

3. www.ebay.co.uk

Looking for something old or new…this has everything on it including the kitchen sink. All you need to do is bid!

4. www.facebook.com

Who needs to talk anymore. Facebook lets you connect with your friends (new and old), make friends, join with people of similar interests. All without opening your mouth or your front door. How times change

5. www.youtube.com

Who needs tv? If you missed something on tv that everyone is talking about, maybe that funny moment when a presenter swore, or sporting moment dont fear it’ll be on Youtube. Also includes corporate video, personal video upload….millions and millions of things to see.

6. www.bbc.co.uk

Amazing site for news (of all  types). It has so many sections. pages, articles, links that you cant fail to find the information you’re after.

7. www.imdb.com

Who needs film reviewers from magazines and newspapers. The Internet Movie Database (imdb) will tell you what its millions of users thought of the latest release. Includes every single film ever made and once you’ve used it i pretty much guarantee it’ll be in your favourites.

8. www.multimap.com

Need directions. all you need is multimap.

9. www.wikipedia.org

An encyclopedia which includes just about anything you can think of. Try it! I urge you!

10. www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

Online information and advice about health and illness, run by Britain’s National Health Service. The site includes a useful self-diagnosis tool that can reassure you that your hangover is not in fact meningitis.

More to follow across the days and weeks…

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