The Online World resources handbook

Will going online make me rich? http://home.eunet.no/~presno/bok/1.html
Online communication is not just for the privileged or those with a special interest in
computers. It is for you, me, everybody.
There is much to learn in the "online land," and the medium is fascinating. It makes
learning fun. You can learn about your hobbies, your profession, life in other countries,
languages, other people's views about whatever, and more. Often, you will find reports
about experiences and know how that it is hard or impractical to get in other ways.
Some go online to learn how to do things better. Teachers want to give their
students a better and more motivating learning environment. Architects, engineers and
companies want increased competitiveness and sales. They seek timely information
about competitors, technologies and tools, partners and trends.
You can take a Masters Degree in Business Administration while sitting in front of
your computer at home. You can join online seminars arranged by local or foreign
educational institutes. You can even study at night, when the rest of your family has
calmed down.
Some build their own educational programs supported by databases, online forums
and associations of various kinds.
You may feel helpless in hospital, or when visiting your doctor. Knowledge about
your disease will make you better equipped to handle the situation.
The online resource is just keystrokes away, and knowledge is power.
To get this power, you must know what you can get from the online world. This
book is filled with examples of what are available, and practical tips about how to use
the many offerings.
A large personal network gives strength
Most of us belong to one or several networks. They consist of persons that we can call
on when we need help. Your network may be private, like your family. You may be
member of associations, or part of a group of people with common interests within a
company or organization.
The modem allows you to be part of more personal networks than you can possibly
cope with in the "real world." Besides, it's easier to develop personal networks in the
online world.
We have used words like "clubs" and "associations." By this we mean groups of
people interested in helping You and in participating in what You happen to be
interested in. That is what networking is all about.
Today's communications technology lets us network with people in other countries
at a very low cost. Many describe it as networking "beyond time and space." Write a
message and send it to someone in your network. It arrives in his/her "mailbox" within
minutes (sometimes seconds), and stays there until the recipient wants to read it.
This built in ability to send messages to other people's electronic mailboxes reduces
the power that time and geographical distances have over our lives.
A friend in a remote country gets out of bed nine hours after you, but keeps going
well into what, for you, is the next morning. No problem. You can send letters when you
are awake, and receive replies when asleep. Pick up and read your friend's messages the
next day or when you feel like doing it. This is how two people as far apart as Arendal,
Norway and Auckland, New Zealand could be involved in the development of this book.
Sometimes "real time" discussions are important. Consider the cancer forum
example above. You can call there any time, day or night, seven days a week. Whenever
you feel like it. You will always find someone to chat with who understands and shares
your problems.
So, how do I use the resource to my advantage?
There are millions of online databases out there. These infobases are repositories of
electronic information. They contain full text and reference books, magazines,
newspapers, radio and TV shows, reports, and more. In the online world, you will find
information about almost anything.
There are also hundreds of thousand online forums or conferences where people
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