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A.O.S.A. 2000 ANNUAL REPORT |
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At last year's AGM Gill Jackson asked the Meeting for their thoughts about AOSA having their own website. The idea was received with approval and the Committee left to agree detail. The site is now - obviously - online and if you are looking at this page then you are familiar with the Internet and will need little introduction, but if you are having a look at some else's computer and possibly contemplating purchase of a computer with dial-up to the Internet here is explanation of what it is all about, and (roughly) how it all works: The Internet is - as its name suggests - a world-wide network of interconnected computers. At first this was a convenient form of communication for university and research academics but it did not take long before the idea spread and, to cut a long story short, there are many, many millions of people, organisations and companies around the World with access to the Internet, about 276 million at the last count and rising rapidly. There are also a bewildering number of websites to visit, so how do you find them? More of this later. Going on-line is the term used for being connected to the Internet. This is usually done via a telephone line to an Internet Service Provider (ISP). To get a "dial up connection" is very easy and need not cost any money but as the ISP is your door to the Internet it is essential. Another essential part of getting Internet access is the "Browser," which is a window on your computer screen with software installed to convert the signals coming down the telephone line into words and images. With your browser open it is time to get on-line. If you know the Internet address you want - known as a uniform resource locater (URL) - perhaps from an article, or advert, or indeed as above, you can type it in the address line at the top of the Browser. With the URL typed in press the return key and watch the bottom left hand corner of the browser window. You will see a series of numbers appear briefly. These numbers are the website's unique identification. The first part of the numbers identifies the website host computer (our is in London) and the rest refers to the website itself. So, from anywhere in the World, having connected to your ISP and typed in a website address the wonderful and weird world of computers takes over. If the network is not too busy - weekdays are best - a connection should be within 30 seconds, often less. Back to our AOSA site. The contents are for Ayton Old Scholars and Staff, and anyone with an Ayton connection. There is something for everyone: the current and last Annual Reports; AOSA History; a re-issued web version of selected "Becksides," news of the Meeting House; loads of nostalgia photographs - down-loadable for OS to keep or printout; an Archive section; and "Getting in Touch" with a Message Forum for all to read (want to find someone? Post a message). Old scholars, not members of AOSA can even join the Association on-line if they want. In time there will be a connection - via password to ensure privacy - to the AOSA records database. Our website will be kept up-to-date and hopefully expanded. Would you like to be on the AOSA website e-mailing list? If so e-mail me through the website. I hope you enjoy browsing; your comments and suggestions would be much appreciated. Dick Dennis |
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AOSA ANNUAL REPORT 2000 |
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At last year's AGM Gill Jackson asked the Meeting for their thoughts about AOSA having their own website. The idea was received with approval and the Committee left to agree detail. The site is now - obviously - online and if you are looking at this page then you are familiar with the Internet and will need little introduction, but if you are having a look at some else's computer and possibly contemplating purchase of a computer with dial-up to the Internet here is explanation of what it is all about, and (roughly) how it all works: The Internet is - as its name suggests - a world-wide network of interconnected computers. At first this was a convenient form of communication for university and research academics but it did not take long before the idea spread and, to cut a long story short, there are many, many millions of people, organisations and companies around the World with access to the Internet, about 276 million at the last count and rising rapidly. There are also a bewildering number of websites to visit, so how do you find them? More of this later. Going on-line is the term used for being connected to the Internet. This is usually done via a telephone line to an Internet Service Provider (ISP). To get a "dial up connection" is very easy and need not cost any money but as the ISP is your door to the Internet it is essential. Another essential part of getting Internet access is the "Browser," which is a window on your computer screen with software installed to convert the signals coming down the telephone line into words and images. With your browser open it is time to get on-line. If you know the Internet address you want - known as a uniform resource locater (URL) - perhaps from an article, or advert, or indeed as above, you can type it in the address line at the top of the Browser. With the URL typed in press the return key and watch the bottom left hand corner of the browser window. You will see a series of numbers appear briefly. These numbers are the website's unique identification. The first part of the numbers identifies the website host computer (our is in London) and the rest refers to the website itself. So, from anywhere in the World, having connected to your ISP and typed in a website address the wonderful and weird world of computers takes over. If the network is not too busy - weekdays are best - a connection should be within 30 seconds, often less. Back to our AOSA site. The contents are for Ayton Old Scholars and Staff, and anyone with an Ayton connection. There is something for everyone: the current and last Annual Reports; AOSA History; a re-issued web version of selected "Becksides," news of the Meeting House; loads of nostalgia photographs - down-loadable for OS to keep or printout; an Archive section; and "Getting in Touch" with a Message Forum for all to read (want to find someone? Post a message). Old scholars, not members of AOSA can even join the Association on-line if they want. In time there will be a connection - via password to ensure privacy - to the AOSA records database. Our website will be kept up-to-date and hopefully expanded. You can even be informed if you wish when changes are made. Would you like to be on the AOSA website e-mailing list? If so e-mail me through the website. I hope you enjoy browsing; your comments and suggestions would be much appreciated. Dick Dennis |
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