MORE ON THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY
By Terry Jones

Part 1 last issue, I ....

So how do you go about tapping into these resources?  All it takes is a
computer, a modem and a "service provider" to get into the internet and
browse this information.  The computer can be either an IBM PC
compatible or a Macintosh.  A colour display is better, preferably able
to display 256 colours.  The modem can be almost any brand, but I would
recommend it be a fast modem, 9600 bits per second (data) or greater,
and Hayes compatible.  As for the service provider, many are
available.  The service provider supplies you with a telephone number
and a user id and password.  The software needed on your PC to make the
connection is usually provided free by the service provider.
Essentially, your computer calls the service provider's computer.
Since the service provider's computer is on the internet, you can
access internet information "through" their computer and display the
information on your computer.

Which service provider you choose will depend on your geographic
location.  Many service providers offer internet access starting at $15
per month.  The easiest way to find a service provider in your area is
to look through local computer tabloids.  For example, a number of
service providers advertise in Toronto Computes or The Computer Paper
which are available free throughout Toronto.  Bear in mind, different
service providers provide different levels of access to the internet.
Some provide full access, essentially putting your PC directly on the
internet, thus allowing you total freedom to search the vast sources of
information.  Others provide limited access, sometimes just newsgroups
and electronic mail, but no WWW capabilities or perhaps WWW limited to
text information only (no graphics, sound, video etc.)

Once you are connected to the internet, look into "reader news" and
subscribe to the water ski newsgroup called rec.sport.waterski.  If you
are using a WWW viewer, then start at the Canadian Water Ski Home Page
located at http://www.utoronto.ca/ski/water or at the US Water Ski Hope
Page located at http://www.primenet.com/~jodell/index.html#top.  Both
of these home pages have pointers to each other, so if you find one,
you can get the other!

There are other sources of information as well.  America on-line (AOL)
has a water ski section.  Other large services such as CompuServe and
Genie may also.  I haven't explored these.  The American Water Ski
Association is likely going to go on-line in the near future.  Water
Ski Canada and the Ontario Water Ski Association have both provided
some information for the Canadian WWW site and I hope their
participation will grow!

Need more information or assistance?  Feel free to call me!  Of course
you can also send electronic mail (email) to terry.jones@utoronto.ca if
you are already connected to the electronic world.  If there is enough
interest, perhaps a short seminar and/or demonstration could be
arranged for a group of OWSA members.  

Terry Jones 
37 Centre St.
Scarborough, Ontario 
M1J 3B7 
(416) 267-9325 (h) 
(416) 978-4924 (w)