Computer Info – October 6, 1999
AOL and E-Mail Pictures
        I just read something that might help us understand about why some AOL users can send and receive pictures from those who are not AOL users and others can not.
        With AOL 4.0 and higher, if you are an AOL user and wish to send a picture
To an AOL member -- you would open your e-mail form and click on the CAMERA button and then click on INSERT A PICTURE. This would allow you to place the picture right inside the e-mail message.
To someone who isn’t on AOL – you would use the standard ATTACH FILES (or ATTACHMENTS) button to select the picture file you want to send.
        As for receiving pictures, there was no mention in the article about that – but, I would assume, that if the AOL user received the picture from a friend on AOL, the picture would automatically show up with his message and if he received it from someone who was not on AOL, he would have to click on an attachment button to view the message.
Insert Symbols in Your Document via the Keyboard
In your word processor do you know that using the
                alt key + 0188 = ¼
                alt key + 0189 = ½
                alt key + 0190 = ¾
                alt key + 0174 = ®
                alt key + 0169 = ©
        These keyboard combinations only work when using the numbers from the number keypad. If there are certain symbols that you tend to use a lot, place the key combinations on an index card for easy reference.
        These characters can also be inserted via the Character Map. This is an accessory that comes with Windows. You will find it under START – PROGRAMS – ACCESSORIES – CHARACTER MAP. If you don’t find it there, open the CONTROL PANEL – ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS – WINDOWS SETUP tab. In the list, put a checkmark next to Character Map.
        As you are choosing a character from the Character Map, look at the bottom right corner of the window when you click on the character that you wish. The keyboard combination will be shown there – so write it down if it is something that you will be repeating frequently.
Importing & Exporting Files Between Word Processors
        To share your word processing file with someone who does not have the same program or version of the program that you do, you must save it in a format the other person’s application can read. If you know the program that the other person is using (and the version of the program), then save your document in that format. From your FILE menu, choose SAVE AS and then click the arrow next to SAVE AS TYPE and choose the appropriate format from the drop-down list. You have to be aware that saving in another format may result in the loss of some formatting – but, at least, they will be able to open the document.
        If you like to exchange files and have no applications in common, you can still share documents. Every word processor can read ASCII text files, so choose TEXT ONLY from the SAVE AS dialog’s box. Doing this will not preserve any formatting, but will be absolutely readable by any word processing program. To preserve most of the formatting (margin settings, font selection, type size, tabs), you can save it in RTF (rich-text format) – which is also readable by most word processors.
Web Address
OVERVIEW OF GENEALOGY RESOURCES
                 http://www.ala.org/acrl/resjune99.html
        This site has a great introduction to the wealth of resources available to help people research their family histories. It features links and also explains the strengths of each one.

Connecting To The Internet

CABLE MODEMS
        Cable modems allow you to connect your PC to the internet via your cable television jack – telephone lines are generally not involved. Instead, some of the cable line bandwidth is digitized and used for data rather than television signals. This allows you to watch television, browse the internet and talk on your telephone all at the same time.
        The cable modem is connected to your PC via a network card which must be plugged into one of the available slots in your computer.
        But cable users share a cable network, so each time a new computer is added to the network, resources are further split among its users. For that reason, it is still unknown how the cable networks will handle traffic if millions of users begin signing up. This may also lead to the growth of telco-return cable modems, which transmit data from the Internet via cable lines but transmit data from users to the Internet via telephone lines.
        But what will this cost? You can expect to pay $100 to $200 for the installation. Then, the cost for the cable modem service is typically between $40 and $60 per month, which often includes an Internet service package with unlimited access, specific software and content, and the option to lease a cable modem. Cable modems aren’t usually sold at the retail level because providers all require different cable modems due to the type of network equipment they have. However, that situation may change within the next year or two.
        For more information, check out the Cable Modem Info Center (http://www.cable.datacomnews.com/cmic).
SATELLITE ACCESS
        This technology is a method by which Internet content is downloaded to a satellite dish and then transmitted directly from the dish to your PC. One of the leaders in this industry is DirectPC. Using this technology, users dial up an ISP via a standard modem connection and request to view a Web page. The page is beamed back via the satellite dish.
        Monthly usage charges are expected to be $30 to $80 a month.

Photo Editing Terms

CROP
        (Sometimes called TRIM). This allows you to keep only the portion of the picture that you want --- normally the people who are in the picture.
CLONE
        Cloning allows you to paint with a copy of a portion of the photo instead of with a single color. This is useful for "painting over" scratches, rips, or any unsightly aspect of the photo. For example, if a shirt in the photo reveals a stain, you could clone a clean part of the shirt, replacing the stain. Or, you can add more flowers to a photo by cloning an existing flower.
SIZE FOR SENDING AS AN E-MAIL ATTACHMENT
        You can resize the picture to make it suitable for sending as an e-mail attachment. The standard picture size for email is 640 pixels wide (or 6.4 inches) by 480 pixels high (or 4.8 inches) at 100 dpi (dots per inch) for the resolution. It is not always possible to have the picture exactly fix these dimensions, but make it as close as possible without going over these sizes. The picture that you send should then be viewable (and printable) by the recipient without having to scroll around the screen.
BRIGHTNESS & CONTRACT
        This is one of the most useful features when working with old photographs. Experiment with this – if you don’t like the results, then you can UNDO the changes.