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T
he Internet is revolu- areas managed by private com- transmit information at various from a university, large corpo-
tionizing communica- panies. speeds, expressed in bits per ration, or research institution is
tions. There are now Veterinary medical electronic second (bps). The limiting fac- simple.3 Many of these organi-
entire magazines, television services, including NOAH™ tor in how fast the computer zations have local area net-
shows, and even businesses (Network of Animal Health) and communicates with other com- works (LANs) that have direct,
and organizations focused sole- VIN™ (Veterinary Information puters on the Internet is the high-speed Internet connec-
ly on the Internet. The Internet Network), have been available speed of the data connection tions. Other people can connect
has also become a source for through direct modem commu- from the computer to the Inter- to the Internet by subscribing to
continuing education and a fo- nication for several years.
rum for professional contact for These services have been limit-
veterinarians. The Internet will ed to subscribers of major on- ■ The Internet can provide convenient access to
continue to grow as technolog- line service providers, which veterinary information.
KEY POINTS
ic advance enables faster trans- operate their own private com- ■ Defining specific keywords for Internet searches
mission and improved soft- puter networks. During the past provides a manageable list of websites.
ware. few years, however, even the ■ “Bookmarks” allow the user to return to a web-
The Internet (or simply the on-line service organizations site with a single click rather rerunning the entire
“the net”) started out as a pro- have provided Internet gate- web search.
ject of the Advanced Research ways to allow their subscribers
Projects Agency of the Depart- access to expanding Internet
ment of Defense in the late services and allow Internet net service provider. Modems an Internet service provider.
1960s to allow sharing of data users to access their private that are rated at 33,600 bps are These companies offer services
between computers. In the networks. currently available. The next ranging from electronic mail
1970s, various computer sys- generation of modems will be (email) to stock quotes in addi-
tems throughout the world be- Connecting to the dramatically faster. tion to providing a gateway to
came linked in a computer web. Internet Modems are sluggish in the Internet. Several of these
In the 1980s, this web became Some minimum hardware comparison with the backbone service providers, including
known as the Internet. In the and software requirements of the Internet. The Internet’s some telephone companies, of-
early 1990s, personal comput- (Table One) must be fulfilled if high-speed transmission lines fer communications software
ers became an increasingly im- one is to take full advantage of can transmit 45 million bps that connects your modem to
portant part of the worldwide the Internet. A modem trans- (1000 pages of typewritten text the Internet through their com-
network—an estimated 5 mil- lates digital signals from the in 1 second).1 As higher-speed puter system. Some providers
lion computers were linked to- computer into analog signals lines (e.g., fiberoptic cables) will even maintain a homepage
gether.1 A survey in June 1996 for transmission across tele- are installed in communities or personal information area for
Small Animal The Compendium February 1997
TABLE THREE
Some Commonly Used Search Engines
Search Engine URL Address*
Open Text Index http://index.opentext.net/
Lycos http://www.lycos.com/
4). This site allows users to the same software setup. Also,
enter clinical signs for a disease the quality of the connection
in order to generate a list of di- may be poor, or the connection
agnostic differentials. Users can might break off without warning.
also view a brief description of Various corporations have asked
the disease and find recent ref- that this mode of transmission
erences. Although such diag- be regulated.
nostic tools have limitations,
they can often be helpful. Internet Relay Chat
Another interactive site in- The ability to communicate
volving neurology, also from with others in real time offers
Cornell University, contains in- certain advantages, such as the
formation from Alexander De- immediate return of information
Lahunta, DVM, PhD. This site and the ability to pose ques-
allows users to view labeled tions based on the other per-
transverse sections of a canine son’s statements. Internet relay
Figure 3—NetVet veterinary resources and The Electronic Zoo
brain, create hypothetical le- World Wide Web homepage (http://netvet.wustl.edu). chat (IRC) allows users with
sions in neural pathways for specific interests to hook their
pupillary light control, and gain computers together in a “live”
experience in localizing neuro- session (Table Six). IRC is rem-
logic dysfunction. Some orga- iniscent of citizens’ band (CB)
nizations, such as the American radio, except that participants
Association of Bovine Practi- type their transmissions on the
tioners and the Society for The- computer keyboard instead of
riogenology, offer interactive speaking. The message is
data bases allowing users to transmitted immediately to all
search for other members, of the connected users. Groups
download forms, locate new of people can set up discussion
employment prospects, or an- groups that cover special top-
nounce job openings. ics. For example, a discussion
Another searchable data on equine protozoal myelitis
base provides drug information would allow users to interact
(e.g., manufacturer, dosages, with each other, asking ques-
and adverse reactions) on ani- Figure 4—World Wide Web homepage for the Consultant diag- tions and reading answers by
nostic support system for veterinary medicine (http://
mal drugs approved by the U.S. other participants in real time.
128.253.111.20/scripts/consultant/consultant.dll).
Food and Drug Administration.
There are also many govern- Internet allow anonymous users chine is that the document can Intranet
mental, regulatory, and private to download a variety of docu- be edited and returned without The term intranet is used to
services that may prove benefi- ments and software. Special having to be retyped. describe a network that func-
cial to practitioners. Veterinari- software has been designed for tions as an internal Internet
ans should keep in mind, how- ftp. Most current web browsers Internet Phone within an organization or group
ever, that most of the veterinary allow the user to type in the ftp It is now possible to make of organizations.8 Some corpo-
websites are not peer-reviewed; address under “open new con- a phone call on the Internet rations use this sort of system
the information presented must nection” or similar command without long-distance phone to connect all of their employ-
be used with discretion. without special ftp software. charges. Several programs allow ees. An intranet can provide in-
The ftp sites are extremely im- simultaneous transmission and formation to only a select group
File Transfer Protocol portant for downloading up- reception of speech through the rather than to the whole world.
File transfer protocol (ftp) al- grades or patches of software computer.7 If the connection to An intranet uses Internet soft-
lows users to transfer files from before the release of a new offi- the Internet provider is a local ware and standards, thus de-
one computer to another. A cial version or for the transmis- call, no long-distance charges creasing the potential need for
computer that allows access to sion of documents between dis- apply. The disadvantage is that new software. Because they are
others is called an ftp site. Pub- tant sites within seconds. The the person at the other end of based on Internet protocols, in-
licly accessed ftp sites on the advantage over using a fax ma- the connection needs to have tranet applications can be used
Small Animal The Compendium February 1997
pher menus where the keyword exploring it. Each day, new web
TABLE SEVEN was found. An example of a go- sites and connections become
Domain Codesa pher search for fleas revealed available. The main disadvan-
over 130 articles and fact sheets tages of using the Internet are
Domain Definition
about fleas. Many could be du- slow connection times, sudden
edu Educational plicates because the same arti- disconnections, inability to con-
cle may be present on more nect to a particular site, or in-
com Commercial than one server. Information ac- ability to find particular infor-
gov Government cessed through a web browser mation in a timely fashion.
may be linked to information As high-quality web sites be-
mil Military come established, users will
from a gopher server.
net Network find the Internet an excellent
Private Computer means of remote learning, al-
org Organization
Networks lowing them to learn as time
int International Two veterinary services that permits. The only requirements
are located on private computer for successful use of the Inter-
uk United Kingdom
a networks include the VIN™ net are a willingness to explore
Domain codes are usually found at the end of an email or
World Wide Web address. They indicate the kind of institution (800-700-4636) and NOAH™ and the patience to learn Inter-
with which the user is affiliated. (800-248-2862). These mem- net terminology and workings.
bership organizations offer fo-
rums, consultation, and contin- References
1. Glownaik JV: Medical resources
Another heavily used veterinary messages per day). The better- uing education. They can be
on the Internet. Ann Intern Med
listserv is VETMED-L, with ap- quality listservs have a modera- reached by accessing a mem- 123:123–131, 1995.
proximately 1300 subscribers. tor who ensures that the posted bership-associated network. 2. http://www.nw.com/zone/
There are currently over 7975 messages are appropriate for VIN™ is located within the WWW/report.html
3. Dascanio JJ: Accessing infor-
public listservs on the Internet, the subject and that individuals America Online® environment, mation on the Internet. Proc
with a few targeted toward vet- are not misusing the listserv. whereas NOAH™ is located AAEP 41:71–72, 1995.
erinary and animal interests. A within the CompuServe® envi- 4. h t t p : / / w w w . o p e n m a r k e t .
NetVet web page (http://netvet. Gopher ronment. Users can make a di- com/intindex/96-07.htm
5. Ayre R, Mace T: Internet ac-
wustl.edu/vmla.htm) lists veteri- Gopher™ is a program devel- rect connection to either on-line cess—Just browsing. PC Mag-
nary listservs and instructions oped in the early 1990s at the service provider through their azine 15:100–148, 1996.
on how to subscribe. Other lists University of Minnesota. It per- respective regional offices. Oth- 6. http://www.yahoo.com/Busi-
ness_and_Economy/Compa-
are open only to a select group. mits viewing and transfer of in- erwise, they may make a direct
nies/Internet_Services/Do-
An example is the AABP-L, formation held on over 7000 connection to other Internet main_Registration/
which is open to veterinarians gopher servers using a menu- service providers, which will 7. Metz C: Internet phones and
who are active members of the driven hierarchy.12 The gopher then connect to America Online® videoconferencing. PC Maga-
zine 15:143, 1996.
American Association of Bovine server presents to the gopher or CompuServe®. The advan- 8. The Complete Intranet Resource
Practitioners. client a group of menus that tages of using either system [intrack.com/intranet/].
One advantage of subscrib- contain information arranged by center around hook-up and 9. Derfler FJ: The Intranet plat-
ing to a listserv is the potential topics. 13 The menus link the connection fees, which are de- form—A universal client? PC
Magazine 15:105–113, 1996.
for rapid access to answers viewer to information on the termined largely by location. 10. Cortese A: Here comes the In-
from a knowledgeable group. present gopher server or to oth- tranet. Business Week:76–84,
Listservs also promote continu- er servers across the Internet. Conclusion February 26, 1996.
11. Regennitter FJ, Johnson BE:
ing education by allowing sub- Initially, information is found by The Internet will continue to Electronic mail on the Internet.
scribers to see other people’s scrolling through the menus un- grow. Software applications, Am J Orthod Dentofac Orthop
questions and answers. Of til you find a site of interest. The such as word processors, will 108:219–222, 1995.
course, the material provided usefulness and power of gopher have or do have integrated con- 12. Schatz BR, Hardin JB: NCSA
Mosaic and the World Wide
through the listserv is not peer- servers was enhanced by the nections to the Internet. The Web: Global hypermedia proto-
reviewed; and the expertise of development of a program dream of a seamless communi- cols for the Internet. Science
the respondent may be un- called Veronica™, which allows cation system is coming closer 265:895–901, 1994.
13. Glowniak JV, Bushway MK:
known. In addition, some list- the user to perform keyword to reality. The best way to de-
Computer networks as a medi-
servs produce an unmanage- searches for pertinent informa- termine whether the Internet cal resource. JAMA 271: 1934–
able amount of traffic (10 to 100 tion. Veronica then lists the go- has anything to offer is to start 1939, 1994.