|
                
  visit.... 
|
||||
|
||||
|
The Internet: Addiction or Mania?Q. Is there such a thing as "Internet Addiction?" A. I don't mean to be picky, but am I really the best person to answer this question? Let's just say that any activity that a person takes part in to the exclusion of other interests or responsibilities can be a problem. In all likelihood, the Internet is no more of an "addictive substance" than any other interesting or enjoyable activity. Researchers in the Biological Psychiatry Program at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in Ohio recently conducted the first psychiatric evaluation of individuals with "problematic use of the Internet, based on criteria for substance dependence." The study provides preliminary evidence to suggest that it may be more accurate to characterize this behavior as "Internetomania" rather than "Internet addiction." Unfortunately, the complete report of their findings is not available on the Internet. At least it wasn't the last forty-six times I checked.
Q. I need to obtain a passport in a hurry in order
to take advantage of an unexpected birthday-gift trip to Europe. Are the
passport expediting outfits on the Web legitimate or a scam? A. What a wonderful birthday gift! Mrs. Modem treated me to a trip to a local mall for my birthday. Not that it wasn't fun, but.… Yes, indeed, there are a number of Web-based enterprises that promise to deliver your travel-ready passport within five days. The good news is that most of these services are legitimate; the bad news is you'll pay up to $150 for the service, in addition to the $60 charged by the government. Mr. Modem believes in saving money whenever possible, as does Mrs. Modem--obviously. You'll save enough to have mussels in Brussels if you pay a $35 "rush" fee directly to the U.S. Passport agency. They will mail you your new passport three days after receiving your application. For additional information, visit www.travel.state.gov. Bon voyage!
Q. I bought a computer that has a GPS (Global Positioning System) navigational feature. I know it can tell me my location and provide directions to various destinations, but how does it work? No technical talk, please. A. There are twenty-four GPS satellites orbiting the earth at an altitude of approximately 11,000 miles. Through a process called Triangulation, your GPS receiver locks onto and measures the signals of at least three of the twenty-four satellites to pinpoint its (the receiver's) location anywhere on earth to within a few feet. Your GPS receiver is the hardware part of the equipment necessary to accomplish this amazing feat. The software, called GIS (Geographic Information Systems) is referred to as mapping software and works with your GPS receiver. Your receiver reads the coordinates and the software translates that data into maps.
Q. Can I use Internet Explorer, even though I
subscribe to America Online? A. You sure can. In fact, many AOL users who want to continue using the AOL service but may be frustrated by snags encountered on some Web sites because of the AOL "version" of browser, download and install either Netscape (www.netscape.com) or Microsoft's Internet Explorer (www.microsoft.com) from those respective sites. You can then continue using the AOL browser for your AOL activities, but when surfing the Internet use the "plain vanilla" version of browser that won't have any AOL-related features.
Q. I tried to play a musical CD by slipping it into my desktop computer's CD-ROM drive, but it wouldn't run. Music from Web-sites seem to play fine, though. Any ideas? A. Sounds like (no pun intended) the little cable that connects your CD-ROM drive to your computer's sound card is the culprit. It could be loose or simply not connected. Call or e-mail your computer manufacturer's tech-support folks to escort you through the process, if you're so inclined. In the alternative, bring the computer to any reputable computer repair facility, and they'll hook you up faster than your neighbors can say, "Will you turn that darned thing down?"
|
||||
|
HOME | who we are | subscriptions | contact us | RPM
|
||||
