Getting started with computers
Keeping up-to-date with the technology
Hardware advice
Software resources
Programming resources
The Internet
Web authoring
Web-based community tools
Computers and culture
e.Commerce
Computer security
Graphics and design
Multimedia
Games and edutainment
PDAs and handhelds
Computer related magazines
Companies at the 'cutting edge'
A range of on-line retailers

British Computer Society, Computer Home Help,
HelpDesk.com, ZDNet
Places to go to get oriented within the world of computers.
Have a browse and find out which suits you the best.
(zdnet is an immense resource)

Becoming web-wise, webwise
BBC UK campaigns for those who may have made it to this page - but still feel a little ‘wobbly’ at the thought of computer technology. (Accompanying videos are available).

The Computer Museum
Obsolete Computer Museum
Museum of Consumer Technologies
University of Virginia Computer Museum
Microsoft Museum
The Virtual Museum of Computing
Virginia Tech History of Computing Page
The Tech Museum of Innovation
A number of presentations designed to walk you through the history of computing, to help you understand how, why the industry is the way it is today, and how technology is changing our lives.

Webopaedia
More illustrated information to help you get to grips with modern technology.

FactFinder!
Finding information on the web.

Use these links to jump to anchors for links related to
computer magazines, 'cutting edge' companies and on-line retailers .

ZDNet
Lots of hardware reviews and advice.

DevX
A site that references and enables you to search through a huge data-base of professional journals

Use these links to jump to anchors for links related to
computer magazines, 'cutting edge' companies and on-line retailers .

Build your own or maintaining an existing machine
The PC Mechanic site is designed to help you sort your motherboard from your diskdrive.

ZD Net Guide to Buying Computer
ZD Net is an extensive set of resources
and is a good place to begin to decide what kind of computer will best suit your needs.

Home Robots, info and links, Lego Mindstorms robot links
Resources to enable you to make your own robots.

Matrox Graphics mulitple display products,
DigitalTigers SideCar multimonitor device,
VillageTronic mulitdisplay pcmcia card
Mulitple display devices.

Microsoft
Much of the software we buy comes from Microsoft, and this is how to keep up-to-date on the software they are developing for us to use. It is also a useful place to visit because sometimes it is possible to find some unexpected 'freebies'. Most notably, Microsoft provide free viewers for many of their Office Products. These are useful if you want to be able to distribute Word files, Excel spreadsheets of Powerpoint presentations to others.

Also of interest: Microsoft advice to businesses, Microsoft business case studies, and
Microsoft resources for businesses.

BASIC archives
An archive of code to help people getting to grips with programming in BASIC.

Microsoft Examples
Sample code from Microsoft

w3schools, Code101,
GoToDotNet, The Code Project,
FreeVBCode, abstractvb.com,
DeveloperFusion, CodeAve, VBnet,
VB2themax, ASPindex, TekTips,
MindCracker, Mentalis.org, developer.com,
Laura Lemay's web workshop, VBacceleratror,
VBCE code for WinCE,
JavaScriptcentral, Core JavaScript reference,
Sun Java tutorials, Coding Jmail, CodeToad,
VBhelper, Sybase online books on programming,
PietscheSoft guide to api calls, with code samples,
AllAPI guide to api calls with code samples,
Microsoft Most Valuable Person program links
There are many sites devoted to presenting snippets of code, and also explaining how to edit that code. These are great places in which to learn new programming techniques. Try some of the addresses listed above, and add those you like to your favorites.

Word VBA code by Zawawi,
abstractvb snippet for programming Outlook,
Deborah Pate's guide to automating Outlook,
Dicks advice on automating Outlook and Excel,
MSDN advice on how to move files in Outlook,
MS Outlook HowTo advice,
Outlook Code with code and advice on automating Outlook,
abstractvb snippet for posting data to a server,
developer.com advice on ftp using the vb inet control,
MSDN advice on exporting data to Access,
MSDN advice on automating Access from VB,
ExcelAdvisor,
Access web links to advice on Access,
Programming MS Access,
FAQ for Access Programming,
Alexa programming links related to Access,
Publishing an Access report to the web
As well as general programmign sites, there are also quite a few that deal with MS Office. and automating aspects of Office.

Greymatter catalogue of plugins for.NET,
Greymatter catalogue of OCX / ActiveX plugins,
Greymatter catalogue of DLL and LIBRARY plugins,
Greymatter catalogue of plugins for.NET,
Greymatter developer links,
VBextras catalogue of developers' components,
Total Visual Sourcebook,
Sky Software Windows Explorer active-x plugin,
VoiceInsert active-x,
WordOCX active-x,
VideoOCX active-x,
CapturePro active-x,
sms.ac sms messaging component,
Visual Studio service pack info,
Microsoft dll database,
Free Acrobat Editor,
PlanetPDF,
Adobe Acrobat support,
BetweenBorders issues for publishing to both US and Uk readerships
One of the mistakes I made wghen I started programming was to not seek out ready made components that I could buy in - and thus save a lot of time, by not having to 're-invent' the wheel.

Microsoft Agent Resources,
Samples of coding a web page with an agent in it,
Samples of coding in Office,
MSDN advice of coding for agents,
MSDN advice on creating agent characters,
MSDN on the Agent Character Editor,
Microsoft Agent Resources: Speak Albert, Speak,
Microsoft Agent Ring Resources,
MASH Microsoft Agent Scripting Helper and Character Gallery,
MS Agent LaunchPad,
MS Agent Introduction to Programming,
MS Agent code from abstractvb.com,
EDICT Virtual Language Centre,
Reallusion Text-To-Speech engines,
Rhetorial Text-To-Speech engines,
Digalo Speech Tools,
British Dyslexia Society ReadSpeaker software,
Sound Recorder software for Windows,
More MP3 recording software,
Microsoft Plus Dancers
One of the really fun additions to Office and to the Windows programming environment is Microsoft Agent Technology. Use the links presented above to get up to speed with using agents to read to you.

3D GameMaker,
DarkBasic and DarkBasic Pro games authoring resources,
gamedev.net portal,
gamedev.net physics tutorials,
spyorg portal,
gamasutra,
makegames.com
Want to go further? The preceding list is a list of tools for making your own computer games.

Burks
From Brighton University, a collection of links to other sites. Lots of texts and downloads for people of a technical disposition, designed for computer science students. Available on CD for a fee of £5, if you want to work off-line.

Six sites that will help you understand The Web:
Becoming web-wise,
webwise
Net for beginners
Parent's Guide
W3 organisation
WeBlocker

Beginners guide,
Learn the basics of html.

Freewebtemplates.com, WordWeb word puzzles.
Sites that provide web authoring resources.

DreamWeaver, a basic tutorial, downloadable manual,
DreamWeaver templates, resrocues, info and links,
FrontPage, FrontPage in the classroom, CreatingSchoolPages
AtFrontPage, FrontPageHowTo, TemplatesAndThemes
DreamWeaver and FrontPage, two of the most common comemrcial web authoring packages.

Director, Fireworks, Flash, Director, Gif Animator, Paintshop Pro
Popular authoring software for web content.

Adobe Home, Adobe Expert Centre.
Adobe Acrobat links for those authoring electronic documents.

Browsers.com, Browserwatch
Library of links for browser plug-ins and Active-X controls.

Acrobat viewer, MS Mediaplayer,
Qwickview file viewer, RealPlayer, Shockwave
A number of popular browser and explorer add-ons.

cin.og
A place where you can find out if the web name you want is free.

onebigworld reviews,
uk web hosting guide,
ipsisp (our host - and an ISP that is WorldPay compatible),
123-reg (complimented by some of our students),
Some links to help you find the kind of webhost that you need.
(NB: Remember that if you want asp pages, you will need a windows hosting package that processes vbscript of javascript). Also, if you intend to integrate with online bank worldpay, you will need to ensure that you host is able to process electronic information returned from WorldPay - and in our experience not all ISPs can!

Virtual Tourmaker,
VirtualPix tourmaker,
PTgui panoraic images,
EasyPano virtual tour showcase,
PanoGuide products and galleries,
Isee Media virtual tours and image management home,
Isee Media virtual tours galleries,
Isee Media software catalogue,
webview360,
enter360,
pixaround.com,
arm-chair-travel,
mbvirtualtours,
eg1: eyetechlasik,
eg2: san lorenzo,
eg3: wimbledon,
eg4: virtual florida everglades project,
QuickTime VR tutorial,
making a vr tour,
vrml web portal,
escience lectures introduction to virtual reality,
A whole set of tools related to virtual tours and vrml.

For MORE links related to design, graphics, clipart, community tools,
e-commerce, design ideas and e-commerce - see below.

statcounter, ezboard, everyone, freetools, freeservers,
thecounter, weballey, forumco, moreover, think.com,
AOL, Yahoo Groups, The MSN Messenger
FirstClass, schoolmaster, blackboard
Free and low cost service providers for a variety of web-based community tools and services.
Some also provide a variety of web-authoring services to help you author a complete site.

moreover,
Providers of newsfeeds that can be integrated into web sites.

MSN Messenger
It's free and can be used to chat or to create a video link.

FirstClass , schoolmaster, blackboard, think.com
Education oriented services with a variety of price tags and technical requirements.

Zope, squishdot
Linux based services and resources.

City of Bits
On-line version of the excellent book describing the city of the future, based on trends begun by computer connectivity.

Microsoft advice to businesses,
Microsoft business case studies,
Microsoft 'proven solutions' for businesses.
Extensive advice and ideas from Microsoft.

HackingExposed (home),
Hacking Exposed (links),
Univ of Dayton Cybercrimes site,
StealThis ComputerBook, look for the hyperlink on the index page
About Mitnick and Social Engineering, get his book from Amazon

Norton AntiVirus from Symantic
One of the started virus detection packages in current use.

Lavasoft
Sweep your machine for spyware and trojans that your antivirus software ignored.

ShieldsUp online test for your firewall at grc.com
Ask for a 'pretend' attack to find out how your defences cope.

Cyptography portal, Cryptography for visual basic
Data encryption techniques article and links, Cyberpunk site
In our modern electronic world, security is an important issue, this site helps the reader get up to speed on the basics of the 'art'.

SpyBase, Jane's Intelweb, Infowar
As usual, military and security technologies push the boundaries of what is possible. For some these sites are a curiosity, for others a business, for others it can be an inspiration for less clandestine opportunities.

Followus, Verilocation,
Two exampels of services that can use mobile phones to track any pohone that is switched on.

ephotozne, on-line magazine,
kodak (world) home, kodak (UK) home, kodak digital learning centre,
A selection of sites related to photography, both digital and traditional

Animated gif collection, Gif construction set,
some sites related to making animated gifs.

Ardman, Artem, Artcrimes, Clipart.com, Clipartconnection,
Core-industrial design, Disney, Dreamworks, Kings comics, Pixar, Sito, Spumco, Screenbean Clipart, World-wide art, United media cartoons
A selection of sites which contain graphics and design ideas.

Comic Art at Princeton Uni, Cartoon Art Museum,
Comic Research Bibiolography, Industrial Light and Magic,
Ohio State Uni Cartoon Research Library, Wildbrain.com.
More sites for people and professionals interested in graphics and design on the web.

Also...you may want to see the VR/simulation links on the MindTech page, or the Educational Technology links, also on the MindTech page, or the museum and art gallery links in FactFinder.

Under construction...

Games Domain,
Gamespot,
Happy Puppy,
PC Gameworld
BlueByte, Games Index,
Empire Interactive, Index,
Fantasy league football, home,
KochMedia, PC Games Index,
Radical Entertainment, Home.
A selection of games portal sites.

3D GameMaker,
DarkBasic and DarkBasic Pro games authoring resources,
gamedev.net portal,
gamedev.net physics tutorials,
spyorg portal,
gamasutra,
makegames.com
Want to go further? The preceding list is a list of tools for making your own computer games.

3 Com Palm site, Memoware e-books, Palm Widget accessories,
MS Pocket PC Home,WinCEonline,
handheldcomputerdepot home, handheldcomputerdepot guide,
PDA Street, PDA Live
A selection of links for those interested in PDAs and Handhelds

NB: AquaPac, water proof protection for electronic gadgets

Computer and gadget
related portals, magazines and TV

PC Pro, Computer Shopper, Computer Buyer, PC Zone
Four computer magazines from The Dennis Publishing stable.

ZDnet, PC Gamer, PC World
Five computer magazines from the Ziff Davis Collection, plus a link to zd net home.

.net , Wired, T3
Magazines focused on the web and communications technologies.

ComputerWeekly, Information Week, Yahoo
General computer industry news.

BearPark, Burks, ITtraining, gadgets.co.uk
Technical magazines and web-sites.

Microsoft, Corel, Macromedia,
Key software developers and suppliers

Research Machines
UK equipment manufacturer and solution provider, specialising in education.

EDS, Fujitsu
Large scale computer solutions 'providers'

AT&T, Bell Labs, BT, BT Labs
Telecommunications companies

British Aerospace, GEC Marconni,
DSTL (formerly DERA), Qinetic (formerly DERA).
Aviation and defence

Hitachi, Philips , Sony, Toshiba, Olympus, Samsung
Computers and consumer products

pricedless, cex
Suppliers of second hand equipment

NB: AquaPac, water proof protection for electronic gadgets.

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