Ace your Online Time

It has more than a decade since I have been using a miracle called the internet. Initially, I used it mainly for chatting using programs such as mIRC (Microsoft Internet Relay Chat Client) and to work on my typing skills. Now, I often use the internet to talk to my family using video conferencing tools such as Skype and Gmail. I use Picasa to share pictures and Google Maps to search for ways to get to new restaurants. While social networking tools such as Facebook help me keep in touch with my friends and acquaintances, there are many other things I love doing when I am online. Spending almost 80% of my “awake” time in front of a computer and online, I try to make the most of it.

1.Wikipedia (http://www.wikipedia.org/)
This is actually addictive. If I hear a new concept or something that I have not much knowledge of, I simply search for it on wiki. Then, the whole vicious cycle starts. I keep on reading about things that are new or things that interest me. It is on wikipedia that I learnt about “Six Degrees of Separation” and the different shapes of pasta! Go ahead, try it!

2.Dictionary.com (http://dictionary.reference.com/)
Another brilliant website – it is an online dictionary. But it is so much more than a normal paper dictionary. It not only has all the information related to the word such as definition, synonyms, examples and origin, it also has audio files to demonstrate how to pronounce each word. In addition to this, it has features such as word of the day and question of the day. This will surely help you build on your vocabulary for competitive exams such as the GRE and CAT. I love to read new words and incorporate them in my daily conversations. Yes, I have actually managed to sneak in words like “piquant” and “Pièce de résistance” into a conversation. This era of text messages has reduced communication skills to “hru?” and “fyn”. Don’t give in to this trend. After all, we will be remembered as much by our written word as by our inventions. Remember, it takes years and years of reading and learning to build a good vocabulary.

3.Science on the BBC website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/)
Where do I begin with this one - from articles to surveys to interactive games, this is a goldmine of knowledge. There are quizzes to determine your personality type (and not those funny Facebook types) and surveys to determine if you can spot a fake smile! By the way, there is an interactive game called the “Sheep Dash” to determine response times. I have only been able to score as high as the “Bobbing Bobcat” so far.

4.National Geographic website (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/)
There’s no denying the fact that this magazine captures some of the most brilliant pictures of our planet. They also have thought provoking articles, videos and other downloadable material. I usually go to this site for the lovely pictures and wallpapers. When I have more time to spare, I read about the current issues faced by our planet.

5.Google Earth (http://earth.google.co.uk/)
Google Earth lets you fly anywhere on Earth to view satellite imagery, maps, terrain, 3D buildings, from galaxies in outer space to the canyons of the ocean. You can explore rich geographical content, save your toured places and share with others. This is a fun way to travel without actually getting out of your chair.

Whether it's for work, school or play, it's easy to get sidetracked when spending time online. Your intention may be to research a project, but you end up in a chat room for hours. To remain focused, write your goal on sticky paper and post it on the upper part of your computer screen. Every time you wander away from your goal, the sticky note will remind you why you're online.

Surf Wisely!