documents, graphics, software or anything else that can be turned into a digital form attached to an When mail is received on a computer system, it is usually stored in an electronic mailbox fo the recipient to read later. Electronic mailboxes are usually special files on a computer which can be accessed using various commands. Each user normally has their individual mailbox 2. How does it work? In order for messages to be sent from one computer to another, your message needs to be converted into a digital form and forwarded to a computer that acts as a mail server or post office This mail server sorts and directs your mail for you. The only way this mail server can direct mail though, to all users is by being connected to a network that all the users are also connected to This network can be internal(a stand-alone network)which means you can only send email to other users on that network. If your mail server is connected to the Internet you can also send your email messages to any other computer user that is connected to the internet anywhere in the world because the internet is a network of all the little networks of organizations around the world This mail server can be within your organization or with an Internet Service Provider, so you would connect to it by logging into your email account. When you send your email message, the mail server decides whether the message is to be passed on to a user on its immediate network or it will pass it onto another mail server on another network closest to it through these combination of networks and each mail server keeps passing it on until it reaches its intended destination. This is known as thestore and'forward system, storing your message at various points on the path to its receiver waiting for the link to be free for it to forward your message on the next part of its Journey The digital data can be broken up and follow different paths(go through different mail servers)to gets to its destination but always meets up when it gets to the post office or mail server of the recipient. The mail will stay at the post office until the recipient decides to collect it which is done by logging into their email account. 3.2.3 Bulletin Board Systems(BBS) 1. Bulletin Board Systems Bulletin Board Systems(BBS)are self-contained online communities. A BBS is almost like a iniaturized Internet. A BBS has a variety of things for users to do- Read and Write messages in Discussion Forums, Upload and Download files, and Play online games Most BBS systems offer a general perspective-they offer a little bit of everything General amounts of varying topic message forums covering a wide variety of topics and interests--using networks that you will never see on the Internet. Other BBS systems are specialized and follow specific themes such as Genealogy, Sports, Programming, Religion, or just about anything you can imagine. These sy stems usually carry and message forum conferences related to their themes Others might host a large selection of online games for their users to enjoy. Though dwarfed by the amount of software available now found on the Internet, some BBS systems are large repositories of a wide variety of software-and, in some cases- software not found anywhere on he Web As with any community, you will find some systems that appeal to you and others that ma not. After checking out various BBS systems, you will find several you will call"home". Then you will have yet another place to happily waste time having fun with your computer- just like the Web 2. Types of BBS Systems There are generally three types of BBS systems: Dial-Up, Telnet and Web-based Most BBS Systems fall under the first two categories. Once you have connected to a Dial-Up or Telnet BBS system, you will notice things are different from when you are surfing the World Wide Web. The graphics are not of the picture quality you are familiar with on the Web. Another big difference is that on most BBS systems your pointing device(mouse)does not work. Somedocuments, graphics, software or anything else that can be turned into a digital form attached to an email message. When mail is received on a computer system, it is usually stored in an electronic mailbox for the recipient to read later. Electronic mailboxes are usually special files on a computer which can be accessed using various commands. Each user normally has their individual mailbox. 2. How does it Work? In order for messages to be sent from one computer to another, your message needs to be converted into a digital form and forwarded to a computer that acts as a mail server or post office. This mail server sorts and directs your mail for you. The only way this mail server can direct mail though, to all users is by being connected to a network that all the users are also connected to. This network can be internal (a stand-alone network) which means you can only send email to other users on that network. If your mail server is connected to the Internet you can also send your email messages to any other computer user that is connected to the internet anywhere in the world because the internet is a network of all the little networks of organizations around the world. This mail server can be within your organization or with an Internet Service Provider, so you would connect to it by logging into your email account. When you send your email message, the mail server decides whether the message is to be passed on to a user on its immediate network or it will pass it onto another mail server on another network closest to it through these combination of networks and each mail server keeps passing it on until it reaches its intended destination. This is known as the 'store' and 'forward' system, storing your message at various points on the path to its receiver waiting for the link to be free for it to forward your message on the next part of its journey. The digital data can be broken up and follow different paths (go through different mail servers) to gets to its destination but always meets up when it gets to the post office or mail server of the recipient. The mail will stay at the post office until the recipient decides to collect it which is done by logging into their email account. 3.2.3 Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) 1. Bulletin Board Systems Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) are self-contained online communities. A BBS is almost like a miniaturized Internet. A BBS has a variety of things for users to do - Read and Write messages in Discussion Forums, Upload and Download files, and Play online games. Most BBS systems offer a general perspective - they offer a little bit of everything. General perspective BBS systems do not have a topical theme. Some are dedicated to bringing in large amounts of varying topic message forums covering a wide variety of topics and interests--using networks that you will never see on the Internet. Other BBS systems are specialized and follow specific themes such as Genealogy, Sports, Programming, Religion, or just about anything you can imagine. These systems usually carry and message forum conferences related to their themes. Others might host a large selection of online games for their users to enjoy. Though dwarfed by the amount of software available now found on the Internet, some BBS systems are large repositories of a wide variety of software - and, in some cases - software not found anywhere on the Web. As with any community, you will find some systems that appeal to you and others that may not. After checking out various BBS systems, you will find several you will call "home". Then you will have yet another place to happily waste time having fun with your computer - just like the Web! 2. Types of BBS Systems There are generally three types of BBS systems: Dial-Up, Telnet and Web-based. Most BBS Systems fall under the first two categories. Once you have connected to a Dial-Up or Telnet BBS system, you will notice things are different from when you are surfing the World Wide Web. The graphics are not of the picture quality you are familiar with on the Web. Another big difference is that on most BBS systems your pointing device (mouse) does not work. Some