By Alissa Arford-Leyl
Shop Site of the Month
Andy's Autobody - Alton, Ill.
www.andysauto.com
Andy's Autobody has an impressive Web site with animation.
Web Wise
Using the Web for Personal Needs
Now that you've been surfing the Internet for business purposes, you've probably come across some sites of personal interest and entertainment value. Interactive Web sites for shopping, travel, games and entertainment are proving to be very popular among Web users. Also, many software packages for Internet communications are available for banking, taxes and talking on the Web.
Online shopping
Online shopping is in some ways a cross between mail-order catalogs and television's home shopping networks. There are cybermalls, auctions, product and store Web sites, and catalogs available by which consumers can make purchases online with a credit card, or by phone or mail. The Cybermall Web site offers a complete guide to cybershopping with links to related Web sites. Now that most companies have Web sites, check for customer service sections to report satisfaction or problems you are experiencing with a product.
At J.C. Penney's Web site, you can use your J.C. Penney credit card or other major credit card to pay online with secure credit transactions, meaning your credit information is encrypted. You can browse through their catalog and other on-line cybershopping sections.
Auction Sales' Web site is an online auction that has everything from computer equipment to beauty products available to the highest bidder. To place a bid, you need to register your credit card information and address on a secure page, then you will receive an account number for bidding. You can also elect to buy the product at the full price as listed.
Traveling
Traveling has never been easier with all of the Web sites for hotels, transportation and vacation spots. City Net covers worldwide destinations with links to other travel sites. You can view different cities; make airline, hotel and car rental reservations; and plan out your entire vacation online!
Most airlines offer flight information on their Web sites. American Airlines has their flight schedule online along with a Travel Planning section. United Airlines has a database that allows you to check United flights and connecting flights on other airlines to get you to your chosen destination.
Entertainment
A popular entertainment site is Ticketmaster. You can search through Ticketmaster's more than 20,000 events, and call them on the phone or purchase tickets online with your credit card on a secure page.
When you do a search on interactive games in Yahoo hundreds of results are generated. There are contests; puzzles; IQ and personality tests; add-to stories; trivia contests; multi-user, gambling, guessing and board games; and much more.
There are also multimedia sites where you can watch video clips, listen to music and see live views from cameras. Some of these sites require plug-ins, which are applications that your browser uses to interpret the multimedia files. Usually these sites will provide a link to download the necessary plug-in.
Finances
Many banks provide software so you can access their network over the Internet. NationsBank provides PC Banking software that lets you pay bills, transfer funds, check on the status of checks and much more via modem connection.
Filing your taxes electronically is becoming more popular each year. According to the IRS in 1996, 14,977,123 individuals filed tax returns electronically, compared to 11,824,158 in 1995. Kiplinger Tax Cut software guides you through the process, asking the same questions a tax preparer would. Afterward, the program calculates your tax amount for you to print out or file electronically with your modem.
Communicating
Software such as WebTalk enables you to talk over the Internet through your computer to another person who is using the software. CU See Me works the same, but uses a camera for video conferencing.
Geek Speak
RealAudio: A sound format that is playable using the RealAudio player or a plug-in and the RealAudio server.
ASA Web Ways
Visit the Members Only section at the ASA Web site for details on important ASA membership benefits.
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