Big Dummy's Guide to the Internet

by Electronic Frontier Foundation

"Big Dummy's Guide to the Internet" by Electronic Frontier Foundation is a guidebook intended for readers with little to no experience in network communications, written during the early 1990s. The book aims to introduce newcomers to the vast online landscape and provide them with the skills necessary to navigate and utilize the Internet effectively. The opening of the guide sets a welcoming tone for its readers, positioning the Internet as a frontier of communication and information. It opens with a foreword by EFF co-founder Mitchell Kapor, emphasizing the need for accessibility to these emerging technologies. The preface by Adam Gaffin encourages readers to embark on a learning journey, comparing the experience of accessing the Internet to navigating a foreign country. The guide details essential steps for connecting to the Internet, such as setting up hardware and software and introduces the basic concepts of file transfer and online communication. Central to this opening section is the idea of fostering a sense of community, encouraging users to seek help and actively participate in the evolving digital landscape.