This past June, GCIU education directors from the United States and Canada met to discuss efforts at expanding educational opportunities for all GCIU members via the Internet and the World Wide Web, utilizing distance learning technologies.

Local unions can now take advantage of commercial and educational institution-offered learning opportunities if they possess the correct hardware and software to access these programs. If your local union has not yet gained access to the Web, the following information is provided to assist you.

Computer requirements

To use the graphical Web browser programs like Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer, you need a moderately fast personal computer. The 4.x versions of these browsers are best used on 486, Intel Pentium, or Apple Macintosh PowerPC systems.

Like most software for personal computers, available RAM (Random Access Memory) rather than processor speed is usually a large factor in performance. As Web browsers add new features, they use more RAM. 32 megabytes of RAM is a minimum requirement for running current versions of Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Explorer. You will also need at least 10 or 20 megabytes of hard disk space.

Connection requirements

Your computer needs a form of physical connection to the Internet. In an office environment, this connection may be through Ethernet and a local area network (LAN). Most people who access the Web from home or small office use a modem and a telephone line. A speedy modem is a necessity to run a graphical browser (28.8 kbps or faster is highly recommended). Access can be established once you have set up an account with an Internet service provider (ISP) that supports dial-in access. Such access requires special software.

While commercial on-line services such as America Online, CompuServe, and Prodigy do provide access to the web, you are likely to receive more reliable and less expensive service from an Internet service provider in your locality or a national service such as AT&T World Net and Bell Atlantic Net.

The speed at which the modem connection can move data (its bandwidth) constrains web access much more than the speed of your computer. A 14.4 kbps modem can receive only about 1.2-1.4 kilobytes of data per second. In many parts of the U.S. and Canada, service providers and telephone companies offer ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) services that can support Internet connections as fast as 128 kbps. Cable modems and satellite-based data services are also emerging as alternatives for home connectivity. These services, however, are available mainly for PC-compatible systems.

Software requirements

The next step in gaining access to the Web is installing and configuring the necessary software. Your service provider should provide you with the necessary information on the software and how to install .

A Web client program – "web browser"

Many similar software applications are available. Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer top the list because of their superior speed and support for special HTML tags. Both Netscape and Explorer are distributed free with Windows98 and the Mac operating system.

E-mail accounts

Your contract with your service provider should include the use of an e-mail (electronic mail) account. This is your communication link to the World Wide Web. You can send messages, documents, and graphics over the Internet using e-mail. It is a powerful tool and is a very cost-effective alternative to long distance calls. You will want to choose an e-mail address indicative of your local union.

The next step in furthering your local union's presence on the Web, and better servicing your members while targeting potential members, is to develop a Web site. Your Internet service provider should, as part of your agreement, provide you space for a Web page posting. A number of GCIU local education programs currently teach Web page publishing courses. These schools have offered to assist local unions in developing their Web sites.

We hope to provide you with more information on Web page development in the next issue of the Graphic Communicator.

For now, if you do not have Internet access, you have your work cut out for you. If you need additional assistance or help in establishing a connection to the Internet, the following local educational programs in your region would be happy to answer any questions. Look them up in the International Directory. Graphic Arts Training Institute of British Columbia Local 525M; Milwaukee Graphic Arts Institute Local 577M; Local 1L New York, N.Y.; and The Gress Graphic Arts Institute, Local 14M Philadelphia.