But where does one go to play? First go to the virtual playing field, using whatever software you can find, build yourself a home page. See the very basic HTML methods I have linked. Soon you will master these skills, get bored, and want to move up to the next level of web sophistication CGI. Common Gateway Interface are those common but cool gadgets like 'Mail this Page to a Friend buttons', Hit Counters, and those forms we use to spend our money on the Internet.

Your web host's server will need to handle CGI. As you learn more, who your web host is, and how they are set up, will become more important. At that time you will need to start to distinguish between UNIX, NT , Linux, Apple, and other types of servers and their software. But for now, familiarize yourself with a few pages specializing in CGI PERL or look at sample pages provided on the web.

DHTML is still another world to explore and there are several good tutorials online. DynamicHTML and other developments like ActiveX, again with plenty of webbased learning environments, as well as Java, are for precocious teenagers and other high-end users. These authoring languages are what make the web sing and dance, and hopefully economically viable (or so the e-business community prays).

In time, more and more people with have computers and browsers sophisticated enough to handle these subtler yet more exciting media oriented languages, but for now please read carefully my notes on HTML validation. Understanding more about designing your page with your target audience in mind is crucial.

Inevitably exploring the web, seeing what people are doing out there, and then trying it yourself is the way to go. Here are an assortment of links. Enjoy surfing, but remember to come back and start punching keys for yourself. How cool can a page be? With these ever expanding languages no one knows the limit of Internet creativity. Care to find out how far you can go?