The Internet began in the 1970's as a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to link educational institutions, military establishments, and defense contractors electronically. The Internet now offers a limitless range of topics and information sources. Electronic mail offers a powerful and inexpensive tool for the speedy exchange of information among individuals. It is also a relatively safe and secure form of communication; confidentiality can be maintained adequately by making regular changes of a personal password. Mailing lists offer a way for a group of people interested in the same topic to communicate with each other. The World Wide Web allows the user to explore information using the principle of hypertext links. The Web was made available to the Internet community in 1991. Obtaining access to the Internet and using Internet software is relatively simpler and is much easier than learning most other software programs. Tables and 3 references