title: [New communication media for ophthalmology].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of high-tech communication is undoubtedly growing and has become established in almost all sciences and research fields. This article surveys the possibilities for scientific data-exchange via the Internet, the world's largest computer network.
  
  
  METHODS
  An introduction is given to network as a whole, its history and structure, and the hardware and software required. Examples are provided to describe the basic services on the Internet with special emphasis on World wide web applications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The paper indicates that the Internet has a vast potential for providing almost unlimited information of relevance to users. By using the Internet and its resources, modern ophthalmological research will become more effective and successful.
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-Augenklinik, Rudolf-Virchow-Klinikum, Humboldt-Universität, Berlin.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spallek
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hartmann
mesh_terms: D003195:Computer Communication Networks / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003199:Computer Systems; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012984:Software