OTOLARYNGOLOGY AND THE INTERNET

During the past 25 years, the Internet has grown tremendously. Startin g as four academic computers linked by the Department of Defense, it h as become a major technical and cultural entity that is accessible to millions of persons outside the realm of government and academia. The field of medicine has been well served by this telecommunications syst em, in which many applications have been developed to assist in resear ch, clinical medicine, and education. More recently, resources of spec ific interest to otolaryngologists have been implemented at various ac ademic departments and national organizations. This review is intended to simplify the Internet for otolaryngologists who do not have extens ive experience in computers or telecommunication. The Internet is desc ribed in basic, minimally technical terms, and specific examples are p rovided of ways that on-line resources can be used in the practice of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery.