Chapter 2 The Internet, The Web, and Electronic Commerce

Competencies

At the end of this chapter you should be able to:

1 Discuss the origins of the Internet and the Web.

2 Describe how to access the Web using providers and browsers.

3 Discuss Internet communications, including email, instant messaging, and social networking.

4 Describe search tools, including search engines and metasearch engines.

5 Discuss electronic commerce, including B2C, C2C, B2B, and security issues.

6 Describe these Web utilities: Web-based application, FTP, plug-ins, and Filters.

7 Describe search tools, including search engines and metasearch engines

8 Discuss electronic commerce, including B2C, C2C, B2B, and security

9 Describe Web utilities: Web-based applications, FTP, plug-ins, and filters

Introduction

 1 The Internet is often referred to as the Information Superhighway because it connects millions of people across the globe.

2 Unlike a typical highway, the Internet moves idea and information.

3 The Web provides an easy-to-use, intuitive interface to connect to the Internet and is used by millions of people every day.

The Internet and the Web

•    Most developed network system currently in use; connects people all over the world

•    Originally started in 1969 when US funded a research project (ARPANET—Advanced Research Project Agency Network)

•    CERN – Center for European Nuclear Research

•    World Wide Web (Web) is a part of the Internet – not the Internet; introduced in 1992 by consortium in Switzerland.

•    Originally started as research and text-based network to exchange research ideas from university to university

•     Developed into a network of networks

•    One of the most powerful tools of the 21st century

•    Internet & Web further clarified

•    Internet is the actual physical network comprised of  wires, cables (Key Term), & satellites

•    Being connected to the network is often referred to as being online (Key Term)

•    The Web is a multimedia interface to resources available on the internet

Common Internet Uses

•    Most common Internet applications

•    Communicating - sending e-mail and discussion group participation

•    You can chat live with others

•    Ask students what chat software they use

•    Shopping – fastest-growing applications

•    Searching - using virtual libraries

•    Entertainment – music downloads; integration of TV and PC

•    Education or e-learning (Key Term)

•    You can take classes on almost any subject (Key Term)

Internet Access Providers

•    The common way to access the Internet is through a provider or host computer

•    Providers - already connected to the Internet -- furnish a pathway for other users

•    Typical providers include:

•    Colleges and universities – usually “free”

•    Internet service providers (ISP) (Key Term)can be local (regional) or national

•    Ask students to identify various ISPs used in their environment

•    Types of providers

•    National – like AOL

•    Regional – smaller service area

•    Wireless

•    No telephone lines used

•    Provide connection through wireless modems (Key Term)

•    Client-server network is comprised of users that are connected to a ISP via a variety of connecting technologies (dial-up (Key Term), telephone connections, wireless modems, DSLs (Key Term), etc…)

•    The users computer is the client that requests services from the provider’s computer or server

Browsers

•    Browsers allow you to search or surf (Key Term) the Web

•    Navigate, search for information and communicate using the Web

•    Use URL (uniform resource locator) (Key Term) to connect to other resources

URLs

•    Two parts to URL:

•    protocol (Key Term), rules for exchanging data between computers (usually http://);

•    domain name (Key Term) also known as a top-level domain (Key Term) or server where the resource is located (www.mtv.com)

More on Browsers

•    Browser is software that allows users to navigate the Web and read the multimedia formatted pages

•    Connect to Web sites using URL addresses (uniform resource locator)

•    Document is sent to computer usually coded in HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) (Key Term) or some variation

•    Interprets the HTML codes displaying page

•    May contain

•    Hyperlinks (Key Term) -- allow users to quickly connect to other pages or Web sites

•    Graphics

•    Text

•    Web server– the computer that stores and shares graphics, test, audio & video clip files

•    Web pages contain links (Key Term) to programs called applets (Key Term)

•    These are special programs written in a programming language called Java (Key Term)

•    These programs can be quickly downloaded and run by most browsers

Communication

•    Communication is the most popular Internet activity

•    Types of communications:

•    Email (Key Term)

•    Instant Messaging (Key Term)

•    Social Networking (Key Term)

E-Mail

•    E-mail or electronic mail (Key Term)

•    Transmission of electronic messages over the Internet

•    Has three basic parts: header (Key Term), message (Key Term), and signature line (Key Term)

•    Header (Key Term)

•    Address (Key Term)

•    Subject (Key Term) – very important to include this in a message

•    Attachments (Key Term)

E-Mail Address Example

•    Internet uses the domain name system (DNS), which gives names and numbers to people and computers

•    Address (Key Term) has two parts

•    User name - identifies unique user or computer in the domain

•    Domain name (Key Term) - references a specific organization

•    Top-level domain code identification includes geographical location or organizational identification

•    .com = commercial

•    .edu = education and research

•    .org = organizations (usually non-profit)

•    .net = major network centers (usually easier to access than commercial)

•    .gov = government

Spam

•    Spam (Key Term) – unsolicited e-mail

•    Distraction, Nuisance

•    Computer viruses (Key Term) can also be attached to spam

•    Spam blockers (Key Term) use a variety of different approaches to identify and eliminate spam

•    CAN-SPAM Act requires that every marketing related email provide an opt-out option

•    Tips to blocking spam:

•    Choose a complex address

•    Keep a low profile

•    Don’t ever respond to spam

•    Use ez-mail filter options

•    Use anti-spam

Instant Messaging

•    Instant Messaging (Key Term)

•    Extension of email that allows two or more people to contact each other via direct, live communication

•    To use instant message, specify list of friends (Key Term) and register with an instant messaging server

•    Some services include video and file-sharing

•    Different services do not always play well together. Universal instant messenger (Key Word) programs are being developed (i.e. Gaim, Odigo, Trilogy), to overcome this limitation.

•    Direct students to p. 35 for table on Spam Blocker(s)

Social Networking

•    Social Networking (Key Term)

•    One of the fastest growing uses of the Internet

•    Connecting individuals to one another

•    Three basic categories

•    Reunite – member databases used for finding long lost friends (Classmates Online and Facebook)

•    Friend of a friend – connecting friends of friends via profile information (Friendster and MySpace)

•    Common interest – connecting those with common interests or hobbies

•    Consider carefully the information you are disclosing when joining social networking sites.

Search Tools

•    Specialized programs that assist you in locating information on the Web and the Internet

•    Search services (Key Term) help you locate information; they maintain the database that helps you get where you want

•    Special programs called spiders (Key Term) continually look for information and updated services

•    Search engines (Key Term) – assist you to locate information

•    Use keyword search (Key Term); know “rules” i.e. use + or quotes to look for phrases rather than individual words

•    Use directory search (Key Term) – list of categories or topics; also known as index search (Key Term)

•    Examples

•    AOL

•    Ask Jeeves

•    Google

•    MSN Search

•    Yahoo!

•    Metasearch engines (Key Term) – programs that automatically submit your search request to several search engines simultaneously

•    Specialized search engines (Key Term) - Programs that focus on subject specific Web sites

Search Engines

•    Keyword search (Key Term) – enter a keyword or a phrase reflecting the information you want

•    Returns a number of hits (Key Term)

•    Each hit includes a hyperlink

•    Directory search (Key Term)

•    Known as an index search

•    Select a category or topic that fits the information you want

•    Note: a recent study by the NEC Research Institute found that any one search engine includes only a fraction of the informational sources on the Web. Therefore, it is good to use more than one search engine when researching important topics.

Metasearch Engines

•    Programs that automatically submit your search request to several engines simultaneously

•    The engine receives the results, eliminates duplicates, orders hits, and then provides the edited list to you

Specialized Search Engines

•    Programs that focus on subject specific Web sites

•    Specialized sites can potentially save you time by narrowing your search

Content Evaluation

•    Anyone can publish to the web

•    Not all Web information has been subjected to peer review or submission guidelines

•    Ways to evaluate accuracy of Web information:

•    Authority – Is author an expert in the subject area? Is the site an official site for the information presented, or, is it an individual person’s Web site?

•    Accuracy – Is the information subject to critical review prior to posting? Does the site provide a means to report errors to the author?

•    Objectivity – Is the information factual, or does the author have a bias?

•    Currency – Is the information current? Is there a “published on” date or “updated on” date indicated?

Electronic Commerce

•    Electronic commerce is buying and selling over the Internet

•    Three basic types of electronic commerce: business to consumer; consumer to consumer; and business to business

•    B2C (Key Term)

•    Involves the sale of a product or service to the general public or end users

•    C2C (Key Term)

•    Involves individuals selling to individuals

•    B2B (Key Term)

•    Involves the sale of a product or service from one business to another

Business to Business

•    Involves the sale of a product or service from one business to another (B2B)

•    Primarily a manufacturer supplier relationship

Business to Consumer

•    B2C is fastest growing type of e-commerce

•    Three types

•    Online banking (Key Term)

•    Becoming a standard feature of banking institutions

•    Customers use standard browser to perform many banking operations

•    Financial trading

•    Online stock trading allows investors to research, buy, and sell stocks and bonds over the Internet

•    Shopping

•    Buying and selling of consumer goods via the Internet

•    Sites exist that provide support for consumers looking to compare products and locate bargains

Consumer to Consumer
Web Auctions

•    Recent trend in C2C e-commerce is Web auctions (Key Term); similar to traditional auctions – no one sees each other

•    Auction house sites (Key Term) – merchandise presented for auction

•    Person-person auction sites (Key Term) – more like flea markets; forum for buyers and sellers to gather Similar to Web traditional auctions

•    Buyers and sellers seldom meet face-to-face

•    Ask the students if they have ever used E-bay

•    Example auction sites include Amazon, Bidz, eBay, Sotheby’s, and Yahoo!

Security

•    A challenge is the payment for goods

•    Should be reliable, secure, and fast

•    Electronic payment -- easy, secure payment method

•    Checks -- slowest and least convenient

•    Credit cards -- easier to work with, somewhat vulnerable to theft

•    Criminals known as carders (Key Term) specialize in stealing, trading, and using stolen credit cards over the internet

•    Digital cash (Key Term)

•    Purchased from third party (usually a special bank); more secure than credit cards

•    Providers include Ecash, Google, Internet Cash, and PayPal

Web Utilities

•    Web-based applications (Key Term) are offered by Web-based services (Key Term) (often free) that provide Internet access to programs with capabilities similar to Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

•    FTP transfers files; file transfer protocol (Key Term); Internet service for file transfer

•    Downloading (Key Term) - transmitting files to your computer

•    Uploading (Key Term) - transmitting files from your computer to another computer

•    Plug-ins (Key Term) -- automatically loaded by and work with your browser; Acrobat Reader; Cosmos from Silicon Graphics (3-d displays); Media Player; QuickTime from Apple; RealPlayer; and Shockwave from Macromedia

•    Filters (Key Term) – block access to specified sites; set time limits

•    Internet Security Suites (Key Term) – collection of utility programs designed to maintain your security and privacy while you are on the Web

Internet Security Suites

•    Internet Security Suites (Key Term) control…

•    Spam (Key Term)

•    Protect against computer viruses (Key Term)

•    Provide Filters (Key Term)

Careers In IT - Webmasters

•    Webmasters (Key Term) can expect to earn a salary of $48,000 to $73,000

•    Position is relatively new in many corporations and tends to have fluid responsibilities

•    Experience in this field could lead to managerial opportunities

A Look to the Future
Homes of Tomorrow

•    Downsides example: Infiltration of Internet viruses and spyware may enable your every move at home to be broadcast over the Internet