Internet

Internet

1. Computer networks linked together globally

   • networks of networks
   • Private, public, business, academic and government networks
   • Linked together by electronic, wireless networking technologies

2. E-commerce

   • Advantages
     • Customers
       • Increases convenience since they won't have to leave home
       • Able to by abroad with a bigger selection
       • A lot of competition which usually drags down product price
       • More information on the products with reviews ect
       • 24/7 for customers
     • Businesses
       • No human interaction for shopping. Some people prefer that
       • Inconvenient to return unwanted/broken products and can be expensive
       • Fraud can easily happen on suspicious websites and take your money with no product to give
       • The product can sometimes be out of stock and a substitute gets sent instead
   • Disadvantages
     • Businesses
       • Sales for products are now on an international scale which increases competition
       • Bad for new-comers since customers haven't heard of them and are worried about their products
       • Decreases the need of real-world consultancy
     • Customers
       • Lacks personal touch
       • Ecommerce delays transfer of goods
       • Some goods cannot be purchased online
       • You can't experience the goods before-hand
       • Anyone can easily set up a site for e-commerce and frauds can happen easier online
       • You need to provide security details for bank accounts etc and can lead to identity theft
   • Buying and selling commercial items online

3. Entertainment

   • Gaming
     • Played online over the internet
     • Advantages
       • Can be educational and entertaining for children
       • Can develop team-working and communications skills
     • Disadvantages
       • Usually sedentary and can lead to obesity
       • Health issues are caused like Repetitive Strain Issue
       • Bad gamer's can swear and do abusive behavior towards other gamer's
   • Social media
     • Allows people to communicate over the internet
     • Advantages
       • Allows you send status updates to friends
       • Allows you to get in contact with old friends
       • Join groups with similar interests
     • Disadvantages
       • Can be a place where cyber-bullying takes place
       • No guarantee about the people online are their online identidy
       • Result in a less face-to-face interaction

4. Connect to the internet

   • Broadband
     • Much faster than methods like dial-up
     • Higher monthly charge and might not be available in country side areas
     • High speed data link with Broadband modems
   • Satellites
     • Beam data signals to other satellites orbiting the Earth
     • Allows high-speed internet where broadband and mobile coverage is low
     • Expensive for the parts required for a satellite connection
   • Cable
     • Very fast internet connection and affordable
     • Not all areas have cable internet providers
   • Dial-up
     • Connects to a telephone line and dial the telephone number of your ISP
     • Affordable way to connect to the internet
     • Much slower when compared to other methods.
       • Uses the phone line so cannot use the internet and the phone at the same time