Transcript E-commerce

11.1 Searching for Information on
the Internet
 What is a Search Engine?
 Search engine
A coordinate set of programs
Find web sites by matching keywords
with the content of web pages
Some popular search engines
Google
AltaVista
Yahoo!
11.1 Searching for Information on
the Internet
 What is a Search Engine?
 Consists of three parts
Spider - a program creating search
engine index
A program creating a huge database of
keywords on the web pages reached by
spider
An access program
 Take search requests from users
 Compare them with entries in database
 Respond with results
11.1 Searching for Information on
the Internet
 Types of Search Engines
Type
Approach
Example
General
searches
They cover a large Yahoo! (http://www.yahoo.com)
portion of the Web. Google (http://www.google.com)
AltaVista
(http://www.altavista.com)
Specialized
searches
They search for
items in a specific
category.
Medline Plus
(http://www.nlm.nih.gov.medlinep
lus/)
General
searches
using
natural
languages
They adopt natural
languages, e.g.
‘What’s the
weather today?’
Ask Jeeves! (http://www.ask.com)
11.1 Searching for Information on
the Internet
 Skills of Searching on the Internet
 A keyword acts as a parameter for the
search engine to do searching
 Each search engines has its own features
Search
engine
Google
Features



Yahoo!

AltaVista

Ask Jeeves!

Fast search, large index
Use ‘collective judgement’ to order result
Allow to view a cached page if the site is unavailable
A commercial directory of generally unevaluated user
submissions
Show related phrases that others have used in similar
searches. Include little words (e.g. a, to, be and not) in the
search
answers to natural language questions
11.1 Searching for Information on
the Internet
 Skills of Searching on the Internet
 To search for information efficiently
Write down the keyword for the subject
Write down other names and phrases
that may narrow down the search
Find out which tool to start with
 Subject directories – use when you are
uncertain about what you want and where
to find
 Search engines – use when you are certain
about what you want and where to find
11.1 Searching for Information on
the Internet
 Skills of Searching on the Internet
 To search for information efficiently
Search for a phrase by enclosing it in
inverted commas
 Example: “the Basic Law” returns results
with only the exact phrase
Use wildcard (*) to search for a word
with multiple endings
 Example: comput* includes words like
compute, computers and computing
Use Boolean Searching
 Combine keywords with AND, OR and NOT
Keep focusing on your search
11.1 Searching for Information on
the Internet
 Skills of Searching on the Internet
General search interface of Advanced search interface
a search engine
of a search engine
11.1 Searching for Information on
the Internet
 Skills of Searching on the Internet
General search interface of Advanced search interface
a search engine
of a search engine
11.2 Web Browsing, File Transfer, Email and Video-conferencing
 Web Browsing
 Navigate, read and interact with the web
sites on the WWW
 Web server
Contain a collection of web pages and
linked files
Contain a program that uses the HTTP
to exchange data with WWW
 Web browser
Act as an HTTP client to send requests
to the web server
11.2 Web Browsing, File Transfer, Email and Video-conferencing
 Web Browsing
 Process of requesting a web page
Type in URL or click a hyperlink
Web server responds with the requested
file.
Browser displays the file if the file is a
web page.
Browser opens other relevant application
programs for other file types.
11.2 Web Browsing, File Transfer, Email and Video-conferencing
 Web Browsing
 Video streaming
The technology allows
media player to play a
video as soon as a
small portion of the
media file is
downloaded.
Total movie length
Length of movie downloaded
Length of movie played
11.2 Web Browsing, File Transfer, Email and Video-conferencing
 Web Browsing
 Plug-ins
Software modules that enable the
browser to play specific file types
11.2 Web Browsing, File Transfer, Email and Video-conferencing
 File Transfer
 The transmission of files from one
computer to another
 File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
A popular way to transfer files on the
Internet
After logging in to an FTP server, a
person may
 Use an FTP program or web browser to
download files
 Upload files (upload right usually restricted
to a small group of users)
11.2 Web Browsing, File Transfer, Email and Video-conferencing
 File Transfer
 WS_FTP
Popular FTP software
www.ipswitch.com
WS_FTP interface
11.2 Web Browsing, File Transfer, Email and Video-conferencing
 File Transfer
 User’s Authenticity
A person needs a username and
password to log in an FTP server
Anonymous FTP allows all users to log in
without their own accounts
 File Format
Text file: ASCII
Binary files: EBCDIC
11.2 Web Browsing, File Transfer, Email and Video-conferencing
 File Transfer
 Command Line Interface
Allow users to control file transfer by
typing in commands
put: a command to copy file to an FTP
server
get: a command to download file from
an FTP server
11.2 Web Browsing, File Transfer, Email and Video-conferencing
 E-mail
 The transmission of digital documents from
one computer to another via e-mail servers
 e-mail address
Format
[email protected]
User ID Mail Server domain name
11.2 Web Browsing, File Transfer, Email and Video-conferencing
 E-mail
 e-mail client
an e-mail program for manipulating email messages
 Process of e-mail delivery
A user sends an email message.
The e-mail message is stored on
recipient’s mail server.
The e-mail server forwards the message
to the mailbox of the recipient’s
computer when the recipient logs on to
the e-mail server.
11.2 Web Browsing, File Transfer, Email and Video-conferencing
 E-mail
 Advantages over postal mail or telephone
calls
Feature
Advantages
Price
Same cost of an e-mail regardless of distance
and number of recipients
Speed
Can be delivered within minutes
Convenience Can be sent any time and can be sent to a
large group of people simultaneously
Flexibility
Attach any type of digital files to e-mail
messages.
Permanent
record
Incoming messages and replies can be sorted
and kept in separate folders automatically.
11.2 Web Browsing, File Transfer, Email and Video-conferencing
 Video-conferencing
 Allow people at different locations to talk
and view with one another over the
Internet in real time
Video-conferencing
 Equipment required
software
Microphone
Webcam
to record
audio signals
to capture
images
to control the
camera
11.2 Web Browsing, File Transfer, Email and Video-conferencing
 Video-conferencing
 Quality of visual and audio signals
Determined by bandwidth
Delay in signal transmission causes
distortion to video and audio
Dial-up access allows only postage
stamp size video windows and slow
frame rate.
Broadband connection gives reasonable
quality.
11.2 Web Browsing, File Transfer, Email and Video-conferencing
 Video-conferencing
 Quality of visual and audio signals
Determined by bandwidth
Delay in signal transmission causes
distortion to video and audio
Dial-up access allows only postage
stamp size video windows and slow
frame rate.
Broadband connection gives reasonable
quality.
11.3 E-commerce
 Elements of E-commerce
 Commerce is the exchange of goods and
services
 Electronic Commerce (e-commerce) is the
business activities that take place on the
Internet
11.3 E-commerce
 Elements of E-commerce
 Comparison between conventional
commerce and e-commerce
Element
Advertisement
Shop
Description
A way to draw
attention from
customers
Conventional
commerce
Commercials
Shops;
on TV;
superstores
advertisement
in newspapers
and magazines;
leaflets on
streets
Via phone or
fax
E-commerce
Commercials
on web sites
Via online
forms
A place where
the products
are sold
Web site
Order
A way to
accept orders
11.3 E-commerce
 Elements of E-commerce
 Comparison between conventional
commerce and e-commerce
Element
Bill payment
Fulfillment
Customer
service
Description
A way to accept
money
A way to deliver A way to
products
provide service
to customers
Conventional
commerce
Cashier
Customers go
to the shop and
pick up the
items in person
Via phone or
face-to-face
communication
E-commerce
A merchant
account to
handle credit
card payment
Items are
packed and
mailed
Through e-mail,
online forms
and FAQs
11.3 E-commerce
 Elements of E-commerce
 An e-commerce transaction involves
 a buyer
a seller
an issuing-card bank
an acquiring bank
The B2C e-commerce model
11.3 E-commerce
 E-commerce Models
 Business-to-Business (B2B)
Transaction or services made between
two companies on the Internet
B2B commerce:
Online help and
support by
Microsoft (Hong
Kong) Limited
11.3 E-commerce
 E-commerce Models
 Business-to Customer (B2C)
Companies develop marketplaces on the
Internet to sell products and provide
services directly to consumers.
B2C e-commerce:
Online shopping at
Park’n shop
11.3 E-commerce
 E-commerce Models
 Customer-to-Customer (C2C)
Allow individuals to buy and sell items
through an auction process.
C2C commerce: A
popular online
marketplace - eBay
11.3 E-commerce
 Advantages and Disadvantages of
E-commerce for Seller
Party
Seller
Advantages
Access to worldwide
markets
 Minimal sales cost
 Increase
competitiveness with
large companies
 Able to analyze the
purchase habits of
customers and provide
a tailored
recommendation for
each customer

Disadvantages
Unable to interact
face-to-face with
customers
 Additional cost on
building and
maintaining the web
server
 Have difficulties in
promoting the web
site to potential
customers

11.3 E-commerce
 Advantages and Disadvantages of
E-commerce for Buyer
Party
Buyer
Advantages
Can find hard-to-get
items with minimum
effort and cost
 Automated costcomparison available

Disadvantages
Pay for shipping and
wait for delivery
 Cannot see or feel the
products before
purchasing
 Difficult to return
defective items to the
seller

11.3 E-commerce
 Advantages and Disadvantages of
E-commerce for Buyer
Party
Buyer
Advantages
Can find hard-to-get
items with minimum
effort and cost
 Automated costcomparison available

Disadvantages
Pay for shipping and
wait for delivery
 Cannot see or feel the
products before
purchasing
 Difficult to return
defective items to the
seller

11.4 E-learning
 Definition of E-learning
 An approach to facilitate learning through
both computer and communication
technology
 Features of E-learning
 Allow for ‘just-in-time’ knowledge
acquisition
 Provide consistent course delivery
 Can be customized to fit for the needs of
an individual
 Can be modular and flexible
 Allow for immediate assessment and
feedback
11.4 E-learning
 Features of E-learning
 Advantages of web-based learning
Available anywhere with Internet access at
any time
Cheaper than the equivalent courses
conducted in traditional way
Good alternative for independent, selfmotivated students
 Advantage of traditional learning
Enable more team work, group discussion
and human contact
11.4 E-learning
 Impact on Everyday Life
 Comparison between the traditional learning
environment and the e-learning environment
11.4 E-learning
 Impact on Everyday Life
 Workplace
Web-based staff training → increased
productivity
 Education
E-learning is a successful form of
distance learning
Students can learn at their own pace
E-learning is highly flexible and costeffective → facilitates continuing
education
11.4 E-learning
 Impact on Everyday Life
 Workplace
Web-based staff training → increased
productivity
 Education
E-learning is a successful form of
distance learning
Students can learn at their own pace
E-learning is highly flexible and costeffective → facilitates continuing
education
11.5 Public Services Accessible
through the Internet
 Online Public Services
 The HKSAR Government has developed
several web sites that provide a large
number of web-based services to the public
ESDlife web site (http://www.esdlife.com)
Provide public services,
e.g. appointment
services for giving
marriage notice,
payment of government
bills, recruitment
information and weather
forecasts, etc.
11.5 Public Services Accessible
through the Internet
 Online Public Services
HKSAR Government web site (http://www.gov.hk)
Provide information on
the HKSAR Government,
e.g. the government
structure, government
job vacancies, business
tenders, research
reports, HKSAR policies,
consultations, etc.
11.5 Public Services Accessible
through the Internet
 Online Public Services
Hong Kong Public Libraries (http://www.hkpl.gov.hk)
Search for the location
and availability of books,
reserve books, and
renew the return date
for books.
11.5 Public Services Accessible
through the Internet
 Online Public Services
Hong Kong Public Libraries (http://www.hkpl.gov.hk)
Search for the location
and availability of books,
reserve books, and
renew the return date
for books.
11.6 Unethical Internet Activities
 Flaming
 The practice of sending extremely critical,
derogatory and vulgar e-mail messages
(flame mails), or newsgroup postings to
other users on the Internet
 Particularly prevalent on some of Internet’s
special-interest newsgroups
11.6 Unethical Internet Activities
 Sexually Explicit Material
 Presence of such material has triggered
lawsuits and censorship
 Some ISPs provide content-filtering service
to prevent children reaching such material
An ISP providing
content-filtering
services for
parents
11.6 Unethical Internet Activities
 Fake Web Sites
 Fake web sites of financial organizations
and banks have been made.
 These sites collect sensitive information
about their visitors such as the login names,
passwords and credit card details
 Thieves may
Transfer money from the disclosed bank
accounts
Purchase goods on the Web with the
stolen credit card information
11.6 Unethical Internet Activities
 Sharing of Copyright Material
 Popular Peer-to-peer (P2P) sharing
software: Bit Torrent (BT) and EXEEM
 Popular tools for finding and sharing files
on the Internet
 Illegal to distribute copyright materials
without permission
 Pirated software, songs, movies, books and
other publications should not be shared
11.6 Unethical Internet Activities
 Sharing of Copyright Material
News about the world’s first successful prosecution
for distribution of pirated movies by BT in Hong Kong
11.6 Unethical Internet Activities
 Attitude of Using the Internet
 Use security and filtering function of
firewalls to guard against online unethical
materials
 Pass laws to minimize problems in moral
issues on Internet
 Reinforce moral education
11.6 Unethical Internet Activities
 Attitude of Using the Internet
 Use security and filtering function of
firewalls to guard against online unethical
materials
 Pass laws to minimize problems in moral
issues on Internet
 Reinforce moral education