The effect of ICT on the way people work (Part 2)

Web-Conferencing

The effect of ICT on the way people work (Part 1)

Remote Desktop
Remote Desktop first appeared in 2001 with the release of microsoft's Windows XP. The feature allows a user to connect to another computer and use a graphical interface that allows them to control everything on that other computer as long as it does not exceed the internet connection capabilities. To access the computer, it must be set-up on both computers, this means that it provides a sanctuary against "hackers". The system can be used in homes and workplaces for file sharing.

The main feature is that an employee can connect to their office computer.. from the comfort of their own home. This is particularly useful. especially if the employee needs to travel often and it ensures that the work is accessed easily. This means that work can be completed easily and can also allow the employee to spend more quality time with their family in a less stressful environment. It is also cheaper for the company, meaning they do not have to provide offices for the employees if they work from home.

Remote Desktop In Use

Advantages:

• It allows an employee to access their computer from the other side of the world (as long as an internet connection is present), this means that it costs the company much less as a flight does not need to be made for the employee to come back to their computer if an emergency occurs.
• It allows families to spend more time together. This means that the employee gets more time to create filial bonds reducing the stress of their job, potentially giving them more of a work ethic.
• It reduces costs of travelling to work. This is particualarly useful if the employee commutes, saving time and money, meaning more efficient work for the company and employee.
• It gives the company more of an opportunity to send employees abroad for promotional reasons. This allows the company to become more widely known and allowing the employee to access their computer at any time.

Remote Desktop can give families more time together.

Disadvantages:

• Working at home for some people may seem like an opportunity to skive off and relax. This unfortunately could cost the company a lot of money and possible liquidation, especially in the current economic climate.
• An internet connection is required to access remote desktop; therefore it may be difficult to access the work computer if the employee is in a less economically developed country.
• It is not completely secure; if one of the computers becomes infected with a virus/trojan, it could be accidentally transferred onto the other PC creating damage in files and software, costing money to fix.
• The employee must have a computer at home to access the computer at work, this can be particularly difficult for low-income families.

News Story (From Wilts and Gloustershire Standard - 11/10/10 - Gemma Casey):
A COMPUTER expert traced a stolen laptop using hi-tech software from his South Cerney home.

David Spencer, an IT whizz from South Cerney, was called in to help his friend, a retired doctor from Cirencester, when his laptop was stolen from his car while he was in London.

Police were called but they had no luck tracing the thief responsible.

A few weeks earlier, the doctor had given permission for Mr Spencer to install remote desktop software which meant Mr Spencer could access and take control of his laptop at any time.

Three weeks after the laptop was stolen, Mr Spencer used the remote control software to access the computer and saw it was being used.

"I was really excited when I saw the mouse moving," he said.

"I watched them send e-mails, browse the internet and use social network sites.

IT Whizz traces stolen laptop

"I sent them an e-mail telling them they were using a stolen laptop and it needed to be returned."

Mr Spencer said he believed the person using the laptop was not the person who stole it.

He added: "I probably gave him the scare of a lifetime because at one point I froze the computer and opened a blank document and started typing to him.

"He said he bought it off someone for £200.

"I told him to go to the police station and hand it in, which thankfully he did."

Mr Spencer said the doctor was overwhelmed and relieved when the laptop was returned to him because he had important data stored on it.

"The police could not do anything but I turned out to be quite the detective myself," added Mr Spencer.

"My heart was beating so fast when I realised I could solve this, I had a big rush of adrenalin."

 

Interview

Tim Bell is a Sales Manager for one of Britain's most prestiguous companies "Axminster Carpets" and travels worldwide to sell products to companies, mostly of aviation. He lives in rural Dorset and so the use of the internet is very useful for his job. He uses IT often and I spoke to him about how it affects his work life:

• So how often do you travel abroad, does it cause difficulty in accessing you're work computer? Not really, my work laptop connects to my work's network which is similar to a remote desktop connection except my account is kept on a server, this means I can really access my account anywhere. I travel abroad every few weeks, mostly to Los Angeles, Germany or France, all of which have reasonable internet connections; so it is easy for my to access my work.
• What other means of IT do you use in your work life? Well my work provided me with a HTC smartphone which has my e-mail set up on it along with my standard phone number. This is really useful as it allows me to answer important e-mails especially when I can't access a wi-fi connection. I
• Do you find it easier to work at home? No, I think that working at home gives you the feeling that you can relax more, which is wrong, and I often get tied up with work if it is not done. If I'm honest, I prefer working in my office, even if it does cost more to travel there.
• Do you think that without the existence of the internet, your job would be the same?  No, I use e-mail, server access and the tracking of products all of the time. It has made my job more efficient as everything can be done very quickly. I think that without the internet; my job would be too much for one person to do.

The effect of ICT on crime and the law (Part 2)

Breathalysers

The concept of how breathalysers work was first realised in 1927 by Emil Bogen who realised that if traces of ethanol were found in the suspects breath (with a high amount) they were drunk. The first roadside police breath-testing device was created in 1938, in which the suspect blew up a football balloon and the air was tested for ethanol. The current method used today, using chemical oxidation and photometry, was first developed in 1954. The UK limit for alcohol when driving is 4 units for men and 3 units for women. If the driver is over the limit, they can tell using a breathalyser and they can be taken back to a local police station where they would be kept in a cell, points taken off their driving licence, up to £5000 fine and possibly up to 6 months in prison.  The breathalyser provides crucial evidence; showing whether the driver is drunk/over the limit. 

Advantages:

• The breathalyser provides accurate evidence so that the driver can be prosecuted heavily. The prosecution is heavy and persuades less drivers to commit the crime, thus keeping dangerous drivers off of the streets.
• It is quick and easy to use, meaning that police officers do not waste valuable time catching other criminals, the situation can be dealt quickly along with a heavy punishment.
• They are affordable; this means that it does not cost the tax-payer a lot of money to invest in the system and it also means that the public can test themselves before driving.
• The accuracy of it can also be used as crucial evidence in court. It will help lock a way the dangerous drivers.

Disadvantages

• It may produce a false reading if the suspect has drunk alcahol recently (but under the limit) due to a high level of alcahol in the mouth, meaning that some people may be unlawfully fined.
• The breathalyser can be less accurate too if they have smoked recently, which could also cause the same problem as above.
• It doesn't stop everyone from doing it again; most convicters are likely to re-convict, and it doesn't necessarily stop all the dangerous drivers.
• It requires a long sample of breath; if the suspect has a small lung capacity or emphysema it can be difficult to obtain a sample.

An example of the danger that a "drunk" person can cause

The effect of ICT on crime and the law (Part 1)

Speed Cameras


A standard Speed Camera (UK)



The first concept of a speed camera was created in 1905, with the first "film camera" being used in the 1950s, however the digital version used in today's world was made in the 1990s. The modern digital version detects when a vehicle exceeds the speed limit of an area with the camera automatically detecting the number plate and sending a fine to the registered driver's address, it may also include an image of the driver to verify the identity of the driver. There are various different methods todetecting the speed of the car; GPS (Global Positioning System), Lasers and RADAR (Radio Detection and Ranging). Speed cameras are extremely controversial worldwide, this is because people believe they are a distraction to drivers, causing them to panic and slow down causing an accident. On the other hand, they dramtically decrease speeding in areas due to the heavy fines. It is very unlikely that any car can get away without being charged a fine due to the complex sytems used. The sytem also detects whether the car has paid insurance or road tax and can induce heavier fines to the driver. Speed cameras are gaining £20million worth of fines to the treasury every year.



An image taken by a standard Speed Camera

Advantages:

• They have helped people to slow down on the roads, this makes it much safer, especially for nervous drivers such as the elderly.
• The heavy fines that are induced can be used as a "tax" to pay for road improvements and other useful improvements to society.
• The technology detects whether the car owner has also payed road tax or insurance, therefore reducing the number of dangerous drivers on the road.
• It is all done automatially; therefore making it more efficient to send the punishment. It also means that people don't need to be employed to match up the data, saving government money.

Disadvantages:

• They are not entirely accurate and can be set-off by speeding objects. Speed cameras are often set off by birds and other flying objects, or simply the sensor being covered.
• Not everybody likes the idea of speed cameras and they are often vandalised, this costs extra money to fix them which is obtained through tax, which is expensive.
• People can get away from paying fines if they cover up their number plate or fit a "number plate flipper", this means they can get away without paying a fine. The people that do this are likely to be dangerous drivers and this means they are unlikely to get caught.
• They can cause a distraction to drivers; a driver may panic and slow down causing them to crash into the person behind. This could cause a potentially fatal accident (an example can be seen in the video below).

A duck being caught on speed camera in France.

Bibliography:

http://www.lordpercy.com/speed_cameras_explained.htm

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/122029

http://www.speedcamerasuk.com/speed-camera-faqs.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_enforcement_camera

The effect of ICT on school life (Part 2)

Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs)
A VLE is a website that allows teachers and students to exchange work or lessons online, it can be accessed anywhere at anytime. Teachers can add extra research material, a hand-in for work (which can have set opening hours), Q&A with the teacher, statistics of the whole class, notes, videos, parental access, tests and learning goals. Each student has their own portfolio area for their work and can have a grid showing their progress on the work they are undertaking. An advanced feature is that you can view (in real time) the teacher writing the notes on an interactive white board (see SmartBoard), this can be incredibly useful if a student is ill as they can access the work from home. Users can their subjects to favourites to ensure they can reach the subject of their choice easily. There are many different VLEs on the internet: two of the most popular being "Moodle" and "Fronter". The use of VLEs can help students beyond the classroom making homework and coursework more interesting for the students, they can access all the help they need from their school at any time.

Moodle Homepage Screenshot

The Fronter Homepage for Southend High School for Girls

Advantages:

• It saves paper! By sharing the files online, it saves the need for printing, this means that the conept is fairly eco-friendly and can help promote a "Green" image for the school/college where it is used.
• Students/Teachers can access documents at anytime, this means that if a student was absent for a lesson, they can easily catch up on work, keeping up to date with important work.
• Parents can keep track of their child's/childrens' progress. The system allows parents to see if their child is underperforming and perhaps encouraging their child to work harder.
• Files are available for multiple download, with a file online, any student can access and download their teachers work again and again, there is no restriction. This saves the teacher from manually sending the file to every student.

Disadvantages:

• A student must have access to the internet if they wish to access it at home. This can be difficult for families in unfortunate financial circumstances. Therefore it is not completely accessible to everyone.
• It is not completely safe, most VLEs do not have virus software fitted into the system, this means that viruses could be easily transferred from a student file onto a teacher's computer.
• It could be mis-used, teachers from other "under-performing" schools may gain access to better schools' files and "steal" work. This is an example of plajorism which is unfair to the person that has put time into creating good work.
• A student must also have a PC/mac at home to access the work. This is also extremely costly and difficult for low-income families.

Bibliography:
http://uk.fronter.info/
http://fronter.com/southend
http://moodle.org/

News stories about the effect of ICT on school life:

1. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7824736.stm
2. http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2008/10/16/232696/Schools-not-adopting-IT-fast-enough-says-Becta.htm

The effect of ICT on school life (Part 1)

SmartBoard

The smartboard has changed the way that teachers run lessons in schools in the developed world. The smartboard is a special whiteboard made with DViT (Digital Vision Touch) technology so that the teacher can display an interactive whiteboard/activity on the screen that can be written on with virtual ink or simply clicked/scrolled. For the system to work, a reasonable computer (laptop or PC), a projector, USB cable, the Smart Board Software and speakers (if sound wishes to be displayed). The board is fitted with 4 pens (of Red, Blue, Green & Black) and a rubber. However, they are not ordinary pens - they use ZeroInk technology, the pens do not have ink and are fitted with sensors that react to the screen so that it acts as that colour pen on the screen, the rubber is used to rub off the pen marks made. The technology means that teachers can make lessons beyond the classroom with video explanations, educational games and the sharing of other students' work. Some models are beginning to be fitted with projectors; thus meaning the school does not need to buy one separately (which is more expensive). The "SmartBoard" company are now developing a "SmartBoard" table that allows students to interact together on one shared surface, the teacher can create activities for the students to do. Businesses are also now using the technology, it allows an e-conference to be conducted over the internet, saving time and money on travel if the people in the conference are far apart.

SmartBoard being used by a teacher



ZeroInk used in Maths

Advantages:

• Saves the cost of replacing traditional used/stolen ink pens.
• The ZeroInk technology means that the board will always look clean. This means that the text on the screen will be easily read by all members of the class.
• Each lesson's work can be saved onto a file. This means that teachers can compare work and improve lessons. It also means if a student was absent, the student can easily access and copy up the teacher's notes.
• Teacher's can plan the lesson ahead and write out all of the lesson's notes before hand. This saves valuable lesson time in which notes would be written on the board meaning the teacher can spend more time helping students whilst the notes are up. If this was done traditionally, the teacher would likely have no time to help students and spend most of their time writing up the tasks or notes.
• Any computer (with the installed software) can be used with the SmartBoard, this saves the time of re-writing notes on the board in a different room; it can just be loaded straight to the board from a previous lesson.

[Jing Video]
[Jing Video]

Disadvantages:

• It is incredibly expensive; a standard board (no projector) costs over £1000. This can be hard for a school to buy if it is in a remote area with only a few pupils.
• A projector is needed to display the work along with a PC/Mac, this costs up to £1000 for both. Once again, this is difficult for small schools.
• It requires electricity to run, so therefore if there is a powercut and there is no manual method, it will be difficult to give the work to students.
• It is not a multi-touch surface, this means that only 1 thing can be drawn/clicked at a time, this makes navigation fairly sluggish.

Bibliography:
http://smarttech.com/
http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/SMART+Boards/prod.asp

The effect of ICT on the way we bank and shop (Part 2)

Chip & Pin
Chip and Pin was first trialled in Northampton, UK, in 2003. It was used to replace the "swipe" method, this was because "swipe" cards didn't need another security check, so any person could use the card (for example; criminals). The Chip and Pin method requires the user to enter their own personal four-digit PIN code, the user of the card must know the PIN card to carry out the transaction. The user has 3 attempts to enter the PIN correctly if it is entered incorrectly, if they fail all 3 attempts, then the card is blocked and the user must visit their local bank.

The whole concept of Chip and PIN reduces the need for cash when shopping, it is also much quicker as a transaction because the till operator doesn't need to count change. Another feature is the "CashBack" option that allows account holders to take money from their account with their transaction. The other benefit is that some cards can be used abroad, this reduces the need to change currencies for cash at a bureau de change or airport, however some banks charge customers when using this feature.

A Chip and PIN card reader.

Companies that use card transactions in purchases have to pay a transaction handler to ensure the transaction occurs, this can be costly in the long run. Most companies get around this by making sure that customers can only use card if they spend over a certain amount of money, for example £3.00


The cost (from Barclaycard) to take card transactions at a business


Advantages:

• It is much safer than the old "swipe method". This is because users need to type in their PIN code, a form of identification verification.
• It reduces the need to carry cash, this means that the customer and till operator doesn't need to physically count the amount of money that needs to be given for the transaction.
• It is more efficient than paying by cash, the transfer occurs quickly and no change needs to be given (unless the customer requires cashback).
• It can be used for online transactions (unlike cash). Users enter their bank details and can easily carry out a transaction from the comfort of their home. The user's reciept is sent via e-mail.

Disadvantages:

• It can be hard for the elderly to remember their pin number, this can cause many cards to break and hard for the elderly to access their money. Criminals could take advantage of this.
• Criminals will find ways around it, by cloning cards, or simply finding out the pin of the card. There is no completely safe method.
• If there is a power failure/telephone wire disconnection, then transactions won't be able to occur. This means that companies will lose out on sales and customers.
• If a user has a credit card and a debit card, then they must remember two different pins, this could increase the number of errors, unfortunately this could lead to cards getting blocked. This can then take time to replace/fix the card.

News Articles:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3039619.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/moneybox/3717331.stm

The effect of ICT on the way we bank and shop (Part 1)

EPOS
The EPOS system allows stock management, purchases and refunds to occur over one network in a shop. This improves efficiency, it all occurs over the same system. It will use data from a stock database to work out when stock needs to be re-ordered and when stock is full. This can connect to a company site to display when certain products are available. The EPOS can also be used to price check products to ensure all of the products are labled with the correct price. The EPOS runs on a server which is accessed by several work stations in the shop; the tills, warehouse management and usually an office computer. At the tills, the EPOS calculates whether there are offers on products, how much change to give to the customer and prints off the customer's reciept of purchase. This whole system has increased turnovers in shops across the world because more customers can be served in a shorter amount of time.

An EPOS Workstation

Advantages:

• Elimates staff errors when "counting"
• If an error is made, the system can track which member of staff made the error.
• It is cheaper in the long run - It is expensive to buy, however this money is soon payed off especially due to more customers being served.
• "Reports" can be made, showing increasing/decreasing trends in certain products.
• It allows stock control and purchases to run simultaneously over the same system.

[Insert Image here]

Disadvantages:

• The tills/workstations are expensive, costing roughly £700 each.
• If the phone line becomes disrupted, cards could be rejected, losing many customers.
• If a price is wrong on the system (e.g. too low) the products will get sold at that price and end up in the company losing money
• If a powercut occurs, it can be difficult to carry out manual transactions.

Bibliography
http://www.epos.co.uk/

The effect of ICT on the way we communicate (Part 2)

VoIP
The concept of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) was first introduced in 1995 by VocalTec, however it did not recieve well in the market until 2003, when Skype was created. From then on, people realised the potential of what skype and VoIP can hold with FREE calls over the internet to any other VoIP user. Most VoIP software allows the user to connect to 3G/landline networks and ring mobile/home telephones, however this feature requires credit (similar to a mobile telephone).  VoIP is incredibly popular for large companies and business enterprises, this is because it allows them to have free conferences between contacts. Most software also allows the use of webcam with the call, so users can talk as if they are standing right in front of the person they are talking to. If the voice/webcam cuts off, then users can use a standard IM (instant messaging) feature and type what they wish to say.

Skype: A VoIP client.

VoIP can now be used on some mobile phones (coming under the data plan/internet plan) so users can call other users at a reasonable price (depending on their 3G internet tariff), this can be incredibly useful if the user has run out of "talktime". Many companies have released "handsets" for internet phones that plug into a computer wirelessly, but the handset is kept where it can be heard, like a living room or lounge, this is purely for aesthetic reasons because some people prefer the idea of using a handset when calling the person they wish to talk to.

A VoIP handset from "Tesco Internet Phone"

Advantages:

• Depending on the price of the broadband connection/internet tariff of a mobile, VoIP is considerably cheaper in the long run than calling a person phone-to-phone/mobile-to-mobile.
• Many VoIP users can be connected to one call as a "conference", this eliminates the effort of having to call separate people to say the same information, the use of a "conference improves efficiency and accuracy (because all the people are told the same information.
• Some software allow the use of webcams, this allows users to literally "see" who they are talking to, this can help people who are far away from family or friends to cope with isolation/loneliness.

Disadvantages:

• VoIP requires internet access, whether it is broadband or 3G; this costs money. Most broadband connections (with phone line rental) costs around £11 a month, where most 3G networks charge £7.50 unlimited internet access (with a fair use policy of 1GB)
• Depending on the speed/connection of the internet, the communication speed can lag or buffer. This can disrupt the fluidity of the conversation. The best connection available is around 20 megabytes-per-second.
• It is not completely secure, the internet can easily be accessed by spammers or hackers. This means that friends or family could be subject to "junk mail".

News Articles:
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=5868&review=Google+Voice+vs+Skype+5+Beta
http://www.8el.com/news/voip-news/us-college-upgrades-to-voip-800067305.html

Bibliography
http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/tom-keating/voip/voip-history.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_over_Internet_Protocol

The effect of ICT on the way we communicate (Part 1)

SMS
The first text message (Short Message Service/ SMS) was sent on the 3rd December 1992 by the boss of VodafoneUK, Neil Papworth, which was sent to all his employees wishing a Merry Christmas. This single message changed the way the world communicates in the modern world today. Every mobile phone can now send texts to other mobile phones and sometimes even home phones (which are read by a A.I. robot over an answer phone message).  Each SMS message is limited to 140 characters, so the user may have to use acronymns if they wish to insert a long message, this language is known as "textese" and has caused much debate that it may be harming young children's ability to learn standard english. An example of a common acronym would be: LOL- laughing out loud, or gr8 - great. SMS eventually developed the idea of MMS (MultiMedia Messages) where users can send images as if they were a text. This is an easy way to share photos with friends and family, however it cost considerably more than a standard SMS message (around 5 times more).



The screen showed on a mobile phone when a message is recieved.

 Advantages

• SMS messages are more discreet than a phone conversation as the voice cannot be overheard by someone else, therefore it is better to send private or secret information.
• It is less time consuming as a phone conversation, in the time it takes to call someone and for them to answer their phone, a text message could be sent.
• It is a better method of communication for people who are deaf or unable to speak.
• If a message is sent and the user's phone is off, the message will be stored in a network database and sent as soon as a signal is recieved for that phone.
• Several contacts can be sent the same message, saving time and effort and increasing efficiency.
• Some companies, can send reminders or notifications to their customers. This includes: banks (e.g. Lloyds TSB - send notifications to users if they are running low on money, or wish to know their bank balance), medical centres (e.g. Bupa - remind patients when their appointments are) and phone networks (send reminders on credit balance).

Lloyds TSB - Sending a text when your card is used abroad.

  

Disadvantages

• You have to pay to send an SMS message, either by contract (a set amount of money for a set amount of texts, calls and internet usage a month) or on "Pay As You Go" where you top-up when your credit runs out, each text costs roughly 10 pence.
• You cannot send any video/music attatchment.
• It is difficult for visually impared people to use.
• Some people become victims of spam text - this is where companies can send advertisement texts straight to your mobile phone.
• The time it takes to send the message can vary due to "traffic". This is particularly common during a busy time (like christmas or new years eve) where it can take 10 to 20 minutes to recieve a text, this can be a danger when an emergency text needs to be sent.
• It can cause a distraction when driving. In the US, from 2001-to2007, text messaging alone caused 16,000 deaths. Some mobile phones are now being developed so that the user cannot send texts when driving a car, this works through a GPS signal that works out if you are travelling at a high/dangerous speed to text.

A fatal car crash caused by the distraction of text messaging at the wheel.

Bibliography
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/When_was_the_first_sms_sent
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS
http://communication.howstuffworks.com/sms1.htm

Coursework 1.2 - Sections to cover

For Unit 1.2, I will be analysing the benefits and drawbacks of:

• the effect of ICT on the way we communicate - e.g. mobile phones, netbooks..
• the effect of ICT on the way people work - e.g. web design, computers...
• the effect of ICT on the way we bank and shop - e.g. EPOS, ATMs...
• the effect of ICT on school life - e.g. SmartBoards, SIMs...
• the effect of ICT on crime and the law - e.g. Speed Cameras, CPS website...

Real Time Information Services: National Rail Enquiries

National Rail Enquiries The National Rail set up an enquiries website when the power of the internet was realised in the early 2000s. It was a much more useful method for customers to gain information than to ring the busy call centres, customers can now get exactly what they want and when they want it. With the internet now readily available on smartphones, customers can find out if their are any delays whilst on the move, making the service more efficient.

Features:

• Homepage: At the homepage of the website, the customer is provided with a simple "menu-bar" interface at the top of the screen. On the page itself, there are mostly advertisements for travel, along with special offers by national rail and various shortcuts to different parts of the website. It has a simple, as well as having an aesthetically pleasing design. The simplicity of the design means that people who have less experience with the internet, especially the elderly.

The Homepage

• 
  
  Live Departure Boards: This area is found under the sub-menu of "Train times & tickets". Here the user can type in the station of their choice into the box to load a live departure board of that station, alerting the customer of any possible delays. If the customer cannot access the internet, they can text the station name to "84950" and it will provide information on live departures. The Train Tracker (text message) service is very useful, especially for people who cannot afford smart phones, or simply cannot access the internet.  At this area of the site, the customer can also check the facilities of a station (whether it has toilets, baby-changing facilities, bike sheds etc.) this allows people to plan ahead, to perhaps get off a station early in emergency situations.

The "Train times & tickets" area of the website.

Live Departure board for Leigh-on-Sea to London Fenchurch Street.

• 
  
  About your journey: At this page, the customer can find out more information about the journey itself; stations, destinations, maps and time tables. The main feature of this page is that customers can find which stations are nearest to certain destinations; such as theme parks, castles, hospitals etc. This is very useful for people who do not own cars and rely on public transport to get around. The destinations are arranged into colour coded categories to make the destinations even easier to locate.

The destinations list.

• Changes to train times: when the customer first encounters this part of the site, they are shown the current news on delays, shown in a similar way to a blog (oldest at the bottom). Each new information is placed into an individual table cell to avoid confusion. The page is updated 24/7 to ensure complete coverage of any delays. The format of the site itself is very clear and concise and the information can be found quickly and efficiently. The page also has an area showing "Future Disruptions", this gives a warning, allowing customers to change plans and claim a refund if they need to.

Real Time Information Services: Odeon

 

Odeon:

Odeon is Britain's (and Europe's) largest Cinema chain and has been running since 1928. In the early 2000's the company had to adapt to the current consumer market; it made a website that allowed customers to book tickets, see the latest film times and find their nearest odeon cinema. Customers can choose their seats, pay for tickets, then collect from an electronic ticket distributing machine therefore beating the lengthy queues.

A map showing the distibution of Odeon Cinemas in the UK.

Features:

When going onto the site, the home page will load. From here, the customer has access to all of Odeon's services (see bullet points below):

The Odeon Homescreen; with an easy to access menu-bar at the top with several columns to help organise information.

•  Book Now: from the homepage, the customer can select the cinema, film, day and time (depending on the times of the screenings) of their choice. This is the first step to booking a film on the site, it is located here so that unexperienced users of the internet don't feel patronised by a complex web page.

The "Book Now" screen located on the Home Page.

After selecting the film and cinema, the customer is presented with another screen where they can choose the ticket types (Adult, Child, Teen, Family, Senior or Student) and where they wish to sit. After selecting the number of tickets, the screen displays a layout of the cinema showing the seats that are available. The customer then drags there ticket types and drops it in the area of the cinema where they wish to sit. This is a very simple technique, therefore it will be easy for people who do not use the internet often. After selecting the seats, the customer will pay for the tickets, using a secure payment system with a debit or credit card. The downside with this payment method is that Odeon charge 75p for a Card Handling fee, the customer can not pay with cash too, which some people prefer to pay with human interaction (especially if they require help).

The area of the site where users can select their seats.

•  Film: If the customer is stuck on which film they wish to see, then the website can suggest which films to see from what they have on offer. The user can access this section easily by simply clicking on the "Films" tab on the homepage:

 After clicking this tab, the customer encounts a new screen where the user can choose from the "Top 5" films, or see information on upcoming films. This arranged into two columns which makes it easier for people to find the film they desire to see. The customer also has the option to view "All Films Showing" and see which films are showing in order of "Genre".

The "Films" section of the site.

When the customer chooses a film, a page will load containing various information about the film:

Here, the customer can see a rating (provided by film reviewes at Odeon), production information (including cast) and a synopsis of the plot. The page will often have a trailer too, this will help the customer decide whether it is the film they wish to see. Once again this sytem is easy for inexperienced web users because all of the information they wish to see is located in one place. If the customer still cannot make up their mind, then they can see reviews by other customers, this is more useful because they are rating films for the entertainment, where professional film reviewers will rate films on camera angles, casting, light etc.

Film reviews by other customers.

• Cinemas: If the customer has already bought their tickets for the film and are stuck on information for the cinema where they are going to see it, this is where to go. To reach this information, the customer clicks the "Cinemas" section of the menu tab:

The "Cinema" tab with drop down menu.

My Cinema and Times: At this page the user can see cinema times for any film up to 2 weeks in advance. Each film has a small synopsis area with a trailer with a rating (a condensed version of the "films" page). All the times are written in a simple 24hr clock, therefore no one can get confused between the AM and PM. If a screening becomes full up, the time will appear in a different colour to show it is full, however the time isn't deleted, this is so that people who are booked can check the time.


Cinema Times for my local area - Southend-on-Sea

 Cinema Finder: This screen shows a map of the British Isles showing areas where an Odeon Cinema is located (See Image at the top of the blog). If the user cannot read a map/cannot see clearly where the nearest one is, they can type their postcode into a box, and it will list the nearest odeon and how far away it is. This service isn't original, and the same thing can be done simply by typing it into google maps, especially the fact that it gives less information than google maps. On the other hand, it is more useful for people who are inexperienced at using the internet.

E-Commerce: Amazon

Amazon
Amazon is effectively an online "department store" with products including: DVDs, CDs, games, jewelry, clothing & toys. In recent years (2000's) it has launched an MP3 site, it's eBook (The "Kindle") and eBook store. Users can search for any product they desire, including products being sold by third-party sellers. It offers efficient and cheap delivery along with the option to track your products being delivered.

Features:
When the user logs on, they are given a homescreen with all the features that amazon provide in one easy-to-find interface. This makes it more attractive for people that are not common users of computers because everything is straightforward and simple. The features that are shown on the homepage are listed below:


The "user's" unique homescreen (note the use of a friendly remark in the title,
 it uses personal information to make the user feel more welcome).



• Your Account Options: Here the user has the option to track their deliveries and purchased items, they can see if the purchase has been validated/approved/sent through logistics/sent. This allows the user to easily arrange plans so that they can be present for when the delivery arrives. At this section, the user can change their account details/passwords. Users can also edit their E-mail Notification settings, this prevents Amazon from sending "hot deals newsletters" which helps decrease the amount of junk mail in the inbox of the account holder.

The account settings area.

• Your Community: This is amazon's "social network" where users can exchange information on products and share opinions. This is a great way to discover new interests in products and to develop knowlege on the the products themselves. Each user has their own "personal profile" along with reminders on release dates for products etc. However the "personal profile" could become "too" personal and it users could be an easy target by hackers to take information on debit/credit cards.

The "Your Community" area.

• Your Participation: This is the area of amazon that allows users to write reviews and share photos of products they own. This is extremely helpful for new and inexperienced users as it allows them to have clear and concise information on the product they wish to buy, from people that have experience with the product or already own it. This is much better as the company themselves only persuade customers to buy their product, reviews offer impartial advice to help the user decide whether they wish to buy it or not. Users can also create "Listmania Lists" where people can create a "must have" list, for instance a list of all the possible "Doctor Who" DVDs you can buy.

The "Your Participation" area.

• Your Recent Shopping: This is to amazon, what "history" is to internet explorer. It allows the account holder to see their previous purchases. It also allows users to see items they have recently "viewed", amazon cleverly adapts this into a system that recommends products to the user. However, the only downside to this feature is that you cannot control the "recommend you" feature, and for example: if a husband wanted to buy his wife a suprise present, it may recommend similar products. The system may also be seen as a breach of privacy. Here the user can also send their "shopping products" with all the items they wish to buy, to the checkout.
  



The "Your Recent Shopping" area.



• Your Wish List:  This is a feature that allows users to place the items they wish to have the most. This is useful for people that cannot afford a certain product, but wish to by it later, it is effectively a reminder of what they wish to purchase and encourages them to keep saving for the object they desire. A good example of where this can be used appropriately, is when you spot a gift for someone, a few months before their birthday, then when their birthday gets closer, it will remind the user of the product they saw. 

The "Wish list" area



News Stories Relating to E-Commerce:

• 
  
  Copycat websites of online retailers are becoming a "pandemic". Fake products are sold and the user become mislead into thinking the product is genuine. the news story describes how long it takes to "set up" a counterfiet site, and statistics on how many counterfiet goods were raided in the past few year. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11372689
• 
  
  This is an article that explains how e-companies are breaking the law by not providing fair enough "laws" to their own websites. For example; not enough time to return a product. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8421714.stm