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

E-Commerce: Play.com (Part 2)

Play.com

Features:

• In 2009, Play.com issued it's own "Play.com Credit Card". This gives users 0% charge on card purchases for the first 9 months, 0% on blance charges for the first 6 months, 16.9% Annual Percentage Rate, 1500 bonus "Play Points" along with its "Play Points" award scheme. The Play Points system works by giving users 1 Play Point, for every £1 they spend on Play.com (500 play points totals up to a £5 Gift Voucher for Play.com). This reward scheme is very good for Play.com enthusiasts, however, it does not give you points for buying products from other stores, in the long run, it would be more beneficial to take out a Reward card which gives you points from other stores.





The play.com Credit Card


• Play.com offers the chance for users to sell DVDs/Games/CDs they don't wish to own any longer on a service called Play Trade. This is a great for people to earn small amounts of money if they are in financial trouble. They charge 10% comission fee, however this comission can be removed if you become a "ProTrader" which costs £19.99 a month. In the long run, this service should only be used for "own purposes" and not for a steady financial income, this is because the user doesn't earn a high amount of money due to the products being "Pre-Owned".


 

The PlayTrade logo with information.

• Users can also recommend friends/family on products through e-mail, facebook and twitter at the touch of a button. This makes it much easier to share information over the social networking sites. It makes the whole site more user-friendly and interactive. However, if the e-mail is used, Play.com are likely to use that e-mail in their mailing system and will likely recieve newsletters from Play.com.

Recommendation Tabs