Internet Technologies, Outline Example

• Largest global computer network connecting billions of users with each other
• Not same as World Wide Web (WWW)
  • WWW is a subset of internet used to store and access information on the internet

Functions

• Connects clients (information seeker) with servers (information provider)
  • The easiest way to connect with client is through URL web address
• Each computer has unique IRL
  • Makes it possible for the server to identify client and send information to the right computer

Communication/Collaboration Technologies

• Social networking allows information exchange among friends as well as those with common interests and experiences
  • Businesses embracing social networking to connect directly with consumers
  • Social networking does pose privacy challenges

• Email is a written communication over the internet
  • Offers greater privacy to the communication parties than social networking though not absolute privacy
    • Sensitive information should be avoided in email communication

• Instant messaging is communication among friends and acquaintances in real-time
  • The quickest method to communicate.
  • Many instant messaging service now provide audio and video chat service

• Weblogs and video logs are personal diaries on the internet
  • Public communication tools that make it easier to communicate with large number of individuals

• Wikis are user-generated content websites
  • Information may have credibility issues but Wikipedia has a pretty impressive record

• Podcasts and webcasts are audio and video broadcasts over the internet

Entertainment

• Streaming audios and videos
• Web games
  • Made possible by players and plug-ins such as Flash Player and Silverlight

Commerce

• E-Commerce refers to conducting business over the web
  • Four types of E-Commerce models are click-and-brick, business-to-consumer (B2C), business-to-business (B2B), and consumer-to-consumer (C2C)
  • Online security companies such as VeriSign help increase security of online commerce

Accessing Web

• Internet websites are accessed through web browsers
  • Popular web browsers include Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, and Chrome
• Web address or URL (Uniform Resource Locator) primarily consists of three parts
  • Protocol
  • Domain name
  • Top-level domain name
• Favorite websites could be marked for repeat visits
  • Major way is to bookmark them or add them to favorite list

Searching on the Web

• Search engines enable the users to search for website through keywords
  • Different search engines may yield different results due to use of different formulas or algorithms
  • Search can also be conducted to find videos and pictures

Evaluating Websites

• Not all websites are equally credible
  • Credibility could be evaluated by looking at the authority behind the site, site bias, information relevance, intended audience, and links