CHAPTER 2

THE INTERNET, THE WEB AND ELECTRONIC COMMERCE

THE INTERNET AND THE WEB

The Internet The Web

- Launched in 1969 with ARPANET(Advanced - Introduced in 1991, the web (World Wide Web,
Research Project Agency Network), the Internet consists WWW) provides a multimedia interface to Internet
of the actual physical network. resources. Three generations: Web 1.0 (existing
information), Web 2.0 (content creation and social
interaction), and Web 3.0 (automatic personalized
content).
COMMON USES OF THE INTERNET AND THE WEB

The most common uses of the Internet and the web include:
 Communication — the most popular Internet activity.
 Shopping — one of the fastest-growing Internet activities.
 Searching — access libraries and local, national, and international news.
 Education — e-learning or taking online courses.
 Entertainment — music, movies, magazines, and computer games.
INTERNET ACCESS

Providers: Browsers:
- Internet service providers are
connected to the Internet, providing a path -Browsers provide access to web resources. Some related
for individuals to access the Internet. terms are
Connection technologies include DSL, cable,  URLs — locations or addresses to web resources; two
and wireless modems. parts are protocol and domain name; top-level domain
(TLD) or web suffix identifies type of organization.
 HTML — commands to display web pages; hyperlinks
(links) are connections.
 Mobile browsers run on portable devices.
WEB UTILITIES
 are specialized utility programs that make using the Internet and the web easier and safer.

Plug-Ins Filters
- Plug-ins are automatically loaded and operate as - Filters are used by parents and organizations to
part of a browser. Many websites require specific plug- block certain sites and to monitor use of the Internet and
ins to fully experience their content. Some plug-ins are the web.
included in many of today’s browsers; others must be
installed.
File Transfer Utilities Internet Security Suite
- File transfer utilities copy files to (downloading) - An Internet security suite is a collection of
and from (uploading) your computer. There are three types: utility programs designed to protect your privacy and
 File transfer protocol (FTP) and secure file transfer security on the Internet.
protocol (SFTP) allow you to efficiently copy files
across the Internet.
 BitTorrent distributes file transfers across many
different computers.
 Web-based file transfer services make use of a web
browser to upload and download files.
COMMUNICATION

E-mail Spam
- E-mail (electronic mail) is the transmission of
- Spam is unwanted and unsolicited e-mail that
electronic messages. There are two basic types of e-mail
systems: may include a computer virus or destructive
programs often attached to unsolicited e-mail. Spam
 Client-based e-mail systems use e-mail clients installed
blockers, also known as spam filters, are programs
on your computer.
that identify and eliminate spam.
 Web-based e-mail systems use webmail clients located on
the e-mail provider’s computer. This is known as webmail.
A typical e-mail has three basic elements: header (including
address, subject, and perhaps attachment), message, and
signature.
MESSAGING

While e-mail is the most widely used, there are two other messaging systems:
 Text messaging, also known as texting and SMS (short message service), is a process of sending short electronic
messages typically less than 160 characters. Texting while driving is very dangerous and illegal in several states.
 Instant messaging (IM) — supports live communication between friends. Most instant messaging programs also
include videoconferencing features, file sharing, and remote assistance.
SOCIAL NETWORKING

Social networks connect individuals to one another. Many sites support a variety of different
activities. Three of the best known are Facebook, Google+, and LinkedIn.
 Facebook provides access to Facebook Profiles, Facebook Pages, and Facebook groups.
 Google+ provides access to Circles and Hangouts.
 LinkedIn is a premier business-oriented social networking site.
BLOGS, WEBCASTS AND WIKIS

Other sites that help individuals communicate across the  Webcasts deliver media content over the Internet.
web are blogs, microblogs, webcasts, podcasts, and Using streaming technology (audio and video files
wikis. continuously downloaded while you are listening to
 Blogs (web logs) are typically personal websites to and/or viewing the file content), no files remain on
your computer at the conclusion of the webcast.
keep in touch with friends and family. Some are like
online diaries. Businesses, newspapers, and others  Podcasts, like webcasts, deliver media content but
also use blogs as a quick publishing method. do not use streaming technology. Before content can
 Microblogs, unlike traditional blogs, use only short be accessed, the entire media file has to be
downloaded and saved to your computer.
sentences that take only a few seconds to write.
Twitter is the most popular microblogging site. A  A wiki is a website designed to allow visitors to use
Twitter message is known as a tweet. their browsers to add, edit, or delete the site’s
content. Wikis are often used to support collaborative
writing. Wikipedia is one of the most popular wikis.
SEARCH TOOLS
Search services maintain huge databases relating to website content. Spiders are programs that
update these databases.

Search Engines Specialized Search

- Search engines are specialized programs to help - Engines Specialized search engines focus on
locate information. To use, enter a keyword or phrase subject-specific websites.
and a list of hits, or links to references, is displayed.
CONTENT EVALUATION
To evaluate the accuracy of information found on the web, consider the following:

 Authority. Is the author an expert? Is the site official  Objectivity. Is the information factual or does the
or does it present one individual’s or organization’s author have a bias? Does the author appear to have a
opinion. personal agenda to convince or form a reader’s
 Accuracy. Has the information been critically opinion?
reviewed? Does the site provide a method to report  Currency. Is the information up to date? Does the
inaccurate information? site specify when information is updated? Are the
site’s links operational?
ELECTRONIC COMMERCE

Electronic commerce, or e-commerce, is the buying and selling of goods over the Internet.
Three basic types are
 Business-to-consumer (B2C) commerce, which involves sales from business to the general public.
 Consumer-to-consumer (C2C) commerce, which involves sales between individuals. Web auctions are similar to
traditional auctions except buyers and sellers rarely, if ever, meet face to face.
 Business-to-business (B2B) commerce, which involves sales from one business to another, typically a
manufacturer-supplier relationship.
CLOUD COMPUTING

Cloud computing uses the Internet and the web to shift many computer activities from the
user’s computer to other computers on the Internet
 Components • The Internet provides the connection between the
clients and providers. Two critical factors are the
- There are three basic components to cloud speed and reliability of the user’s access and the
computing: Internet’s capability to provide safe and reliable
• Clients are corporations and end users who want access.
access to data, programs, and storage. • Service providers are organizations with computers
connected to the Internet that are willing to provide
access to software, data, and storage.
CLOUD COMPUTING

Security
- The two greatest challenges for e-commerce are
the development of
• Safe, secure payment methods. Two types are credit
cards and digital cash.
• Convenient ways to provide required information.
 Internet of Things(IoT)

For example:
Internet of Things
 The Fitbit is an IoT device (bracelet) that monitors
- The Internet of Things (IoT) is a continuing health data and sends that data to a smartphone or
development of the Internet allowing everyday objects personal web page.
embedded with electronic devices to send and receive
data over the Internet. Objects include smartphones,  Apple’s Health App is a Web 3.0 application that can
wearable devices, and even coffeemakers. access Fitbit data, combine it with other related
health data, analyze the data, and report back to you
through a smartphone. The Apple Health App reports
provide information about users’ health including
heart rate, steps taken each day, and an estimate of
daily calories burned.