Chapter 5: Network Applications

5.1 Netwrork Applications

1. Describe the three network applications that we discussed in this section and the tools and technologies that support each one.
- Discovery. By browsing and searching data sources on the web, users can apply the Internets discovery capability to areas ranging from education to governemtn services to entertainment to commerce.
Eg. Search Engine
Publication of Material in Foreign Languages
Portals
- Communication. Many types of communication, including email, call centres, electonic chat rooms,and voice communication.
- Collaboration. An important feature of modern organisations is taht people collaborate to perform work. It is efforts by 2 or more entities.
E.g Workflow technologies, groupware.

2. What are the business conditions that are leading to the increased importance of videoconferencing?
The latst version of videoconfrencing, called telepresence, enables participants to sealessly share data, voice, pictures, graphics and animation by electronic means. Conferees can also transmit data along with voice and video, ehich allows themn to work on documents together and to exchange computer files.

5.2 Web 2.0

1. Describe the underlying technologies, applications and types of Web sites that comprise Web 2.0.
Web 2.0 is a loose collection of information technologies adn applications, and of the web sites taht use them. These web sites enrich the user experience by ensouraging user participation, social interaction, and collaboration.
-Ajax
- Tagging
- Blogs and Blogging
- Really Simple Syndication
- Podcasts and Videocasts
- Wikis

2. Describe the function of Web services.
Web services are applications, delivered over the internet, taht users can select and combine through almost any device, from personal computers to mobile phones. By using a aset standards, these applciuations permit differebnt systems to "talk" with one another - that is, to share data and service - eithout requiriung human beings to translate the conversations.

3. Describe the function of service-oriented architectures.
SOA is an IOT architecture that makes it possible to construt business applicarions using Web services. The Web services can be reused across an organisation in other applications. So, a Web service taht checks a consumer's credit could be used with a service that processes a mortgage application or a service taht processes a credit card application.

5.3 E-Learning & Distance Learning

1. What is the difference between e-learning and distance learning?
E-learning refers to learnign supported by the web. Distance Learning (DL) refers to any learnign situation in whichteachers and students do not meet face to face.

5.4 Telecommuting

1. What is telecommuting? A work arrangement whereby employees work at home, at the customer's premises, in special workplaces, or while traveling, usually using a computer linked to their place of employment.

2 What are the advantages and disadvantages of telecommuting from the viewpoint of the employee? From the viewpoint of the organization? Employee Advantages: reduced stress and imroved family life. Empyment opportunities for household people such as single parents and persons with disabilities. Employee Disadvantages: increased feelings of isolation, possible loss of fringe beenfits, lower pay (in some cases), no workplace visibility, the potential for slower promotions, and lack of socialisation. Organisation Advantages: increased productivity, the ability to retain skilled employees andt he ability to attract employees who dont live within commuting distance. Organisation Disadvantages: difficulties in supervising work, potential data security problems and training costs.

Rainer, R. & Turban, E. (2009). Introduction to Information Systems: Supporting and Transforming Business. 2 Ed. John Wiley & Sons