GEE- Living in the IT Era Course Packs PDF

GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA Department of Mathematics and Statistics A COMPENDIUM OF TOPICS FOR LIVING IN THE IT ERA (GEE-LIE) PREPARED BY: FRANCES JAY B. PACALDO JANUARY 2021...

GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA Department of Mathematics and Statistics A COMPENDIUM OF TOPICS FOR LIVING IN THE IT ERA (GEE-LIE) PREPARED BY: FRANCES JAY B. PACALDO JANUARY 2021 Page | 1 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Course Learning outcomes ………………………………………………………..3 Intended Learning Outcomes ……………………………………………………...3 Introduction ………………………………………………………………………….3-4 Lesson 4.1. Information Technology:…………………………………………….4-5 in Education; ……………………………………………………………......5-9 in Business; …………………………..……………………………………10-13 in Travel; ………………………………..………………………………….14-17 in Food Industry; ……………………………………………………..……18-20 in Banking; …………………………………………………………….…...20-27 in Communication and Services ………………………………….……...27-31 Lesson 4.2 Internet of Things (IoT) ……………………………………………...32-38 Lesson 4.3 Smartphones and Mobile Technology……………………………..38-43 Lesson 4.4 Social Media………………………………………………………….44-50 Lesson 4.5 e-Commerce and e-Operations…………………………………….51-55 References…………………………………………………………………………56-57 Table of Contents …………………………………………………………………2 Page | 2 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA GEE-LIE Living in IT Era LESSON 4. Information Technology in personal, professional, social advancement, modern living and human relationships. Lecture Notes Course Learning Outcome for the Lesson Integrate the role of technology into personal, professional, social advancement, modern living and human relationships Intended Learning Outcome Explain the uses of IT in everyday-life. Discuss the Internet of things and its influence on the society. Understand the innovation of technology in our society. Introduction All manner of technology surrounds us. From our personal laptops, tablets, and phones to behind-the-scenes technology that furthers medicine, science, and education. Technology is here to stay, but it’s always morphing and expanding. As each new technology enters the scene, it has the potential to improve lives either in personal, professional, social advancement, modern living and human relationships. Page | 3 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA In this lecture note we will tackle the effect (positive and negative) of Information Technology in the human aspect: IT in Education; Business; Infrastructure; Travel; Food Industry; Banking; Communication and Services. In addition, Internet of things, Smartphones, Mobile Technology and Social media will be given an emphasis. This lecture note also includes the importance of e-Commerce and e-Operations in the modern living and human relationships. At the end of this lecture notes, you are expected to integrate the role of technology into personal, professional, social advancement, modern living and human relationships. Lesson 4.1 IT in Education; Business; Infrastructure; Travel; Food Industry; Banking; Communication and Services. Over the last two decades, our lives have been slowly taken over by technology. Take a moment to look around you. How many screens do you see? Did you include the one you’re reading this on? Our Wi-Fi-enabled gadgets have changed the way we work, play, and even raise our children. Today’s offices would be unrecognizable to workers of the past and thanks to the proliferation of emails, video conferencing, tablets, laptop computers, and other relatively recent innovations. Meanwhile, more and more of our personal time is influenced by our gadgets with each passing day. Page | 4 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA Information Technology in Education We have been using technology so much these days in each and every domain of our lives, be it education or the regular household work, that have we ever taken out a second to wonder if it’s leaving a positive impact on our work or it’s just that we have been relying too much on it that we’ve become habitual to it, ignoring the direction of its impact? Say, for instance, is technology causing education to improve over time or have we just been catching up with the trend of educational technology. Earlier, technology in education was a debatable topic amongst society. Everyone had their own views on modernizing education and making it technology aided. There were a huge number of positives and negatives to education technology. But, gradually as technology was embraced by the educational institutes, they realized the importance of technology in education. Its positives outnumbered the negatives and now, with technology, education has taken a whole new meaning that it leaves us with no doubt that our educational system has been transformed owing to the ever-advancing technology. Technology and education are a great combination if used together with a right reason and vision. With technology, educators, students and parents have a variety of learning tools at their fingertips. Here are some of the ways in which technology improves education over time: Teachers can collaborate to share their ideas and resources online: They can communicate with others across the world in an instant, meet the shortcomings of their work, refine it and provide their students with the best. Students are easy to remain updated. Smartphone are also beneficial in keeping students constantly updated on all those things that are presently happening in the Page | 5 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA world. By simply opening up the application, they can keep themselves updated about all the major happenings in the areas of sports, current events and politics. This instant availability of information enables them to become more and more informed, aware and educated. This immediate access has changed the way students will process information and form decisions. Students can develop valuable research skills at a young age: Technology gives students immediate access to an abundance of quality information which leads to learning at much quicker rates than before. With the introduction of smartphone, they can access to any knowledge at their fingertips. Google serves to be the best and the most reliable information sources that provides them information within seconds. Students and teachers have access to an expanse of material: There are plenty of resourceful, credible websites available on the Internet that both teachers and students can utilize. The Internet also provides a variety of knowledge and doesn’t limit students to one person’s opinion. Use of latest technology-based learning aids greatly helps student to improve their knowledge daily at school. Students are able to retrieve all different types of information quickly than ever before. Online learning is now an equally credible option: Face-to-face interaction is huge, especially in the younger years, but some students work better when they can go at their own pace. Online education is now accredited and has changed the way we view education. Over the past years, a number of studies have shown benefits from the use of technology in education. The role of technology in education is vital but let us not forget that negative Page | 6 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA effect of Technology in education also exist most especially when it is used inappropriately. Classroom teachers are using technology in the classroom more frequently than ever before. Students who are exposed to a high volume of technology perform as well as expected on standardized test, however technology can potentially do students a disservice if used inappropriately. When teaching using technology, instructors must be aware of the potential hindrances technology can bring to the learning process. Some negative effects of technology in today’s classroom are that it can take away valuable learning time, it can be overused, and it can also turn educational experiences into games for students who may miss the point of the lesson. The following are some of the negative effects of Technology in education when used inappropriately: Lost Learning Time In today’s classroom, teachers are pressed to make every minute count. If the teacher and students are not experienced with technology in the classroom, valuable time is often wasted on technical troubles. In addition, the teacher faces the difficulty of having a class full of students who are all at different skill levels. In many schools, most students will have a computer and Internet access, but schools that are located in impoverished areas may have a large portion of their student body with little to no computer experience. While it is important to educate these children in technology, it must be done at a pace that meets every individual’s needs or more learning time will be wasted. Page | 7 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA Overuse and Distraction In some classrooms technology is overused. This can lead to a variety of problems. Many students learn best by physically and mentally interacting with what they are studying. Computers cannot substitute for hands on experience with art supplies, science equipment or musical instruments. If most of the teaching is done with computer images or PowerPoint lectures, students’ needs are not being met. Technology should be used to supplement the classroom curriculum, but should not be used as the sole source of learning. Further, students can become overly impressed with the sophistication of new technology and not pay attention to the information being communicated with splashy visuals and sound effects. Game Mentality One problem that many classroom teachers face is that students often use computers primarily for games. Because of this, many students associate computers and technology with game playing. Though some teachers can use this to their advantage, if this issue is not addressed, some students may get distracted and off task easily. Because students associate computers with game playing, they may try their skills at hacking, without thinking through the consequences. Surfing the internet just for can result in children finding sites that are not age appropriate. Kills their creativity As a student can find any amount of information on the web, they don’t do research on their own. They simple look up or answers to their questions and write them word for word without actually understanding the concept. They don’t apply their brain in solving questions and simply rely on web for answers. Their sole focus has changed from learning Page | 8 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA to securing good grades. This mere copying of information without learning gaining clarity about the concept has killed creativity in students. In this way, if they use technology, then it is not going to be useful for them. No practical learning Due to less analytical approach towards learning, students later become graduates who are very good on paper but don’t possess skills and knowledge in their selected area of study. They aren’t talented to solve technical issues even after being degree holders. This is the saddest negative impact of technology in the field of education. Misinformation It is not necessary that whatever is being presented on the web is authentic and genuine. Misinformation is one of the biggest issues that technology present to modern age students. Anyone has the power to post anything over the Internet. This makes it extremely tough to distinguish between the right and wrong. Here comes the role of parents and school authorities to take necessary action to ensure that their students are making the right use of technology. With the dramatic advancement in technology, the way education is delivered has changed a lot in both positive and negative sense. With the continuous change in the technology, the mode of teaching adopted by teachers in using the classroom has also changed. Technology has greatly helped in maximizing what a student can learn, and the rate at which it can be learned. But, as improper use of anything can result in an adverse impact, same is the case with technology. Page | 9 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA Information Technology in Business Today's businesses rely more heavily on technology than ever before. From improved telecommunications to online payment options, most modern businesses could not function as effectively or efficiently without technology. Even the ability to accept credit or debit card payments at retail stores requires a complex system of bank exchanges and telecommunications in order to operate smoothly and reliably. The application of information technology in management provides opportunities to work outside the office and have increased access to important information regardless of location. Innovation is the great way to success in this digital age. The path of innovation in business means doing something different, smarter or better that will make a positive difference in terms of value, quality or productivity by using emerging or proved technologies of the world. The technology which has already proved itself in last two decades is of course the information technology (IT). It has dramatically changed the lives of the individuals and organizations. Currently online shopping, digital marketing, social networking, digital communication and cloud computing etc. are the best examples of change which came through the wave of information technology. Now accurate business planning, effective marketing, global sales, systematic management, real time monitoring, instant customer support and long term business growth cannot be achieved at the optimum level without IT. The success of every business depends on certain factors. Some of which are accurate analysis, choosing the right technology and the future vision. Research from the last two decades has proved that those organizations that do invest in technology and choose the path of innovation increase their market share, financial figures and overall Page | 10 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA competitiveness. Information technology is the only technology which provides you the opportunity to analyses specific data and plan your business journey accordingly. It also provides you many tools which can solve complex problems and plan the scalability (future growth) of your business. In the modern age, it is proved that digital marketing is a great tool which let you promote your products or services to the global market while sitting in the comfort of your remote office or home. And thanks to the cloud computing and modern communication which enable you to form a global organization, manage and monitor its virtual offices all over the world. Now let us explore how information technology plays a vital role in different phases of business. Decision Making Speed and accuracy are at the heart of making right decision for your business. Every successful organization has to go through a comprehensive market research process which enables management to make the right decision. Market research can be done in many ways through online surveys, forums, blogs, group discussions using World Wide Web and of course through in-person interviews as well. Currently Big data, Google Analytics and Microsoft CRM Dynamics are also great tools to extract useful information which can impact on decision making. These online tools not only provide real time responses from the potential audience but also ensure the accuracy of data by minimizing the risk of human errors. Marketing and Business Growth The heart of the business success lies in its marketing which enables the management to identify its target audience first and then observe their trends and needs. The overall marketing covers public relation, advertising, promotion and sales which Page | 11 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA subsequently impact on business growth. Many types of marketing can help you reach your potential customers. But I will briefly explain digital marketing here which was the dream in the past without Internet technology. Digital Marketing is a modern phenomenon which let you promote your products or services all over the world. It is a broad term which includes many concepts like search engine optimization (SEO), pay per click (PPC), blogging, discussion forum, email shot, SMS, MMS, social media marketing and Smartphone app advertisement etc. Currently web market is booming at a very fast pace because most of the entrepreneurs have understood that the long term success in business is not possible without digital presence on the internet. Millions of new websites are being added on the internet every year. Customer Support and Satisfaction Higher level of customer satisfaction is the key to success which cannot be achieved without a real time customer support process. Business success depends on knowing its customer’s needs, trends, behaviors and satisfaction level. Effective communication is the best tool to understand the customer demands, problems and their solutions. Thanks to the Internet Technology that has enabled us to communicate with millions of potential or existing customer in the real time. IT provides many channels to communicate with the customer without going out in snow or rain. Some of these channels are email, webinar, social media, member portals, online newsletters and text or multimedia messaging through the smart phone. Enterprise organizations normally use customer relationship management systems (CRM) to hold valuable data for understanding customer behaviors and future needs. Page | 12 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA Resource Management and Globalization Resource management plays a crucial role in business success. When it comes to medium or large organization, it is very hard for the top management to manage all the resources manually. These resources may include tangible, financial or human resources etc. Information technology has played a vital role in automating such complex problems by introducing user friendly solutions. A decade ago, most of the resource management solutions were desktop based. Thanks to the internet and cloud technology which enables software engineers to introduce cloud based ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solutions. Now, the managers can manage or monitor their organizational resources virtually anywhere in the world by using their personal computer, laptops, tablets or Smartphone. This concept has introduced the idea of globalization. Most of multinational companies (Microsoft, Google, Amazon, McDonalds etc.) in the world use these cloud based solutions to manage their virtual or physical offices and staff worldwide. Attaining long term business success is impossible without leveraging the benefits of information technology in this digital age. The companies have to bear a reasonable cost to achieve this success because using an innovative approach in business strategy, employing highly trained IT professionals and making right decisions at right time are the prerequisite of business success. As IT solutions continue to increase the productivity, efficiency and effectiveness of business operations and communication, business will continue to rely on Information Technology for success. Page | 13 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA Information Technology in Tourism Today, nobody doubts that technology and travel are the perfect combination. This joint force also plays a crucial role in the way we travel: from the vacation destination we choose, all the way to what we do once we're there and even in the time after we've come back from our adventure. It is so prevalent, that according to a Google Travel study, 74% of travelers plan their trips on the Internet, while only 13% still use travel agencies to prepare them. Millennials have also played a significant role in this paradigm shift. They love to travel and are also passionate about new technology. This combined interested has given way to a new context where social media, apps, blogs, and so more have an important part to play when it’s time to play a trip. By that same token, the industry, as it becomes increasingly aware of this trend, has followed suit by adapting its business model and product offering to attract this coveted target. Take a look at some of the technological advances currently leaving their mark on the industry and will, according to various studies, bring significant short-term changes to the sector. 1. Mobile Technology This is undoubtedly the main character in the new ways of travel. The cell phone has become our tour guide, travel agency, best restaurant locator, map, and more. It's by our side during the entire purchase journey. In fact, according to TripAdvisor, 45% of users use their smartphone for everything having to do with their vacations. Page | 14 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA This is why there’s a need to adapt corporate services and communications to these devices. KLM, for example, has already created an information service for passengers using Facebook Messenger. This system, once someone has made a reservation, sends the user information regarding their ticket through Facebook Messenger as well as their boarding pass or updates about the status of their flight. This way, the user has all the pertinent information about their trip in the palm of their hand using an app that they already use, eliminating the need to download anything else. 2. Augmented Reality Augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) have also entered the travel world, and the truth is that it’s a trend due to all the possibilities they can offer. More and more companies use it to show users a cabin on a cruise ship or transport them, for a few seconds, to the Great Wall of China. Today, it’s possible to “teleport” ourselves to the most remote corners of the globe without getting off the couch. That’s what you can get using Everest’s EVEREST VR app, which lets you see the top of the world without having to climb to the top. Or, if you would prefer, you can cross the Grand Canyon in a kayak enjoying the landmark’s sights and sounds. 3. Internet of Things (IoT) The Internet of Things (IoT) promises to bring significant updates to the tourism industry. They include integrating sensors connected to the Internet inside items like cars, suitcases, buildings, and more. Page | 15 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA Some Hotel properties offer an app to their clients that lets them interact with the room’s thermostat or control the television in the room. There are also suitcases that have devices that allow users to use their cell phones to follow where their suitcase is at any time to avoid lost baggage at the airport or other public places. 4. Virtual Assistants We’re all familiar with Siri and Alexa, the virtual assistants that meet all our needs: what’s the weather like today in my city, turn the radio on, open my email, and more. Hotels are now starting to enlist this “help” thanks to the arrival of virtual assistants that are specifically designed for this environment. IBM recently launched Watson Assistant, an AI-powered virtual assistant that creates an interactive and personalized experience for consumers. This is the open technology that firms can employ and adapt to their needs. This way, the virtual assistant won't be called Watson but instead, have the name that the hotel chooses. 5. Big Data There has been a lot of recent talk about Big Data, but they have yet to show all the opportunities it offers for the travel industry. Nonetheless, many industry players are already using it. Some hotel chain uses information about their guests to figure out what is the best target for marketing campaigns. Primarily, they examine their database to look at the amount spent, the reason for the trip, the country of origin and cross-checks this information with public data from government sources to develop the most appropriate customer profile and achieve a higher success rate. This way, they make a better segmentation for their campaigns to increase their efficacy and optimize the investment required for these campaigns. Page | 16 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA 6. Blockchain Blockchain is a technology poised to transform the world as we know it. Although it’s mainly associated with finance, it also appears that it can impact travel. While there has not been that much experimentation with it, it is possible that it will be useful in identifying passengers at the airport, guaranteeing transparency in tourists' opinions, and easy and secure payments. 7. 5G Travel technology becomes all the more powerful with help from 5G networks. They promise much faster loading and downloading speeds, wider coverage, and more stable connections. Beyond downloading content 20 times faster than before, 5G allows us to develop and deploy technology that 4G limited us. That means the connection between smart devices will be more efficient and we’ll be able to start to truly enjoy the Internet of Things (IoT). Immersive tourism, where technology turns travelers into the experience’s protagonist, will be a reality. Plus, augmented reality (AR) or 360° video will be more ubiquitous and accessible. According to travel companies, the growth and progressions in technology have helped to enhance communication, convenience, productivity, the speed of business, marketing and revenue. The traditional travel companies and tour & packages operators no doubt will see further evolution as technology continues to advance every single day. As long as demand for packaged travel remains, there will still be a place for travel companies/OTAs both online and off. Technology will go a long way in fulfilling this demand for consumers at both the ends. Page | 17 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA Information Technology in Food Industry When it comes to food, tech isn’t always the first thing that comes to mind. However, technology over the years has changed how we produce and find our food through applications, robotics, data and processing techniques. According to a recent report from ING, technology helps food manufacturers produce more efficiently for a growing world population. There are 7.5 billion people in the world right now and that means a higher demand for food each year. By using tech to improve processing and packaging, it can improve the shelf life and safety of food. Robotics and Machines The use of machines in the food industry also ensures quality and affordability. By using machines, it drives down the costs of keeping the food fresh and increases productivity. According to the report, “The rise of robotics in the food industry is a tangible example of food tech. Robotic machines can help to eliminate safety issues for the more dangerous jobs in the food industry. In 2016, a tech company rolled out a program for butchery. By using robots to cut the more difficult of the meats, they can save many work injuries. This is just one of the many ways technology can improve the industry. 3D Printing In the past few years, 3D printing has really taken off across many industries and the food industry is one of them. There have been several applications of 3D printing food from NASA printing a pizza to creating soft foods for those who cannot chew hard food to consume. It opens the door for innovation being able to create many things that we were Page | 18 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA unable to before while also being able to help with food sustainability. There are many ways 3D printing is shaking up the industry. Drones Precision agriculture is a major player when it comes to how technology can make a difference. It is the use of GPS tracking systems and satellite imagery to monitor crop yields, soil levels, and weather patterns to increase efficiency on the farm. Not only can they see all that is happening across the fields, but they can also use analysis from the findings to test the soil and the health of the crops. A major way they are doing this is through the use of drones. These drones can locate and identify diseased or damaged crops and tend to them immediately. The use of these robots does not eliminate the need for food workers but helps them be more efficient with their work. With strict product requirements at large volumes and demand for lower pricing, the robotic elements help create a faster environment to produce more goods than regular labor. Packaging and Waste One of the biggest concerns for consumers right now is having healthy and sustainable goods. Consumers pay attention to labels and harmful ingredients, especially with social media, there is not much that companies can get away with anymore. Many companies use technology to help them “go green.” By using robotics and digitizing, companies in the food industry are able to find alternatives to plastics and other harmful packaging to the environment. There are many different ways we are using technology in packaging now from edible packaging, micro packaging and even bacteria fighting packaging. Page | 19 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA Consumers are also looking for where companies are sourcing their products and how they are handling their waste. One app, Copia uses its extensive food waste reduction dashboard to connect businesses with surplus food to local shelters, after-school programs, and other nonprofit organizations. Copia’s analytic software manages and tracks their surplus to save money and reduce their overall food waste. With all these advancements in technology, there are so many different ways that it can really change how we produce food. Evolving technology could be the key to eliminating world hunger and solving our waste problem- we will just have to wait and see. Information Technology in Banking Industry Banking environment has become highly competitive today. To be able to survive and grow in the changing market environment banks are going for the latest technologies, which is being perceived as an ‘enabling resource’ that can help in developing learner and more flexible structure that can respond quickly to the dynamics of a fast changing market scenario. It is also viewed as an instrument of cost reduction and effective communication with people and institutions associated with the banking business. The early 90s saw the plummeting hardware prices and advent of cheap and inexpensive but high powered PC’s and Services and banks went in for what was called Total Branch Automation (TBA) packages. The middle and late 90s witnessed the tornado of financial reforms, deregulation globalisation etc. coupled with rapid revolution in communication technologies and evolution of novel concept of convergence of communication technologies, like internet, mobile/cell phones etc. Technology has continuously played on important role in the working of banking institutions and the services provided by them. Page | 20 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA Safekeeping of public money, transfer of money, issuing drafts, exploring investment opportunities and lending drafts, exploring investment being provided. Information Technology enables sophisticated product development, better market infrastructure, implementation of reliable techniques for control of risks and helps the financial intermediaries to reach geographically distant and diversified markets. Internet has significantly influenced delivery channels of the banks. Internet has emerged as an important medium for delivery of banking products and services. The customers can view the accounts; get account statements, transfer funds and purchase drafts by just punching on few keys. The smart card’s i.e., cards with microprocessor chip have added new dimension to the scenario. An introduction of ‘Cyber Cash’ the exchange of cash takes place entirely through ‘Cyber-books’. Collection of Electricity bills and telephone bills has become easy. The upgradeability and flexibility of internet technology after unprecedented opportunities for the banks to reach out to its customers. No doubt banking services have undergone drastic changes and so also the expectation of customers from the banks has increased greater. IT is increasingly moving from a back office function to a prime assistant in increasing the value of a bank over time. IT does so by maximizing banks of pro-active measures such as strengthening and standardising banks infrastructure in respect of security, communication and networking, achieving inter branch connectivity, moving towards Real Time gross settlement (RTGS) environment the forecasting of liquidity by building real time databases, use of Magnetic Ink Character Recognition and Imaging technology for cheque clearing to name a few. The key driver to charge has largely been the increasing sophistication in technology and the growing popularity of the Internet. The shift from traditional banking to e-banking is changing customer’s expectations. Page | 21 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA E-Banking: E-banking made its debut in UK and USA 1920s. It becomes prominently popular during 1960, through electronic funds transfer and credit cards. The concept of web- based banking came into existence in Europe and USA in the beginning of 1980. Many banks have modernized their services with the facilities of computer and electronic equipment. The electronics revolution has made it possible to provide ease and flexibility in banking operations to the benefit of the customer. The e-banking has made the customer say good-bye to huge account registers and large paper bank accounts. The e- banks, which may call as easy bank offers the following services to its customers: Credit Cards/Debit Cards ATM E-Cheques EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer) DeMAT Accounts Mobile Banking Telephone Banking Internet Banking EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) Page | 22 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA Benefits of E-banking: To the Customer: Anywhere Banking no matter wherever the customer is in the world. Balance enquiry, request for services, issuing instructions etc., from anywhere in the world is possible. Anytime Banking — Managing funds in real time and most importantly, 24 hours a day, 7days a week. Convenience acts as a tremendous psychological benefit all the time. Brings down “Cost of Banking” to the customer over a period a period of time. Cash withdrawal from any branch / ATM On-line purchase of goods and services including online payment for the same. To the Bank: Innovative, scheme, addresses competition and present the bank as technology driven in the banking sector market Reduces customer visits to the branch and thereby human intervention Inter-branch reconciliation is immediate thereby reducing chances of fraud and misappropriation On-line banking is an effective medium of promotion of various schemes of the bank, a marketing tool indeed. Page | 23 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA Integrated customer data paves way for individualized and customized services. Impact of IT on the Service Quality: The most visible impact of technology is reflected in the way the banks respond strategically for making its effective use for efficient service delivery. This impact on service quality can be summed up as below: With automation, service no longer remains a marketing edge with the large banks only. Small and relatively new banks with limited network of branches become better placed to compete with the established banks, by integrating IT in their operations. The technology has commoditizing some of the financial services. Therefore, the banks cannot take a lifetime relationship with the customers as granted and they have to work continuously to foster this relationship and retain customer loyalty. The technology on one hand serves as a powerful tool for customer servicing, on the other hand, it itself results in depersonalizing of the banking services. This has an adverse effect on relationship banking. A decade of computerization can probably never substitute a simple or a warm handshake. In order to reduce service delivery cost, banks need to automate routine customer inquiries through self-service channels. To do this they need to invest in call centers, kiosks, ATM’s and Internet Banking today require IT infrastructure integrated with their business strategy to be customer centric. Page | 24 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA Impact of IT on Banking System: The banking system is slowly shifting from the Traditional Banking towards relationship banking. Traditionally the relationship between the bank and its customers has been on a one-to-one level via the branch network. This was put into operation with clearing and decision making responsibilities concentrated at the individual branch level. The head office had responsibility for the overall clearing network, the size of the branch network and the training of staff in the branch network. The bank monitored the organization’s performance and set the decision making parameters, but the information available to both branch staff and their customers was limited to one geographical location. Traditional Banking Sector The modern bank cannot rely on its branch network alone. Customers are now demanding new, more convenient, delivery systems, and services such as Internet banking have a dual role to the customer. They provide traditional banking services, but additionally offer much greater access to information on their account status and on the Page | 25 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA bank’s many other services. To do this banks have to create account information layers, which can be accessed both by the bank staff as well as by the customers themselves. The use of interactive electronic links via the Internet could go a long way in providing the customers with greater level of information about both their own financial situation and about the services offered by the bank The New Relationship Oriented Bank Impact of IT on Privacy and Confidentiality of Data: Data being stored in the computers, is now being displayed when required on through internet banking mobile banking, ATM’s etc. all this has given rise to the issues of privacy and confidentially of data are: The data processing capabilities of the computer, particularly the rapid throughput, integration, and retrieval capabilities, give rise to doubts in the minds of individuals as to whether the privacy of the individuals is being eroded. Page | 26 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA So long as the individual data items are available only to those directly concerned, everything seems to be in proper place, but the incidence of data being cross referenced to create detailed individual dossiers gives rise to privacy problems. Customers feel threatened about the inadequacy of privacy being maintained by the banks with regard to their transactions and link at computerized systems with suspicion. Aside from any constitutional aspect, many nations deem privacy to be a subject of human right and consider it to be the responsibility of those who concerned with computer data processing for ensuring that the computer use does not revolve to the stage where different data about people can be collected, integrated and retrieved quickly. Another important responsibility is to ensure the data is used only for the purpose intended. Information Technology in Communication and Services For as long as humans have been on this planet, we’ve invented forms of communication—from smoke signals and messenger pigeons to the telephone and email—that have constantly evolved how we interact with each other. One of the biggest developments in communication came in 1831 when the electric telegraph was invented. While post existed as a form of communication before this date, it was electrical engineering in the 19th century which had a revolutionary impact. Now, digital methods have superseded almost all other forms of communication, especially in business. Page | 27 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA When we look back at how communication has advanced over the years, it really is quite incredible: The Telephone In 1849, the telephone was invented and within 50 years it was an essential item for homes and offices, but tethering impacted the flexibility and privacy of the device. Then, came the mobile phone. In 1973, Motorola created a mobile phone which kick- started a chain of developments that transformed communication forever. Early smartphones were primarily aimed towards the enterprise market, bridging the gap between telephones and personal digital assistants (PDAs), but they were bulky and had short battery lives. By 1996, Nokia was releasing phones with QWERTY keyboards and by 2010, the majority of Android phones were touchscreen-only. In 2007, Steve Jobs revealed the first iPhone to the world and Apple paved the way for the aesthetics of modern smartphones. Before the iPhone, “flip phones”, and phones with a split keyboard and screen were the norm. A year later, a central application store with an initial 500 downloadable ‘apps’ was launched. Currently, there are over two million apps available in the Apple App Store. Page | 28 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA The Internet Since the mid-1990s, the Internet has had a revolutionary impact on communication, including the rise of near-instant communication by electronic mail, instant messaging, voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone calls, two-way interactive video calls, discussion forums, blogs, and social networking. The internet has made communication easier and faster, it’s allowed us to stay in contact with people regardless of time and location. It’s accelerated the pace of business and widened the possibilities within the enterprise space. It’s allowed people to find their voice and express themselves through social media, YouTube and memes. The internet has connected and divided us like nothing before. Email As a byproduct of the World Wide Web, email was introduced to the world in 1991 (although it had been operating years before) and it has vastly changed our lives— whether for better or worse depends on your viewpoint. The first users of the messaging Page | 29 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA platform were educational systems and the military who used email to exchange information. In 2018, there were more than 3.8 billion email users—that’s more than half the planet. By 2022, it’s expected that we will be sending 333 billion personal and business emails each day. Wearable Technology The first instance of wearable technology was a hands free mobile headset launched in 1999, which became a piece of tech synonymous with city workers. It gave businesspeople the ability to answer calls on the go, most importantly, while driving. Ten years ago, the idea that you could make a video call from an item other than a phone would have been a sci-fi dream. Now, with smartwatches, audio sunglasses, and other emerging wearable technology, these capabilities are a part of our daily lives. Virtual Reality (VR) The next generation of VR has only been around since 2016, but it’s already shaking up communications. The beauty of VR—presence—means you can connect to someone in the same space at the same time, without the time sink and cost of travel, even if participants are on different continents. VR also helps to facilitate better communication. In a typical discussion, a lot of information is non-verbal communication which can be transcribed in VR. Voice tone, hesitations, head and hand movements greatly improve the understanding of the participants' emotions and intents. Plus in VR, all distractions are removed and people can be fully focused on what is happening around them. In fact, MeetinVR claims that there is a 25% increase in attention span when meeting in virtual reality compared to video conferencing. In addition, research suggests we retain more information and can better apply what we have learned after participating Page | 30 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA in virtual reality. 3D is a natural communication language overcoming linguistic barriers as well as technical jargon. 5G 5G, the 5th generation of mobile network, promises much faster data download and upload speeds, wider coverage, and more stable connections. These benefits will bring about significant improvements in communication. Instantaneous communication will be possible and those patchy frustrating video calls will be a thing of the past. The average 4G transmission speed currently available for our smartphones is around the 21 Mbps mark. 5G will be 100 to 1000 times faster. The Consumer Technology Association notes that at this speed, you could download a two-hour movie in just 3.6 seconds, versus 6 minutes on 4G or 26 hours on 3G. The impact of 5G will go far beyond our smartphones as it will allow millions of devices to be connected simultaneously. Looking ahead, there is already buzz about 6G. Although it’s still in basic research and around 15-20 years away, it’s interesting from an innovation point of view. 6G will form the framework of the connected utopia we aspire towards, and with it will come untold improvements in the speed and consistency of our communication. Page | 31 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA Lesson 4.2 The Internet of Things (IoT) The internet of things, or IoT, is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and digital machines, objects, animals or people that are provided with unique identifiers (UIDs) and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human- to-human or human-to-computer interaction. A thing in the internet of things can be a person with a heart monitor implant, a farm animal with a biochip transponder, an automobile that has built-in sensors to alert the driver when tire pressure is low or any other natural or man-made object that can be assigned an Internet Protocol (IP) address and is able to transfer data over a network. Increasingly, organizations in a variety of industries are using IoT to operate more efficiently, better understand customers to deliver enhanced customer service, improve decision-making and increase the value of the business. How IoT works An IoT ecosystem consists of web-enabled smart devices that use embedded systems, such as processors, sensors and communication hardware, to collect, send and act on data they acquire from their environments. IoT devices share the sensor data they collect by connecting to an IoT gateway or other edge device where data is either sent to the cloud to be analyzed or analyzed locally. Sometimes, these devices communicate with other related devices and act on the information they get from one another. The devices do most of the work without human intervention, although people can interact with the devices -- for instance, to set them up, give them instructions or access the data. The connectivity, networking and communication protocols used with these web-enabled devices largely depend on the specific IoT applications deployed. IoT can also make use Page | 32 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to aid in making data collecting processes easier and more dynamic. Why IoT is important The internet of things helps people live and work smarter, as well as gain complete control over their lives. In addition to offering smart devices to automate homes, IoT is essential to business. IoT provides businesses with a real-time look into how their systems really work, delivering insights into everything from the performance of machines to supply chain and logistics operations. IoT enables companies to automate processes and reduce labor costs. It also cuts down on waste and improves service delivery, making it less expensive to manufacture and deliver goods, as well as offering transparency into customer transactions. As such, IoT is one of the most important technologies of everyday Page | 33 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA life, and it will continue to pick up steam as more businesses realize the potential of connected devices to keep them competitive. IoT benefits to organizations The internet of things offers several benefits to organizations. Some benefits are industry-specific, and some are applicable across multiple industries. Some of the common benefits of IoT enable businesses to: monitor their overall business processes; improve the customer experience (CX); save time and money; enhance employee productivity; integrate and adapt business models; make better business decisions; and generate more revenue. Generally, IoT is most abundant in manufacturing, transportation and utility organizations, making use of sensors and other IoT devices; however, it has also found use cases for organizations within the agriculture, infrastructure and home automation industries, leading some organizations toward digital transformation. IoT can benefit farmers in agriculture by making their job easier. Sensors can collect data on rainfall, humidity, temperature and soil content, as well as other factors, that would help automate farming techniques. The ability to monitor operations surrounding infrastructure is also a factor that IoT can help with. Sensors, for example, could be used to monitor events or changes within Page | 34 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA structural buildings, bridges and other infrastructure. This brings benefits with it, such as cost saving, saved time, quality-of-life workflow changes and paperless workflow. A home automation business can utilize IoT to monitor and manipulate mechanical and electrical systems in a building. On a broader scale, smart cities can help citizens reduce waste and energy consumption. IoT touches every industry, including businesses within healthcare, finance, retail and manufacturing. Some of the advantages of IoT include the following: ability to access information from anywhere at any time on any device; improved communication between connected electronic devices; transferring data packets over a connected network saving time and money; and automating tasks helping to improve the quality of a business's services and reducing the need for human intervention. Some disadvantages of IoT include the following: As the number of connected devices increases and more information is shared between devices, the potential that a hacker could steal confidential information also increases. Enterprises may eventually have to deal with massive numbers -- maybe even millions -- of IoT devices, and collecting and managing the data from all those devices will be challenging. If there's a bug in the system, it's likely that every connected device will become corrupted. Page | 35 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA Since there's no international standard of compatibility for IoT, it's difficult for devices from different manufacturers to communicate with each other. Consumer and enterprise IoT applications There are numerous real-world applications of the internet of things, ranging from consumer IoT and enterprise IoT to manufacturing and industrial IoT (IIoT). IoT applications span numerous verticals, including automotive, telecom and energy. In the consumer segment, for example, smart homes that are equipped with smart thermostats, smart appliances and connected heating, lighting and electronic devices can be controlled remotely via computers and smartphones. Wearable devices with sensors and software can collect and analyze user data, sending messages to other technologies about the users with the aim of making users' lives easier and more comfortable. Wearable devices are also used for public safety -- for example, improving first responders' response times during emergencies by providing optimized routes to a location or by tracking construction workers' or firefighters' vital signs at life- threatening sites. In healthcare, IoT offers many benefits, including the ability to monitor patients more closely using an analysis of the data that's generated. Hospitals often use IoT systems to complete tasks such as inventory management for both pharmaceuticals and medical instruments. Smart buildings can, for instance, reduce energy costs using sensors that detect how many occupants are in a room. The temperature can adjust Page | 36 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA automatically -- for example, turning the air conditioner on if sensors detect a conference room is full or turning the heat down if everyone in the office has gone home. In agriculture, IoT-based smart farming systems can help monitor, for instance, light, temperature, humidity and soil moisture of crop fields using connected sensors. IoT is also instrumental in automating irrigation systems. In a smart city, IoT sensors and deployments, such as smart streetlights and smart meters, can help alleviate traffic, conserve energy, monitor and address environmental concerns, and improve sanitation. IoT security and privacy issues The internet of things connects billions of devices to the internet and involves the use of billions of data points, all of which need to be secured. Due to its expanded attack surface, IoT security and IoT privacy are cited as major concerns. In 2016, one of the most notorious recent IoT attacks was Mirai, a botnet that infiltrated domain name server provider Dyn and took down many websites for an extended period of time in one of the biggest distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks ever seen. Attackers gained access to the network by exploiting poorly secured IoT devices. Because IoT devices are closely connected, all a hacker has to do is exploit one vulnerability to manipulate all the data, rendering it unusable. Manufacturers that don't update their devices regularly -- or at all -- leave them vulnerable to cybercriminals. Page | 37 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA Additionally, connected devices often ask users to input their personal information, including names, ages, addresses, phone numbers and even social media accounts -- information that's invaluable to hackers. Hackers aren't the only threat to the internet of things; privacy is another major concern for IoT users. For instance, companies that make and distribute consumer IoT devices could use those devices to obtain and sell users' personal data. Beyond leaking personal data, IoT poses a risk to critical infrastructure, including electricity, transportation and financial services. Why does IoT matter? IoT provides businesses and people better insight into and control over the 99 percent of objects and environments that remain beyond the reach of the internet. And by doing so, IoT allows businesses and people to be more connected to the world around them and to do more meaningful, higher-level work. Lesson 4.3 Smart phones and mobile Technology Smartphones have radically changed people’s lives. Before people have to take extra effort in sending messages or they buy a camera just to take pictures. Today, these functionalities are integrated into one, rectangular – revolutionary technology that keeps getting smarter and smarter every day. Since then, smartphones are never found out of reach from people. According to statistics, almost half of the population owns a smartphone. In a 2016 survey conducted by the Bank of America, 96% of the millennials aged 18 to 24 years old said that smartphones are very important for them. 93% of them Page | 38 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA even stated that smartphones are more important than deodorant and toothbrush. The survey also found out that an individual checks his or her smartphone every 6.5 minutes. Everything has its advantages and disadvantages. let us know how we can benefit from smartphones and at the same time, what the disadvantages of smartphone technology are. Advantages of Having Smartphones Instant Communication Smartphones evolved from the earliest communication devices. Thus, it has been created to primarily improve people’s way of communicating with each other. The advent of smartphone technology modernized communications. It has paved the way to SMS, text messaging, call, video chat, and apps that allow people to instantly communicate to everyone across the globe. Web Surfing The smartphones also make it convenient for people to surf the web. These devices are integrated with mobile browsers that enable them to research and access websites anytime and anywhere. According to a study, 10% of the total time spent by people on smartphones is used in opening browsers to surf the internet. With this, people have easy access to information. Camera In this “selfie” generation, the camera is so important. It saves people from buying a separate digital camera to take photos and videos. Especially now that the millennials are fond of posting photos in the social media. According Page | 39 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA to a 2014 Comtech study, the camera ranked third as the most important consideration for consumers in buying a smartphone. With this, smartphone giants make sure their phones are equipped with the best camera. Entertainment Smartphones are also viewed as a source of entertainment – games, music, movies, and books. Based on the 2016 statistics, there are more than 63.7 million people in North America use smartphones for gaming. Moreover, users can listen to their favorite music with iTunes and Spotify, among others. Watching movies and reading e-books are also convenient through smartphones. Education Smartphones also aid education, especially in children. With easy access to information and helpful content, children can have a more interactive learning through watching education videos and playing education applications. They can also easily surf the internet if they want to search something about a topic. Productivity Apps Smartphones can do almost everything with the help of apps. There are over 2 million apps in Google Play Store while over 1.5 million apps in Apple App Store. People spend 90% of their time accessing apps in which an average user install 36 apps on their smartphone. The functionality of apps Page | 40 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA varies from each other – photo and video editor, ticket booking, online store, payment system, data analysis, personal assistant, etc. GPS Most smartphones now are equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS). This technology allows people to locate certain addresses and area all around the world. This helped improved not just communication, but most especially, transportation. Privacy With smartphones, you can do whatever you want without anyone knowing it. You can snap photos of yourself and secure your photo library with a password. You can also send messages to your loved ones without the fear of anyone knowing it. Online transactions can also be done through smartphones. Disadvantages of Having Smartphones Costly Smartphones can be expensive, especially those high-end phones with great specs and features. Apart from the smartphone itself, some applications require being purchased in order to fully use the other functionalities offered by the app. If you also want data connectivity, you need to maintain a data plan. Page | 41 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA Poor Social Interaction Based on the new data released by analytics firm Flurry, people use smartphones at least 5 hours a day. They also added that people’s usage of apps increases to 69% last 2017. With this, the “real” social interaction degrades. People no longer interact with people outside as they tend to spend more time with their smartphones. Distraction Despite the productivity, smartphones can really be distracting. Applications notify you when there are messages, updates, latest offerings, etc. These interrupt the momentum which can potentially affect your productivity. When you attend to these notifications, you’ll find yourself attached to the phone. Health Issues Smartphones are also found to have a negative impact on your health. Smartphones emit radiofrequency energy which can be absorbed by the tissues in the body. Sleep deprivation is also one of the common bad effects of using smartphones. Moreover, phones produce HEV light which can damage your eyes’ retina. Addiction When you wake up in the morning, do you find yourself checking your phone first than anything else? If you do, this is an early sign of smartphone addiction. This problem may lead to a serious addiction. This may include addiction to games, social media, etc. Page | 42 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA Privacy Threats Even if smartphones are made private, there are still security risks and threats everywhere. Hackers are always present and virtual viruses are potent. Smartphones are vulnerable to these threats when you access the internet. Thus, you need to be extra cautious of opening sites and links. Extra Work With high-end smartphone comes…extra work. Smartphones are widely used in business. If you find yourself relying on various apps, then you are working on extra workloads which are not even existent before. Moreover, your boss can instantly call you even in the middle of the night. Uncensored Content Lastly, there is a disadvantage in easy access to information and the internet. People, especially children can see, intentionally or not, the uncensored content including violence, pornographic content, etc. If you have children, make sure you regulate their use of smartphones. Smartphones are not good or evil, but they are definitely scary. A good balance of freedom and restrictions up to and through will help users learn to successfully manage their usage on their own. Page | 43 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA Lesson 4.4 The Social Media Social media has grown tremendously in the last few years. From 2006 onwards the growth rate is unexpectedly very high. Specially Facebook and Twitter have grown much faster and captured millions of users in just a few years. The way technology is growing, it is obvious that more and more people are going to grasp its benefits. It has brought a lot of advantages for the society. From progressed nations to under-developed countries, every nation is utilizing the power of social media to enhance life and use it for the bitterness of the people. However, on the other hand it has also affected the society in the negative way. Just like anything which can be used for both good and bad, social media have also provided the negative and positive ways for the people. It is all about the usage and getting things done positively by using the power of social media. It is in the hands of the user to use to its advantage. But willingly or unwillingly it can still have negative impacts on the users. In this lecture note, the advantages and disadvantages of social media to the society will be discussed: DISADVANTAGES Cyberbullying According to a report published by PewCenter.org most of the children have become victims of the cyberbullying over the past. Since anyone can create a fake account and do anything without being traced, it has become quite easy for anyone to bully on the Internet. Threats, intimidation messages and Page | 44 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA rumors can be sent to the masses to create discomfort and chaos in the society. Hacking Personal data and privacy can easily be hacked and shared on the Internet. Which can make financial losses and loss to personal life. Similarly, identity theft is another issue that can give financial losses to anyone by hacking their personal accounts. Several personal twitter and Facebook accounts have been hacked in the past and the hacker had posted materials that have affected the individual’s personal lives. This is one of the dangerous disadvantages of the social media and every user is advised to keep their personal data and accounts safe to avoid such accidents. Addiction The addictive part of the social media is very bad and can disturb personal lives as well. The teenagers are the most affected by the addiction of the social media. They get involved very extensively and are eventually cut off from the society. It can also waste individual time that could have been utilized by productive tasks and activities. Fraud and Scams Several examples are available where individuals have scammed and commit fraud through the social media. For example, this list contains the 5 social media scams that are done all the time. Page | 45 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA Security Issues Now a day’s security agencies have access to people personal accounts which makes the privacy almost compromised. You never know when you are visited by any investigation officer regarding any issue that you mistakenly or unknowingly discussed over the internet. Reputation Social media can easily ruin someone’s reputation just by creating a false story and spreading across the social media. Similarly, businesses can also suffer losses due to bad reputation being conveyed over the social media. Cheating and Relationship Issues Most of the people have used the social media platform to propose and marry each other. However, after some time they turn to be wrong in their decision and part ways. Similarly, couples have cheated each other by showing the fake feelings and incorrect information. Health Issues The excess usage of social media can also have a negative impact on the health. Since exercise is the key to lose weight, most of the people get lazy because of the excessive use of social networking sites. Which in result brings disorder in the routine life. This research by discovery will shock you by showing how bad your health can be affected by the use of the social media. Page | 46 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA Social Media causes death Not just by using it, but by following the stunts and other crazy stuffs that are shared on the internet. For example, bikers doing the unnecessary stunts, people doing the jump over the trains and other life threatening stuffs. Glamorizes Drugs and Alcohol One of the disadvantages of the social media is that people start to follow others who are wealthy or drug addicted and share their views and videos on the web. Which eventually inspires others to follow the same and get addicted to the drugs and alcohol. ADVANTAGES Connectivity The first and main advantage of the social media is connectivity. People from anywhere can connect with anyone. Regardless of the location and religion. The beauty of social media is that you can connect with anyone to learn and share your thoughts. Education Social media has a lot of benefits for the students and teachers. It is very easy to educate from others who are experts and professionals via the social media. You can follow anyone to learn from him/her and enhance your knowledge about any field. Regardless of your location and education background you can educate yourself, without paying for it. Page | 47 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA Help You can share your issues with the community to get help and giddiness. Whether it is helping in term of money or in term of advice, you can get it from the community you are connected with. Information and Updates The main advantage of the social media is that you update yourself from the latest happenings around in the world. Most of the time, Television and print media these days are biased and does not convey the true message. With the help of social media, you can get the facts and true information by doing some research. Promotion Whether you have an offline business or online, you can promote your business to the largest audience. The whole world is open for you, and can promote to them. This makes the businesses profitable and less expensive, because most of the expenses made over a business are for advertising and promotion. This can be decreased by constantly and regularly involving on the social media to connect with the right audience. Noble Cause Social media can also be used for the noble causes. For example, to promote an NGO, social welfare activities and donations for the needy people. People are using social media for donation for needy people and it can be a quick way to help such people. Page | 48 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA Awareness Social media also create awareness and innovate the way people live. It is the social media which has helped people discover new and innovative stuffs that can enhance personal lives. From farmers to teachers, students to lawyers every individual of the society can benefit from the social media and its awareness factor. Helps Gov’t and Agencies Fight Crime It is also one of the advantages of the social media that it helps Governments and Security Agencies to spy and catch criminals to fight crime. Improves Business Reputation Just like it can ruin any business reputation, It can also improve business sales and reputation. Positive comments and sharing about a company can help them with sales and goodwill. Since people are free to share whatever they want on the social media, it can impact positively when good words are shared. Helps in Building Communities Since our world has different religions and beliefs. Social media helps in building and participating in the community of own religion and believes to discuss and learn about it. Similarly, people of different communities can connect to discuss and share related stuffs. For example, Game lover can Page | 49 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA join games related communities, car lover can join communities related to cars and so on. Social media has its advantages and drawbacks as revealed in this lecture note. It is up to each user to use social sites wisely to enhance their professional and social life, and exercise caution to ensure they do not fall victim to online dangers. Page | 50 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA Lesson 4.5 E-commerce and E-operations E-operations The area of e-operations encompasses the processes of how customer commitments get fulfilled through products and services within companies. This includes procuring products, arranging shipping and transport, and handling production—in short, developing fulfillment systems for handling the business that e-marketing and e- commerce generate. The ability to fulfill orders and having the e-operations tools in place to handle them can spell the difference between success or failure with online initiatives. One example of taking the e-operations approach first and then having the e-marketing and e-commerce areas reflect the fulfillment capabilities of a company is exemplified in the evolution of Amazon.com. Electronic commerce or e-commerce (sometimes written as eCommerce) is a business model that lets firms and individuals buy and sell things over the internet. E- commerce operates in all four of the following major market segments: Business to business When a business sells a good or service to another business (e.g. A business sells software-as-a-service for other businesses to use) Business to consumer When a business sells a good or service to an individual consumer (e.g. You buy a pair of shoes from an online retailer). Consumer to consumer When a consumer sells a good or service to another consumer (e.g. You sell your old furniture on eBay to another consumer). Page | 51 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA Consumer to business When a consumer sells their own products or services to a business or organization (e.g. An influencer offers exposure to their online audience in exchange for a fee, or a photographer licenses their photo for a business to use). E-commerce, which can be conducted over computers, tablets, or smartphones may be thought of like a digital version of mail-order catalog shopping. Nearly every imaginable product and service is available through e-commerce transactions, including books, music, plane tickets, and financial services such as stock investing and online banking. As such, it is considered a very disruptive technology. KEY TAKEAWAYS E-commerce is the buying and selling of goods and services over the internet. E-commerce can be a substitute for brick-and-mortar stores, though some businesses choose to maintain both. Almost anything can be purchased through e-commerce today. E-commerce lets firms and individuals conduct business over the Internet. Understanding Electronic Commerce (e-commerce) E-commerce has helped businesses establish a wider market presence by providing cheaper and more efficient distribution channels for their products or services. For example, the mass retailer Target has supplemented its brick-and-mortar presence with an online store that lets customers purchase everything from clothes to coffeemakers to toothpaste to action figures. Page | 52 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA By contrast, Amazon launched its business with an e-commerce-based model of online sales and product delivery. Not to be outdone, individual sellers have increasingly engaged in e-commerce transactions via their own personal websites. Finally, digital marketplaces such as eBay or Etsy serve as exchanges where multitudes of buyers and sellers come together to conduct business. E-commerce offers consumers the following advantages: Convenience. E-commerce can occur 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Increased selection. Many stores offer a wider array of products online than they carry in their brick-and-mortar counterparts. And many stores that solely exist online may offer consumers exclusive inventory that is unavailable elsewhere. E-commerce carries the following disadvantages: Limited customer service. If you are shopping online for a computer, you cannot simply ask an employee to demonstrate a particular model's features in person. And although some websites let you chat online with a staff member, this is not a typical practice. Lack of instant gratification. When you buy an item online, you must wait for it to be shipped to your home or office. However, retailers like Amazon make the waiting game a little bit less painful by offering same-day delivery as a premium option for select products. Inability to touch products. Online images do not necessarily convey the whole story about an item, and so e-commerce purchases can be unsatisfying when the products received do not match consumer expectations. Case in point: an item of clothing may be made from shoddier fabric than its online image indicates. Page | 53 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA Examples of Ecommerce Ecommerce can take on a variety of forms involving different transactional relationships between businesses and consumers, as well as different objects being exchanged as part of these transactions. 1. Retail: The sale of a product by a business directly to a customer without any intermediary. 2. Wholesale: The sale of products in bulk, often to a retailer that then sells them directly to consumers. 3. Dropshipping: The sale of a product, which is manufactured and shipped to the consumer by a third party. 4. Crowdfunding: The collection of money from consumers in advance of a product being available in order to raise the startup capital necessary to bring it to market. 5. Subscription: The automatic recurring purchase of a product or service on a regular basis until the subscriber chooses to cancel. 6. Physical products: Page | 54 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA Any tangible good that requires inventory to be replenished and orders to be physically shipped to customers as sales are made. 7. Digital products: Downloadable digital goods, templates, and courses, or media that must be purchased for consumption or licensed for use. 8. Services: A skill or set of skills provided in exchange for compensation. The service provider’s time can be purchased for a fee. Page | 55 GEE- LIVING IN THE IT ERA References https://edtechreview.in/news/681-technology-in-education https://www.socialmediatoday.com/technology-data/bryan-kramer/2015-09-15/how- technology-affects-human-relationships https://classroom.synonym.com/negative-effects-using-technology-todays-classroom- 4130.html https://positivenegativeimpact.com/technology-on-education https://positivenegativeimpact.com/technology-on-education https://www.south.edu/blog/importance-information-technology-business/ https://bizfluent.com/list-6496451-uses-information-technology-business.html https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/role-information-technology-business-success-abid- afzal-butt https://www.wearemarketing.com/blog/tourism-and-technology-how-tech-is- revolutionizing-travel.html https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicolemartin1/2019/04/29/how-technology-is-transforming- the-food-industry/?sh=320e37bd20a3\ https://www.mbaknol.com/business-finance/role-of-information-technology-it-in-the- bankingsector/#:~:text=Information%20Technology%20enables%20sophisticated%20pr oduct%20development%2C%20better%20market,has%20significantly%20influenced% 20delivery%20channels%20of%20the%20banks. 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