Copyright and Social Media

ICT and Legislation
Task 1B

ICT and Legislation

Task 1A

E-Commerce & Social Networking

E-Commerce or electronic commerce, maintains business relationships and sells information, services and commodities by means of computer telecommunications networks.
 
 
How can a Company develop an on-line presence to survive in the future?
 
Facebook is one of the biggest device for business marketing. But businesses can only work if they use facebook the right way.
 
So what should companies do if they use facebook to introduce their brands?

• A great way to expose a company's brand to a wide audience is through pages, groups or events.
• A great way to engage with existing and potential customers is by sharing industry news/content, updating users on new offers from your business, sharing business videos, etc.
• A great way to get feedback on your business is by allowing users to post comments, use discussion boards, etc.

What companies should NOT do when they use facebook?

• Use it as a direct marketing channel. Users don’t want to get a heavy “sell” message. You can lose fans if you market too heavily.
• Use it as a replacement for your website.
• Use it as a place to only redirect traffic to your website. Most effective Pages have a variety of content.
• Use it as another email list.

What should companies do and include when creating a facebook page?

• Add basic information to the “Info” tab, such as web site address and contact information and description of your business.
• Tell all your friends. Grow your fan base with friends first.
• Post at least once weekly. Get in the habit of posting to keep users engaged.
• Advertise your page!

Snoox is a new social media website that is based on recommendations from friends rather than strangers. It is used by some companies as a marketing instrument to promote and advertise their products and also to attract more customers. 92% of the world's consumers say they trust word-of-mouth and recommendations from friends and family above all other forms of advertising. Snoox might be a good idea to use for advertising. However there are problems of using Snoox, for example not all friends of one users are willing to use Snoox. Not everyone has the same taste so they might recommend different things to their friends. Therefore this website may or may not potentially help companies particularly small companies to attract a big audience.



 

 

 

 

Communication: Social Networking

Social Networking is the use of dedicated websites and applications to communicate informally with other users, or to find people with similar interests to oneself. The first social netwrok website has established in 1995. Social network has grown with the development of Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus and more.

Facebook now has a billion of active users every month. Mark Zuckerberg is the founder of this big social network site. This is the biggest social network site in the world. Latestt statistics shows 600 million users access Facebook through mobile phone. VKontakte which has 300 million users is a rival of facebook in Russia. On the other hand, China has RenRen to beat with 30 million members. Twitter like Sina Weibo are also big social network websites which have 300 million users.

Facebook is now used as media, political, business and religious tool to reach people. As a result, facebook is now also seen as a surveilance gadget. For example, police can use facebook to track people who are involved in crimes. In business term, many big and small businesses use facebook as an online marketing tool.

Twitter has also grown, it enables users to post or send and read text-based messages with only maximum of 140 characters. This service rapidly gained popularity worldwide, with over 500 million active users as of 2012 and over 340 million daily tweets. Like facebook, twitter also acts as a business, political, media and religious tool to reach people.

The big problem for these social netwroking sites is the fake accounts or fake users. These are internet users who pretend to be someone or something they are not. It was revealed that 83 million of facebook users do not actually exist. Most of these fake facebook accounts generate 'likes' using malware to falsely boost a brand's figures. Some of the face accounts are also used for passing spam messages and fooling other users.

Life in the Information Age - Education

Life in the Information Age - Education

The education has changed because of ICT. There is now online education, online exams, Virtual Learning Environments or Moodle, education softwares and electronic education equipments such as electronic whiteboards.

ICT has made it easier to access education. Internet is also offers easy access to unlimited libraries of information. However the there are also disadvantages of this in education. For example some schools cannot afford all the best software and equipment. There are so many educational media that make it difficult to ensure any form of standardised quality of experience for students.

Another issue that concerns the impact of ICT in education is many learners use the internet as the main source of information. Some students copy information from the worl wide web without quoting the source of information and this causes them to charge of plagiarisms. Another problems is that many information providers are finding means of charging for their information that had previously been free. It is also easy to publish on the internet and therefore it is easy to publish inaccurate, biased and fake informations on  the web.

So how can we assess that the information online is real and not fake?

Task: Finding reliable, valid information

One of the possible signs that a website gives false information is when it gives information that is impossible to believe. Some of the untrusted websites only give information that offer amusement and try to fool the readers. When a website gives nonsense information then it is a sign that it is not real.

List of famous hoax sites:

http://www.thedogisland.com/
http://www.bigredhair.com/boilerplate/index.html
http://www.landoverbaptist.org/
http://www.gatt.org/
http://www.wingmakers.com/
http://www.lingweenie.net/feorran/feorran.html
http://www.thedailyrash.com/

iPhone

The iPhone is a line of smartphones designed and marketed by Apple Inc.
It runs Apple's iOS mobile operating system, originally named "iPhone OS".

Apple has become more famous when iPhone is introduced in 2007 and the company's loyal customers have increased. The company has also introduced more generations of iPhone like iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S and now the sixth generation is iPhone 5.


Behind the success of iPhone are the different issues that Apple has to deal:

* The workers of Foxconn which is the manufacturer of iPhone in Taiwan started a strike. Foxconn's close links with Apple have been a headache for the California-based company and its chief executive, Tim Cook, visited an iPhone factory in Zhengzhou to try to shore up the damage from the public relations disaster. This sort of press reporting is bad because it could damage Apple’s brand name. This sort press reporting is bad for Apple because it affects the image of their brand and they may lose customers.

* The new iPhone has turned Apple being rotten to directions. There were some of the gaffes exposed on the tech giant’s own mapping app, which replaced Google Maps as part of the iOS6 operating system. Some towns including Stratford-upon-Avon have disappeared completely. An Apple spokeswoman admitted over night that the Maps app needs work. "We launched this new map service knowing that it is a major initiative and we are just getting started with it," said Trudy Muller. "We are continuously improving it, and as Maps is a cloud-based solution, the more people use it, the better it will get." This kind of reporting is bad for Apple because the new iPhone upsets many customers and as an increasing of competition in the electronics industry especially smartphones, Apple’s loyal customers may withdraw themselves from being loyal to them and start to buy from other smartphone companies.

*  Apple is also in the middle of law battle with its rival Samsung. Samsung has added Apple's latest handset to a US patent lawsuit claiming the iPhone 5 infringes eight of its technologies. These two companies have been battling for patent wars. Apple has claimed that the Samsung’s Galaxy device maker copied the look and iOS system software found on Apple’s tablets and handsets. Although several of Apple's claims have been rejected, it recently scored a major victory when a California-based jury ruled Samsung should pay it over $1bn (£620m) in damages. Copyright is the biggest issue inside of the technology world. Apple has been fighting and solving issues regarding copyrights through legal disputes and other legal processes in order to protect iPhone and other of their products.



Source: www.independent.co.uk
             www.telegraph.co.uk
             http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19800342

Employment Opportunities

Alongside the growth of ICT is the rise of new jobs and also the decrease and changes of some old jobs. There are three vital related aspects to the changes of types of jobs people do, how they do them and where. These are automation, globalisation and flexibility.

People have been replaced by machines in some areas of jobs. In the UK and overseas, some factories in the manufacturing industry have been replaced by factories employing CNC (Computer Numerical Control), automated machines and robotics. Banks have also take advantage of the ICT by establishing an automated clearing system for cheques and other payments. Bank tellers or counter assistants have been replaced by ATMs (Automated Teller Machines). Numerous administrative jobs in banks could be replaced by computers.

Some of the new jobs that brought by ICT are:

• IT Teacher
• IT Technician
• Computer Engineers
• Web Designer
• Programmers

Jobs that have changed:

• Bloggers
• Accounts
• Banking
• Film Makers
• Music Makers

Jobs that have disappeared:

• Shorthand typists
• Ticket collectors on stations
• Gas light lighters
• Chimney sweeps
• Thatchers

Activity 2 Analysing the 'good old days'

Tasks:

• The two different office applications that could be used by the small business to improve the paper-based systems employed in the 1970s are word processing and presentation software.
• The advantaged of using office software such as word processing are it is easy to do work using it and quick to finish office works like letters and memos. On the other hand, the advantages of using presentation software are also easy to do work on it and quick for making reports.
• The demand for shorthand typists has dimished enormously because of the advent of these office software packages. However, there is still an active and strong demand for secretaries.
• Many new jobs have been created because of ICT and the most obvious ones are IT jobs, internet and e-commerce work.

Communication: Mobile Phone

Evolution of Mobile Phone

1983 - Motorola DynaTAC 8000x
1996 - Nokia 8110
1999 - Nokia 3210
2003 - Nokia 1110
         - BlackBerry 7230
2004 - Motorola RAZR V3
2008 - Apple iPhone 3G
2012 - Samsung Galazxy S III
         - Apple iPhone5 4G

In the past 20 to 10 years mobile phones are only for text and call. Mobile phones have now become more useful than before. It can add now some useful applications that are helpful in our everyday life.

Different ways how mobile phones have changed our lives and the way we communicate.
There are 5 billion mobile phone connections in the world, there is also emerging number of tablet computers and other on-the-go connectivity gadgets, and because of this mobile technology has altered the way we live.

• With the help of mobile phones, communicating with other people no matter how far they are has became easier. There is no need to send or receive a letter from a post or the need to see someone just to say something because call and text can easily do these.
• Mobile phone has also offered entertainment with its video and games applications, the users can entertain themselves using these.
• All-in-One. A phone. A map. A compass. A camera. A video recorder. A video-gaming device. A portable music player. A laptop. A GPS device. A flashlight. Today's mobile phones are multi-functional. One device that performs a wide range of roles.

When do you use mobile phones?

Purpose of using mobile phone:
To make and receive a phone call and text messages to other people. Use the applications added for everyday use such as weather and news, internet access, maps, e-mails and many more. Also can be used as an entertainment like games and videos.

How and where to use mobile phone?
Mobile phone is useful in the event of emergencies. It can be used anywhere but not in airplanes.


Source: metro newspaper
             http://www.cnn.co.uk/2011/10/07/tech/mobile/smartphones-change-lives/index.html

Communication: Instant Messaging

Instant messaging (IM) is a form of real-time communication between two or more people that enables them to have a virtual conversation. This involves talking to someone in real time by typing and receiving messages. It is ussually more private than chat rooms, allowing group of people to converse in real time without being snooped on by anyone they don't specifically allow into conversation.


VoIP ( Voice Over Internet Protocol)
 VoIP is a protocol that enables transmission of speech over the internet or other IP packet-switched networks.This is similar to IM on a computer, but sound rather than text is sent. It is similar to taking a phone call. VoIP technology is being rapidly deployed and is now a core part of all new telephone systems. It is the future of telephony, now offering capability, flexibility, quality and resilience that are a far cry from the limitations of earlier systems.
-Skype and Google Talk are examples of VoIP.


Advantages/features of Using VoIP:

• Generally phone service via VoIP is free or costs are less than equivalent service from traditional sources.
• VoIP offers various facilities which may be more difficult to achieve using traditional phone networks. You can receive incoming calls to your VoIP phone regardless of where you are connected to the network. Therefore you can take your VoIP phone wherever you wish and you can receive incoming calls if you are connected to internet.
• The ability to transmit more than one telephone call over a single broadband connection.
• VoIP allows users to travel anywhere in the world and still make and receive phone calls.
  Subscribers of phone-line replacement services can make and receive local phone calls regardless of their location.
• Users of Instant Messenger based VoIP services such as those offered by google talk, yahoo and msn messenger can also travel anywhere in the world and make and receive phone calls.

Sources: www.voip.co.uk
               www.voip-outsourcing.com

Online Marketing

Online marketing or Internet marketing is referred to as the marketing or generally promotion of products or services over the Internet. This is a growing business mainly because more and more people use the internet everyday. Popular search engines such as Google and Yahoo have been able to capitalise on this new wave of advertising.



Many companies use the internet to promote and advertise their products because it is cheaper and easier for the customer to access. However there are more catalogues which are still being printed. Some of these are clothing catalogues from:
-Very
-Littlewoods
-K&Co
-Isme


The companies that replaced their catalogues with online versions are IKEA, Tesco, Asda and more.

• One of the advantages of this trend for a company is it helps to reduce offline marketing expenses such as costs of catalogues, rental fees and also it helps to recruit less staff since customers can help themselves just by visiting the company's website.
• Another advantage is it helps the company to widen the range of their customers. This is because online marketing helps them to promote and advertise their products internationally.
• Online marketing also helps to promote new products easily.

However there are disadvantages of using online marketing:

• One of the advantages is there is no replacement for good old fashioned customer service. Online marketer lacks customer service and inquiry response programmes.
• Some customers are not aware the level of security to companies' websites and the customers may not want to purchase online using their credit cards.

This trend of using online marketing is growing and therefore this creates competition. Online marketing may or may not effectively benefit them.


Source: www.businessdictionary.com
             www.allthingsweb.co.uk

Weather

Weather forecast for the next five days in Bedford.

Wednesday, 7 November 2012

Thursday, 8 November 2012







Friday, 9 November 2012







Saturday, 10 November 2012







Sunday, 11 November 2012








Actual weather in Bedford

Wednesday, 7 November 2012
High 10°C
Low 5°C

Thursday, 8 November 2012
High 12°C
Low 8°C

Friday, 9 November 2012
High 11°C
Low 6°C

Saturday, 10 November 2012
High 9°C
Low 7°C

Sunday, 11 November 2012
High 10°C
Low 5°C


Evaluation:
The weather forecast provided by the BBC weather website is almost the same with the actual weather. The website also provides a description and sumary of the forecast for each day, a forecast video and it has also maps that illustrate the pattern of weather and how it changes over 24 hours a day.

On the other hand, the Met office site offers a better and clear forecast weather. It also provides warning overviews.


Source: www.bbc.co.uk/weather
             www.metoffive.gov.uk

E-Government

E-Government” refers to the use by government agencies of information technologies (such as Wide Area Networks, the Internet, and mobile computing) that have the ability to transform relations with citizens, businesses, and other arms of government. These technologies can serve a variety of different ends: better delivery of government services to citizens, improved interactions with business and industry, citizen empowerment through access to information, or more efficient government management.

Government Services Online (UK)

Online Services	Information Services	Online Reporting & Advice	Online Booking	Online Payment
Motoring	Motoring forms relating to driving tests, vehicle registration, vehicle taxation and more.	-Make a complaint -or a claim for compensation. -Report an unlicensed vehicle online.	Book MOT test, Theory test, Driving test
Money, tax and benefits		-Benefits Adviser -Report tax evasion
Government, citizens and rights	Information on how to order birth, adoption, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates.	Make a complaint about a trader or service provider
Property and housing	Information on how to apply housing benefit, how to find out how much rates to pay, about housing, planning and more.	Make a complaint about your water or sewerage services.		Pay rates

Source: www.nidirect.gov.uk