Virtual Reality

Virtual reality began with silent movies on a black and white screen. Electronic and computer engineers are leaders in improving the virtual reality experience. So, what is virtual reality? Virtual reality is a 3-dimensional graphic representation of a human experience using a computer. The human experience includes sight, hearing, feel, and smell. Scientists are now working improving the sense of taste. Virtual reality is a surreal experience used to build the human experience.

Many technologies are needed to create a virtual world. The three main technologies are hardware and software. Hardware may include a glove, visor, or treadmill. Software may be graphic libraries like OpenGL and Direct3D. For virtual reality to work, the user inputs data using the hardware – such as moving the fingers of the glove. [1] Then, the hardware outputs data by using the software – like the hand on the screen moves. This is all possible because of motion sensors. Motion sensors allow the hardware to talk to the software. An example of a device which uses motion sensors is the Nintendo Wii. Video game industries are using programming languages, such as C++ and Java, to create 3D environments. Scientists may be replacing those languages in today’s time. [2]

Simulations, or close to real-life experiences, can be found in today’s society. Most children are exposed to virtual reality at the elementary school level. As young students have “Tamagachi,”[3] where they need to feed, play, and put to sleep their own pet. As they grow older, they play on facebook. The most common facebook game is “the Sims Social.” [4] The game creates a world of what owning a house and family is similar. The world is a lifelike experience; but the disadvantage is the limited display and technology to actually live in the “Sim world.” As college kids get older, adults talk about playing MMORPG’s (also known as Massive Multiplayer Role Playing Games). These virtual worlds are larger and require more time and dedication. The newest summer hit is Diablo III[5]. Women and men battle each other to compete for the most wealth. As technology improves, communication, imaging, and processing power may improve the experience of gaming at low costs.

In conclusion, virtual environments allow people to experience the situations of others. Virtual reality consists of primarily two parts: hardware and software. They are found in today’s society through video games. This kind of technology makes almost anything possible. A whole new world can be created making all wishes and desires to come true.

[1] http://www.nordtech.ubm.ro/issues/2010/2010.01.09.pdf pg 58-61

[2] http://searchcio-midmarket.techtarget.com/definition/virtual-reality

[3]http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2005-06-09/news/0506090424_1_tamagotchi-virtual-pet-previous-pets
[4]http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/web/ea-sues-claims-zynga-copied-the-sims-social-1091168
[5]http://www.ingame.msnbc.msn.com/technology/ingame/diablo-iii-will-let-you-sell-virtual-loot-real-money-121769

T4.8

SELECT "Customer Name", "Product Category", "Profit", "Date" FROM "Sales" WHERE "Region"='East' ORDER BY "Profit" DESC



Here is a SQL of the most profitable products in the eastern region and when it occurred. The purpose is to see where my business is making the most profit.

SELECT "Customer Name", "Product Category", "Profit", "Date" FROM "Sales" WHERE "Customer Name"='Jency Johnah' ORDER BY "Date" DESC



Then I went deeper and looked up the most recent profitable customer and track down her purchased goods in date depending order. The purpose is view costumer loyalty and how my business can provide a better service.

SELECT "Customer Name", "Product Category", "Profit", "Date" FROM "Sales" WHERE "Product Category"='furniture' ORDER BY "Date" DESC



Now I singled out furniture only, so I can get a better view of furniture profits.

T4.4 ( steps + Conclusion)

1) Import Super Smart from database > Import to spreadsheet Zoho >Truncate Spreadsheet
2) Insert Future Cost and Profit 4% using absolute method for row G first and then copied the rest of the column
3) Insert Future Cost and Profit 8% using absolute method for row G first and then copied the rest of the column
4) Clicks on tab "Publish" > "View Public URL" (copy to forums) > clicked "Embedded in Website/Blog" (Copy to blog)
In conclusion the the lesser inflation rate results in a more profitable future vs the greater inflation rate.

IS and DSS

For companies, Information systems are used to make decisions, operate, and plan. For schools, many on-line universities offer diplomas for DSS, MIS, and EIS disciplines, but they are not offered in other major schools. Today, companies and schools are turning to computer systems for everyday business. These computer systems speed up the methodology of doing business. EIS, MIS, and DSS are different computer systems that do different operations.

            EIS, which stands for Executive Information System, is the most specialized system. This program is primarily used for most difficult to use for decision-making.  The decision-making compares, analyzes, and highlights variables to select the best one. This kind of storage works best with high data storage; the other parts can be cheap. According to Floyd Kelly, a researcher on EIS, more senior administrators use this program for they have "limited time, limited keyboarding skills, and little direct experience with computers” [1].  Therefore, the software contains more text, database, graphic base, and model base than MIS.

            MIS, which stands for Management Information System, is a supportive computer system.  This program is medium difficulty. The decisions are used to communicate, plan, and summarize variables. Unlike EIS, employees of a company can benefit from this program.  They use internal data and micro-job functioning for their job.  Back in retail, my manager had developed a retail management information system.  The system benefitted by increasing profits through the tracking of procurement, inventory, and sales [2].

            DSS, which stands for Decision Support System, is a general system. The system is the easiest to use for decision-making.  This program is useful in taking raw data and documents to create different combinations; the knowledge is useful in making decisions. Managers use the information most.  They use data to calculate inventory, sales, and revenue.  An example of a company using DSS is Sam’s Bookstore. Through the use of DSS, a table was created with quantities and demands.  Past purchases and future demands were estimated. The results showed the maximum profit was as $12,250 at ordering 2000 quantity of books.  Sam’s Bookstore has an easier time in their decision-making with the help of DSS. [3]

            The three systems are similar because they all work together. MIS stores small files, such as documentation and texts, which is used by EIS and DSS. DSS and EIS are used for critical decision-making. Middle to higher level management use MIS, while DSS is for all levels of the corporation. EIS is the most advanced program.

            In conclusion, EIS, MIS, and DSS are computer systems where each program is designed for a different skill of the user. More on-line schools are based on information systems, and many more companies are using them today. Both on-line learning and information companies are growing each year. Will accredited schools be replaced by on-line learning? Unlikely, but as more companies continue to rely on computer systems, the demand for skilled computer users continue to grow. Computers are the future, I hope my kids will be able to experience a similar, if not, better one than mine.

[1] http://dssresources.com/papers/features/kelly11072002.html
[2] http://www.ehow.com/about_5564925_retail-management-information-systems.html
[3] https://www.student.gsu.edu/~averghese1/dss.html

Electronic Businesses

Electronic Businesses

My topic is the prevent security risk in Electronic Businesses (e-business). Information has been a valued commodity since the beginning of time. How information is used is no concern until it involves their consumers. General information given from e-business may be harmless, but personal information can be detrimental in the wrong hands. Managers need to focus on data privacy, authenticity, and data integrity in order to run a successful online business. Consumers may be unaware who can view their personal information and how much are found.  Especially in with a growing number of e-businesses, data controversy continues.

Electronic businesses, a name given by IBM in the 1990’s, is more than “e-commerce” and “e-procurement”.  Every department in an e-business revolves around the internet and it can range from collaborating with another department to researching with another team.  Utilizing such resources allow companies to flourish.[1]

Amazon.com is known as the largest online retailer, such as Amazon.com. The company is trusted by many consumers; however, the addition of Cloud Drive caused some consumers to question their trust in the e-business.  Amazon Cloud Drive is a free online storage space with up to 5GB of room. Its purpose is to preserve any documents, photos, music, or videos just in case of wipes or crashes. Consumers can purchase additional space for a fee. [2] Amazon has created the business plan with some questionable security plans. Consumers were concern on personal file protection. George Reese, a consumer, blogger, and founder of enStratus Networks LLC and Valtira, spoke out his findings of Amazon Cloud. He said that Amazon has control over your data and weak security for points. Reese questions the stability of the company and information in regards to the aftermath of the company. [3] He has all the right to be skeptical. When applying for college, high school students use sealed envelopes and the post office to secure transcript privacy. In a similar fashion, E-business secures data privacy with encryptions and firewalls as protection. To secure any data loss, third party software can be added to company’s network. Anti-viruses software is an example of a third party. [4]

Other possible concerns in an e-business are authenticity and data integrity. As a former retail employer, I know the authenticity of a transaction was signature through the pad.  Now online businesses signatures are obsolete in purchases, which posses as a problem. Online businesses can always verify with customer’s knowledge of a password and credit card. [4] Businesses should ensure data is preserved and untampered while movement. One way to ensure to preseve information is through backup. Backup is important because the growth of data is exponential and prevents failures within the network. Another way is to ensure preservation is to future-proof data storage. The system will have new and old data, policies, and encryption to secure data. [5]

In conclusion, e-business can overcome risk in security. In order to run an online business, security must be taken under consideration; such as data privacy, authenticity, and data integrity. It all comes down to securing and preserving consumer’s information.

[1] http://searchcio.techtarget.com/definition/e-business
[2] https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/learnmore
[3] http://broadcast.oreilly.com/2008/11/key-security-issues-for-the-am.html
[4] http://www.ehow.com/list_6943198_e_business-security-concerns.html
[5] http://www.digitalpreservation.gov/meetings/documents/othermeetings/3-4_Clarke-SUN-Data_Integrity.pdf  (Slides 3 - 14)

Task 3.4

                I will discuss telecommunication hardware, and the difference between a mobile phone, PDA, and smartphone. In the past, the purpose of cellular phones was to send and receive voice communications, but today, they have multiple functions. Mobile phones can be used to run software, access the internet, take pictures, and play music. Their differences make each phone unique; the price will tell you.

                A mobile phone is a wireless device that connects to cell phone towers using radio waves. Mobile phones can be used for voice communication, Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Message Service (MMS), and newer phones may use instant messaging.[1] I use to own a mobile phone, and the durability was better than my smartphone.  The phone could drop or get scratched, and It will still work.

                A PDA is an acronym for “Personal Digital Assistant”.  The purpose is simple: to facilitate the organizing of daily activities in an easily manageable, portable way.  [2] These devices are handheld which have computing, telephone, and internet (with WiFI technology). However, through evolution, keyboards have been installed on these devices.  Most PDA’s have touch screens, while some also have fax services. Most PDA’s are used as a personal organizer. Some PDA’s have voice recognition technology for speed dialing and going through menus. An example of a PDA is a Pixi Plus[3] phone by the company of Palm. [2]

                A smartphone is a combination of a PDA and a mobile phone, “which in essence was just like a regular cell phone with some added capabilities that you may find on a laptop or PC”. [4] Smart phones are like mini-computers. They are used for used primarily for e-mail and applications. Most Smartphones now have a touch screen. A touch screen is a display where I can use my finger to input commands. An example of a smartphone is Apple’s iPhone (with iPhone OS) and Samsung’s Galaxy SII (with Android OS). These smart phones have advanced 3D graphics and more powerful hardware. Although they are more like PDA’s, no standard defines a smartphone. Smartphones are usually greater than PDA, and a PDA is greater than a mobile phone in ability.

                In conclusion, mobile phones, PDAs, and smart phones all have different uses. Before purchasing a cellular phone, a person should reflect on the level of cell phone usage. Simple users may be happy with a simple phone with call and text functions. More courageous users may want a PDA for its entry-level pen. Advances users may want a smartphone to help with their daily life. Regardless of who uses what kind of cellular phone, the average user may need to be more proficient in computers as cellular phones may replace PCs in the future.

[1] http://www.ehow.com/facts_4923091_what-cell-phone.html

[2] http://www.ehow.com/facts_4913597_what-pda-cell-phone.html

[3] http://www.amazon.com/Palm-Pixi-Plus-Verizon-Screen/dp/B004IPAC10/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343273143&sr=8-1&keywords=palm+phone

[4] http://ezinearticles.com/?What-is-a-SmartPhone?&id=2149500

Task 3.3

My topic will be the transition from the past to the future of Web 2.0.  Web 2.0 is the second generation of the World Wide Web bringing in new culture of internet.  It focuses on sharing and collaborating information through the online community.  The Web 2.0 has served Web applications towards marking industries, who in turn, farmed the collected data into advertisement means.  The Web has grown a considerable amount by transforming from one-way to two-way communication.

During the beginning of World Wide Web, Web 1.0 had established its place in history with limited options. Vovoci from http://blogvovico.com, created a visual comparison of the Web 1.0 and 2.0:

From looking at the diagram, all users can do was read content with no interactions in Web 1.0. The sites had only sticky content and to name a few it had webmail, chat room, news, and weather. There were editors, but personal sites remained closed and rarely changed. Only a handful of websites changed like CNN. Web 2.0 had a dramatic change, which included user-generated content. It allowed a mass sharing and interaction of content. Also, Web 2.0 had web syndication, allowing two or more companies to provide available material on the other site. It is considered a buzz, which means it contained personal blogging and crowdsourcing.   

However some may disagree on the transition from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0, like Tim Berners-Lee who has said, “Web 1.0 was all about connecting people. It was an interactive space, and I think Web 2.0 is of course a piece of jargon, nobody even knows what it means. If Web 2.0 for you is blogs and wikis, then that is people to people. But that was what the Web was supposed to be all along".[2] Berner-Lee had a different interpretation of Web 1.0. Instead of looking at it from a user interface, he looked at it as the start of connecting people. Web in general has always been about people involvement, so he could not define Web 2.0 as connecting people and collaborating information.

The future of Web 2.0 is scary, yet fascinating to think about. The development of web 2.0 brings about semantic web. According to University College of Dublin (UCD), they defined Semantic Web as extending “the current web to as web data”, adding “machine processable meaning to World Wide Web documents”, and developing “formalizes what is done every day by web users, but makes it possible for machines to do the work”. [3]  UCD describes the semantic web as a linking a data. For example by typing the word, “Mahwah”, the web will locate the weather, area, landmarks, and etc. The web will find all possible information relating to the word, “Mahwah”. Machines will be able to take the jobs of web users. 

In conclusion, the progressive development of Web 2.0 has grown in communication. However some may say the development has always been the same. The web is fascinating and relatively new, but as time continues, it may be hard to determine its possible limits.

[1] http://blog.vovici.com/blog/bid/18085/Web-1-0-vs-Web-2-0
[2] http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/berners-lee_disses_web20.php
[3] http://www.slideshare.net/is20090/future-of-web-20-the-semantic-web - slide 9