Chapter 10: Pros and Cons of Information Technology

Some of the advantages of information technology include:

Globalization - IT has not only brought the world closer together, but it has allowed the world's economy to become a single interdependent system. This means that we can not only share information quickly and efficiently, but we can also bring down barriers of linguistic and geographic boundaries. The world has developed into a global village due to the help of information technology allowing countries like Chile and Japan who are not only separated by distance but also by language to shares ideas and information with each other.

Communication - With the help of information technology, communication has also become cheaper, quicker, and more efficient. We can now communicate with anyone around the globe by simply text messaging them or sending them an email for an almost instantaneous response. The internet has also opened up face to face direct communication from different parts of the world thanks to the helps of video conferencing.

Cost effectiveness - Information technology has helped to computerize the business process thus streamlining businesses to make them extremely cost effective money making machines. This in turn increases productivity which ultimately gives rise to profits that means better pay and less strenuous working conditions.

Bridging the cultural gap - Information technology has helped to bridge the cultural gap by helping people from different cultures to communicate with one another, and allow for the exchange of views and ideas, thus increasing awareness and reducing prejudice.

More time - IT has made it possible for businesses to be open 24 x7 all over the globe. This means that a business can be open anytime anywhere, making purchases from different countries easier and more convenient. It also means that you can have your goods delivered right to your doorstep with having to move a single muscle.

Creation of new jobs - Probably the best advantage of information technology is the creation of new and interesting jobs. Computer programmers, Systems analyzers, Hardware and Software developers and Web designers are just some of the many new employment opportunities created with the help of IT.

Some disadvantages of information technology include:

Unemployment - While information technology may have streamlined the business process it has also crated job redundancies, downsizing and outsourcing. This means that a lot of lower and middle level jobs have been done away with causing more people to become unemployed.

Privacy - Though information technology may have made communication quicker, easier and more convenient, it has also bought along privacy issues. From cell phone signal interceptions to email hacking, people are now worried about their once private information becoming public knowledge.

Lack of job security - Industry experts believe that the internet has made job security a big issue as since technology keeps on changing with each day. This means that one has to be in a constant learning mode, if he or she wishes for their job to be secure.

Dominant culture - While information technology may have made the world a global village, it has also contributed to one culture dominating another weaker one. For example it is now argued that US influences how most young teenagers all over the world now act, dress and behave. Languages too have become overshadowed, with English becoming the primary mode of communication for business and everything else.

source: http://www.smallbusinessbible.org/advan_disadvan_informationtechnology.html

Chapter 9: Characteristics of good websites and Bias information

Characteristics of good websites

1. Original, Fresh Content

    Content is king in the web world. People visit websites for the primary purpose of finding content, so make sure you deliver. Website content should be unique and up to date.

2. Target Audience

From a quick scan of your website, visitors should be able to determine what you offer and how you can benefit them. A good website will have headlines and text that speaks to the target audience’s needs and wants

3. User-Friendly Navigation

A good website has content that is easy to find. Pages should be organized and named in a way that the target audience will easily understand.

4. Simple and Professional Design

A good website will have an attractive layout that is easy on the eyes. Be sure your colors contrast well and your text doesn’t require a magnifying glass to read.

5. Speed

How many seconds will you wait for a page to load before you give up and leave a website? Many factors can affect the loading time of a website including coding, number of graphics, the server speed, traffic volume on the website and the capabilities of a user’s computer.

6. Search engine optimization

SEO is one of the most commonly neglected aspects of a website, but a website is useless if no one can find it. Think about the keywords that users may search for to find a product or service you offer.

7. Link building

Links are an important factor in determining where your website appears in search engine results. Find as many legitimate sites as you can that will link you your website.

8. Tracking

A good website is a work in progress. A nice tool like Google Analytics will keep track of the number of people who come to your website, what pages they viewed, where they came from, what keywords they used in search engines, how many left after the first page and more.

         Remember to include these characteristics in your next website design project. A professional-looking website with interesting content that is easy to navigate and can be found in search engines is sure to bring value to your business.

Here are some example of good websites in my opinion:
http://www.pantip.com/
http://www.expedia.co.th/
http://www.jeban.com/

Bias information

Information bias:  a systematic distortion or error that arises from the procedures used for classification or measurement of the disease, the exposure, or other relevant variables. It can be inaccurate, inappropriate and based on business's objective, or personal opinion.


Example of Bias information

Media Bias: A presidential infomercial posing as a news magazine distorts the record to shamelessly shill for a failed administration. Why do we criticize the man who made the high-speed trains run on time?
Political campaigns call it free media: when candidates can make their case and communicate their message through interviews and outlets that don't cost a dime.

source: http://news.investors.com/Article.aspx?id=598018&p=1&ibdbot=1

Chapter 8: Search Engine

How Do Search Engines Work?
        A program that searches documents for specified keywords and returns a list of the documents where the keywords were found. Although search engine is really a general class of programs, the term is often used to specifically describe systems like Google, Alta Vista and Excite that enable users to search for documents on the World Wide Web and USENET newsgroups.


      Search engines are not simple. They include incredibly detailed processes and methodologies, and are updated all the time. This is a bare bones look at how search engines work to retrieve your search results. All search engines go by this basic process when conducting search processes, but because there are differences in search engines, there are bound to be different results depending on which engine you use.

1. The searcher types a query into a search engine.
2. Search engine software quickly sorts through literally millions of pages in its database to find matches to this query.
3. The search engine's results are ranked in order of relevancy.

5 example of search engine links:

Chapter 7: The ideas to help and support the flooding crisis..!!!

    

          Thailand were faced with the worst flooding ever at the end of last year. There were so many people affected from that situation. More than one thousand victims had no places to live, no foods to eat and no hope. I am as a student who have little money but a big willing to put my brain, my power and time to support the flooding crisis. I had chanced to be a volunteer at the flood relief center, I were helping them to organize relatively for the victims and taking care of elderlies and patients. I was also helping to pack the survival bags to provide to those victims as well. Even I was only the small part to help them but I felt like I have done such a wonderful things in my life. And fortunately, that when there are crisis in Thailand, Thai people never leave each other alone, we are always there for you..!!!

Here are some example of links for the flooding support foundation in Thailand..!!
http://www.thaiflood.com/
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.244777298877063.58691.142765199078274&type=1
http://www.mirror.or.th/