Unit 7 Recent Trends in Technology
1. What is e-commerce? Explain
its role to enhance the digital economy.
2. Write the impact of
e-commerce technology in our society.
3. What is cloud computing and robotics?
4. Define term e-learning and
virtual reality.
5. What is AI? Write its applications.
6. What is big data? Write its
advantage and disadvantages.
7. What is e-governance? List
out the objectives.
8. Write Short notes on the following.
a) IOT
b) Mobile Computing
c)
Social Media
d)
e-medicine
e) AI
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI stands for Artificial Intelligence. It is a concept of giving human-like intelligence to the machines. Though the computers do their work faster and better than the human beings, the intelligence of them is zero because they just follow the set of instructions given by the user. In case of wrong instruction, they do wrong processing. It is because they do not have intelligence of their own. So, the scientists are in research of giving them artificial intelligence, so that they can understand the natural languages of the human beings and interact. They can express their feelings and many more.
Components of AI
Different
disciplines contributed their ideas, viewpoint, and techniques to plan the
foundation of Al that acts as components of Al.
Some of the major contributions of various disciplines an given below
1. Philosophy: It introduces the concept of logic and methods of reasoning and
studying the mind as a physical system. It creates the foundation for learning
language, and rationality.
2. Mathematics: It introduces the concepts of the formal representation of facts and
proof, algorithms, computation, and reasoning with uncertain information.
3. Economics: It introduces the concepts of the formal theory of rational decision.
4. Neuroscience: It introduces the concepts
of mental activity
which can be introduced
into the machine.
5. Psychology: It introduces the concepts of the brain as an information processing
device and phenomenon of perception and sensory-motor control.
6. Linguistics: It introduces the concepts of knowledge representation and grammar and
how does language relates to thought.
7. Control Theory and cybernetics: It introduces the concepts of designing the system
that maximizes an objective function over time. It describes how artifacts
(objects) can operate under their own control. That is,
it introduces the concept of a self-controlling machine.
8. Computer science and engineering: This component introduces the concept of
hardware, software, and operating system. Apart from this, it also discusses
the programming language and tools used in Al.
Uses/Applications of Al
1. Game playing:
General game playing (GGP) and General video game playing (GVGP) is the concept and designs for artificial intelligence programs to successfully play plenty of games. For video games, game rules have to be either learned over multiple repetitions by artificial players or are predefined manually in a domain-specific language and sent in advance to artificial players.
2. Speech recognition:
In speech recognition, the input is given to the computer in the form of vibrations produced by the sound. This is done with the help of an analog to digital converter that converts the vibrations produced by the sound into digital format.
3. Understanding natural language:
Natural language understanding is a branch of artificial intelligence that uses computer software to take the input in the form of sentences using text or speech. It simply reduces the gap between humans and computers allowing them to interact easily with each other.
4. Computer vision:
Computer vision is a field of artificial intelligence (AI), which enables the computer and its systems to get input in the form of digital images and videos and take action based on the provided input.
5. Expert systems:
An expert system is a computer system that mimics or even surpasses the decision-making ability of a human expert. It is generally designed to solve complex problems by surfing through bodies of knowledge. It is further divided into two subsystems; the knowledge base (which represents facts and rules) and inference engine (which applies the rules to the known facts to deduce new facts).
Robotics
Robotics is the branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, and application of robots. It is a discipline overlapping artificial intelligence and mechanical engineering. It is concerned with building robot programmable devices consisting of mechanical actuators and sensory organs that are linked to a computer.
Robotics is the branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, and application of robots.
1. It is a discipline
overlapping artificial intelligence and mechanical engineering.
2. It is concerned with building robots programmable devices
consisting of mechanical actuators and sensory organs
that are linked to a computer.
3. Robots are being used in
applications like: Industry, scientific research, Military applications, Intelligent
home applications, Health Services.
Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is the use of various services, such as software development platforms, servers, storage, and software, over the Internet, often referred to as the "cloud". It is defined as a type of computing that relies on sharing computing resources rather than having handle applications.
Types of Clouds
Clouds can be classified as public, private, and hybrid.
Public cloud
is made available to the general public
or a large industry group.
Private cloud computing environment resides within the boundaries of an organization and is used exclusively for the organizational benefits
Hybrid cloud is the combination of both public and private cloud. It might run non-core applications in a public cloud, while maintaining core applications and data in a private cloud.
Service Models of Cloud Computing
1. IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service): In this service, computing infrastructural components like server hardware, storage, bandwidth, and other fundamental computing resources are provided through the cloud.
2. Saas (Software as a Service): This service includes complete software on the can access software hosted on the cloud without installing it on the user's own computer.
3. PaaS (Platform as a Service): It allows the user to rent virtualized servers and associated services used to run existing
applications, or to design, develop, test, deploy and host applications. It
provides clients with access to the basic operating software and optional services
to develop and use software applications without the need to buy and manage the
underlying computing infrastructure.
Advantages of Cloud
Computing
Some of the advantages of this technology are:
1. Cost-efficient: It is probably the most efficient method to use, maintain and upgrade.
2. Almost unlimited storage: Storing information in the cloud gives us almost
unlimited storage capacity.
3. Backup and recovery: Since, all the data is stored in the cloud, backing
it up and restoring the same is relatively much easier than storing the same on
a physical device.
4. Automatic software integration: In the cloud, software integration is usually
something that occurs
automatically. It also allows us to customize
the options with great ease.
5. Easy access to information: Once the user is registered in the cloud, the user
can access the information from anywhere, where there is an Internet connection.
6. Quick deployment: Once the method of functioning is selected, the entire system can be
fully functional in a matter of few minutes.
Disadvantages of Cloud Computing
Despite its many benefits, as mentioned above, cloud computing also has its disadvantages.
1. Technical issues: This technology is always prone to outages
and other technical
issues. Even the best cloud service
providers run into this kind of trouble.
Despite keeping up high
standards of maintenance.
2. Security in the cloud: Storing all the sensitive
information to a third-party cloud service
provider could potentially put the company at great risk.
3. Prone to Attack: Storing information in the
cloud could make the company vulnerable to external threats and attacks.
Big Data
Big Data refers to complex and large data sets that have to be processed and analyzed to uncover valuable information that can benefit businesses and organizations.
It has features like:
1. It refers to a massive amount
of data that keeps on growing exponentially with time.
2. It is so voluminous that it
cannot be processed or analyzed using conventional data processing techniques.
3. It includes data mining,
data storage, data analysis, data sharing, and data visualization.
4. The term is an
all-comprehensive one including data, data frameworks, along the tools and
techniques used to process and analyze the data.
According to Gartner, the definition of Big Data- "Big data is high-volume, velocity, and information assets that demand cost-effective, innovative forms of information processing for enhanced insight and decision making."
Types of Big Data
Big data can be classified as Structured, unstructured, and semi-structured.
1. Structured: It means that data can be processed, stored,
and retrieved in a fixed format.
It refers to highly organized information that can be readily and seamlessly
stored and accessed from a database by simple search engine algorithms.
2. Unstructured: It refers to the data that lacks any specific form or structure whatsoever. This makes it very difficult and time-consuming to process and analyze unstructured data.
3.
Semi-structured: It
relates to the data containing both the formats mentioned above, that is
structured and unstructured data.
Characteristics of Big
Data
The main characteristics of big data are:
1. Variety: It refers to the variety of
data gathered from multiple sources. The variety can be structured,
unstructured, or semi-structured.
2. Velocity: It refers to the speed at
which data is being created in real-time. It also comprises the rate of change,
linking of incoming data sets at varying speeds, and activity bursts.
3. Volume: Big Data indicates huge
'volumes of data that are being generated daily from various sources like
social media platforms, business processes, machines, networks, human
interactions, etc.
4. Veracity: It refers to the reliability
or trustworthiness of the data. Due to the large volume of data, we have
uncertainty about the validity, the accurateness of data.
5. Value: It refers to the worth of
business value of the collected data.
6. Variability: It refers to the
inconsistency of the big data and how the big data can be used and formatted.
Application Areas of Big Data
Major application of big is data is:
1. Healthcare or Medical sector.
2. Academia.
3. Banking.
4. Manufacturing.
5. Information Technology (IT).
6. Retail business.
7.
Transportation.
Advantages of Big Data Processing
Some of the advantages of big data processing are:
1. Businesses can utilize
outside intelligence while taking decisions.
2. Improved customer service.
3. Early identification of risk
to the product/services,
4. Better operational efficiency.
5. Big data analysis derives
innovative solutions. It helps in understanding and targeting customers. It
helps in optimizing business processes.
Disadvantages of Big Data Processing
Despite its many benefits, big data processing has the following disadvantages.
1. Traditional storage can cost
a lot of money to store big data.
2. Big data analysis is not
useful in the short run. It needs to be analyzed for a longer duration to
leverage its benefits.
3. Big data analysis results
are sometimes misleading.
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality (VR) is a term that expresses computer-based simulated environments. Which can perceive as in the real world, as well as in unreal worlds.
The virtual reality environments are primarily concerned with the visual experiences, displayed either on a computer screen or through special stereoscopic displays, but some
simulations include additional sensory information, such as sound through speakers or headphones.
Today the Virtual reality (VR) technology is applied to advance fields of medicine, engineering, education, design, training, and entertainment.
Some of the application areas of virtual reality are:
1. It can be used in medical
studies to enable students to know the human
body.
2.
It can be used in scientific research
laboratories so that scientists can easily research a structure.
3.
It can be used in entertainment like games and movies to make the
gaming experience more real and to allow individuals to experience adventures
under extreme conditions.
4.
It can be used in driving schools as it gives a real look at roads and traffic.
5.
It can be used in military training
for the soldiers to get familiar with different areas on the battlefield.
Advantages of Virtual Reality
Some of the advantages of virtual reality are:
1. Virtual reality creates a
realistic world.
2. It enables users to explore places.
3. Through Virtual Reality,
users can experiment with an artificial environment.
4. Virtual Reality makes
education easier and more comfortable.
Disadvantages of Virtual Reality
Some of the disadvantages of virtual reality are:
1. The equipment's used in
virtual reality are very expensive.
2. It consists of complex technology.
3.
In virtual reality environment we can't move by our own like in the
real world.
e-Commerce, e-Medicine, e-Governance
e-Commerce
Electronic commerce (e-Commerce) is a process of buying and selling or
exchanging products, services, and information using electronic media through
internet.
The main
platforms of e-commerce remain the Internet, e-mail, fax, telephone orders
Classification of e-Commerce
1. B2B (Business to Business)
Sells products or services to other businesses. e.g. www.freemarkets.com
2. B2C (Business to Consumer)
Sells products or services directly to consumers. eg.. www.amazon.com, www.yahoo.com.
3. C2B (Consumer to Business)
Consumer fixes a price on their own, which businesses accept or decline, e.g., www.priceline.com
4. C2C (Consumer to Consumer)
Consumer sells directly to other consumer. e.g. www.ebay.com
Advantage of e-Commerce
1. It enables more individuals
to work at home, and to do less traveling for shopping, resulting in less
traffic on the roads, and lower air pollution.
2. It allows some merchandise
to be sold at lower prices, benefiting less affluent people.
3. It enables people in Third
World countries and rural areas to enjoy products and services which otherwise
are not available to them.
4. Facilitates delivery of
public services at a reduced cost, increases effectiveness, and/or improves quality.
5. It enables consumers to shop or do other
transactions 24 hours a day, all year round
from almost any location.
6. It provides consumers with
more selections or choices.
Disadvantage of
e-Commerce
1. Businesses often calculate return
on investment numbers
before committing to any
new technology. Costs,
which are a function of technology, can change dramatically during even short-lived
e-commerce implementation projects.
2. Many companies have had
trouble recruiting and retaining employees with the technological, design, and
business process skills needed to create an effective e- commerce presence.
3. The difficulty of
integrating existing databases and transaction-processing software designed for
traditional commerce into the software that enables e-commerce.
4. Many businesses face cultural
and legal impediment (barrier) to e-commerce. Some consumers are still fearful (afraid) of sending their
credit card numbers over the Internet.
5. Consumers are simply
resistant to change and are uncomfortable viewing merchandise on a computer
screen rather than in person.
e-Medicine
e-Medicine is an online clinical medical knowledge database, which is
an approach to providing health care service to a large number of people spread
in different locations.
It is mainly beneficial for the people of rural areas with limited or no medical facilities
e-Medicine usually contains up-to-date, searchable, peer-reviewed medical journals, online physician reference textbooks, and a complete article database on medical specialties.
e-Governance
E-Governance is the use of information and
communication technology (ICT) to enhance the access and delivery of government
services to benefit citizens, business partners, and employees. It transforms
the traditional government using ICT to make it clear, effective, and
accountable.
It establishes a relationship between government officials and citizens, providing greater
access to government information and services by making the government
accessible online, promoting citizen participation by enabling citizens to interact more conveniently with
government officials, thereby reducing the opportunities for corruption, and supporting development goals by providing business, rural and
traditionally underserved communities with information, opportunities, and
communications capabilities.
For example,
https://www.nepal.gov.np
https://www.moe.gov.np
https://www.moha.gov.np
Objectives of e-Governance
Some of the objectives of e-Governance are:
Ø E-Governance refers to the provision
of online public services to citizens and businesses.
Ø Services for citizens
include the registration to government services such as health care, education,
or employment benefits.
Ø For businesses, E-Governance
services can take the form of online alerts for public procurements or funding
opportunities as well as information and support on applicable legislation in a
given sector.
Ø E-Governance helps to cut
down their administrative costs, speed up procedures and therefore increase
efficiency and reactivity.
Ø
It could improve and accelerate administrative efficiency.
Challenges of
implementing e-Governance
The key challenges of implementing E-Governance mainly in developing countries like Nepal are
Ø High-speed infrastructure to
access the Internet is required.
Ø Creating trust and
transparency of successful delivery of E-Governance service.
Ø The digital divide exists in
developing countries. All the citizens may not have ICT knowledge.
Ø Network security and
protection against viruses, spam, unwanted attacks, etc.
Ø Online privacy.
Ø
All the citizens may not have access to computing resources.
Mobile Computing
Mobile computing is a generic term describing one's ability to use technology while moving as opposed to portable which is only practical for use while deployed in a stationary configuration. A mobile computing device is created using mobile components, such as mobile hardware and software. Mobile computing devices are portable devices capable of operating executing, providing services and applications like a computing device. It is a computing device used in transit. Users can access data and information from wherever they are.
Many types of mobile computers have been introduced since the 1990s, including a wearable computer, PDA, enterprise digital assistant, smartphone, UMPC (Ultra-mobile PC), Tablet PC
Features of Mobile Computing Device
Features of Mobile Computing devices are
Ø It is a portable device that
can be used during mobility.
Ø It has limited processing
and storage capability.
Ø It includes mobile communication,
mobile hardware, and mobile software.
Ø It usually contains a touch
screen for providing input.
Ø It contains an on-screen or
virtual keyboard for proving text inputs. However, an external keyboard can be
connected by using the USB port, infrared, or
Bluetooth.
Ø It contains a camera,
speaker, and microphone.
Ø It contains handwriting
recognizing software.
Advantages of Mobile Computing
Advantages of mobile technology are:
Ø It enables users to work
from any location at any time.
Ø It saves time for accessing
data and information.
Ø It helps to increase the
productivity of users reducing the time and cost.
Ø It has made research easier.
Ø It is one of the major
handheld sources of entertainment of users at
present.
Ø Nowadays, Business processes
are easily available through secured mobile connections.
Ø It is portable.
Ø It supports cloud computing.
Disadvantages of Mobile Technology
Ø Mobile technology requires
faster and quality or GPRS or 3G or 4G connectivity.
Ø It has security concerns;
most wireless connectivity is unsafe.
Ø Large power consumption is
due to the use of batteries continuously and they do not tend to last long.
Ø The danger of
misrepresentation i.e., credential
Ø Extensive use of mobile
devices results in health problems.
Internet of Things (IoT)
Internet of things (IoT) is the network of physical devices, vehicles, home appliances, and other items embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators, and connectivity, which enables these things to connect, collect and exchange data.
The Internet
of Things (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
Advantages of IoT
Ø It automates tasks and helps
to improve the quality of a business's services and reduces.
Ø It helps to operate the
business operations more efficiently, better understand customers to deliver
enhanced customer service.
Ø It supports to improve
decision-making and increases the value of the
business.
Ø It has the ability to access
information from anywhere at any time on any
device.
Ø It provides improved
communication between connected electronic devices.
Ø Transferring data packets
over a connected network saves time, effort, and money.
Disadvantages of IoT
Ø As the number of connected
devices increases and more information is shared between devices, the chances
of the system being attacked also increases.
Ø Organizations may eventually
have to deal with massive numbers (maybe even millions) of loT devices,
and collecting and managing the data from all those
devices will be challenging.
Ø If there's a bug in the
system, every connected device will likely become corrupted.
Ø Since there's no
international standard of compatibility for loT, it's difficult for devices
from different manufacturers to communicate with each other.
e-Learning
e-Learning applies to a learning/teaching or understanding about a
topic with the help of Information and Communication Technology. e-Learning allows us to
learn anywhere and usually at any time, as long as we have a properly
configured computer, networks, devices, etc. e-Learning can be CD ROM-based, Network-based,
Intranet-based, or Internet-based.
For example, http://www.howstuffworks.com/
The concept of e-learning has become more popular throughout the globe because of the Covid 19 pandemic. The tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Cisco Webex Meetings, Google Meet are also used for learning purposes.
m-Commerce
m-commerce (mobile commerce)
is the buying and selling of goods and services through wireless technology
i.e., handheld devices such as cellular telephones and personal digital
assistants (PDAs).
Industries affected by m-commerce include:
Ø Financial services,
including mobile banking (when customers use their handheld devices to access their
accounts and pay their bills),
as well as brokerage services
(in which stock quotes can be displayed and trading conducted from the same handheld
device).
Ø
Telecommunications, in which service changes, bill payment, and account
reviews can all be conducted from the same handheld device.
Ø Service/retail as consumers is given the ability to place and pay for orders on the fly.
Ø
Information services, which include the delivery of entertainment,
financial news, sports figures, and traffic updates to a single mobile device.
Social Media
Social Media is a computer-based technology that is used for the
creation and sharing of information, ideas, interests, and other forms of
expression via virtual communities and networks. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
are popular social media tools.
Advantages of Social Media
Ø It provides easier and
faster way to communicate.
Ø It provides worldwide
real-time sharing of news and educational content.
Ø It is one of the effective
marketing/advertising tools at present.
Ø It is the major source of
entertainment at present.
Ø It helps to understand
better the latest trends and events.
Disadvantages of Social Media
Ø It has increased cyber-crime.
Ø Productive times is lost due
to time waster in social media.
Ø It is a common tool at
present for spreading rumours and fake news/updates.
Ø It has a high risk of fraud.
Ø
