Module Identifier CSM8520  
Module Title THE ENVIRONMENT OF E-COMMERCE  
Academic Year 2001/2002  
Co-ordinator Mr Frank Bott  
Semester Semester 2 (Taught over 2 semesters)  
Mutually Exclusive CS35210 , Only available to students following the Masters of Management Scheme.  
Course delivery Lecture   40 lectures  
Assessment Essay   (A1) Semester 1   50%  
  Exam   2 Hours   50%  
  Resit assessment   Supplementary assessment will take the same form, under the terms of the Department's policy.    
Further details http://www.aber.ac.uk/compsci/ModuleInfo/CSM8520  

General description


This module considers the social, legal, regulatory and technical environment operates. It considers the changes to this environment expected in the short to medium term.

Aims


This module will provide appropriate practical and technical background for managers who will help specify Internet content and applications.

Learning outcomes


At the end of the module, the students will have developed a critical appreciation of:
1. the developments which are leading to the arrival of the information society (A1);
2. the changes that are expected to occur in education, commerce, working practices and general society (A1).


When considering deployment of Internet technology they will be able to take proper account of:
3. the legal implications of an information society (A2);
4. the constraints imposed by telecommunications regulation (A2);
5. issues being currently addressed by researchers (A2);
6. the applicability of standards (A2);
7. the constraints imposed and the opportunities afforded by current technology (A2);
8. the issues to be discussed when commissioning Internet content and applications (A2).

Syllabus


1. Technological Developments - 4 lectures
A not-very-technical look at the technological developments which have laid the basis for the Information Society. Digital broadcasting, convergence with telecommunications and its implications, use of the radio spectrum.
2. Electronic Commerce - 4 lectures
Applications in banking, shopping, and so on. Implications for security and so on.
3. Workplace Revolution - 2 lectures
New working practices enabled by an Information Society.
4. Social Revolution - 4 lectures
New modes of human interaction. Implications for education, social division.
5. Legal Issues - 2 lectures
Including issues of intellectual property, libel etc.
6. Telecommunications Regulation - 2 lectures
The current state of telecommunications regulation at UK, European and Global levels. Problems of the current regulatory position and changes that are required.
7. Current Technical Research - 2 lectures
A review of current work in the department and elsewhere, including the technology of remote presence applications.
8. The Technologies of the Internet - 5 lectures
The hardware infrastructure. The client/server model: availability of clients; the nature and signi cance of servers. The concept of content type; handlers for content type; applications, browsers, plug-ins. Current and proposed high level protocols, their roles and limitations: HTTP; RTP; RTSP; H.323.
9. The Role and Development of Standards - 1 lectures
The importance of standards. The emergence of Internet standards. Formal vs. de facto standards. Inclusion and exclusion through standards and the commercial consequences.
10. Content production - 4 lectures
The structure vs. presentation debate. Important markup standards: HTML, XML, SMIL. Dynamic content: client and server side opporunities; remote database access.
11. Two-way Interaction - 2 lectures
Forms, applets, applications. Client side requirements.
12. Content Design - 2 lectures
Infostructure design. Traditional HCI guidance. Graphic design issues. Presentation standards: HTML, CSS, XSL. The user vs. producer conflict. The influence of audience equipmentstandards. Access issues.
13. Security - 3 lectures
The role and place of security technologies within the Internet. Authentication. Encryption. Legal and moral questions.
14. Usage Monitoring - 1 lecture
The opportunities for data collection. Mechanisms for obtaining additional data: cookies; data mining.
15. Search Techniques - 1 lecture
Search engine technology: mechanisms, techniques for increasing hit rates.

Reading Lists

Books
In this fast moving field, books become out of date in months. A range of sources, mostly freely available on the World Wide Web, will be pointed out as the course proceeds. Students will be expected to search for other material on the Web..