Computers :: essays research papers

Computers Nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd. Today, with home computers and modems becoming faster and cheaper, the home front is on the break of a new frontier of on line information and data processing. The Internet, the ARPANET (Advanced Research Programs Agency Network) spinoff is a channel of uninterrupted information interchange. It allows people to connect to large computer databases that can store valuable information on goods and services. The Internet is quickly becoming a tool for vast data interchange for more than twenty million Americans. New tools are allowing Internet presence an easier task. As did the gold miners set out to California on carriages to stake their claim in the gold rush, business and entrepreneurs are rushing to stake their claim on the information superhighway through Gopher sites, World-Wide Web sites, and electronic mailing lists. This article explains how businesses and entrepreneurs are setting up information services on the Internet that allows users to browse through picture catalogues, specification lists, and up to the minute reports. Ever since Sears Roebuck created the first pictorial catalogue, the idea has fascinated US that merchandises could be selected and ordered in our leisure time. Like any cataloging system, references make it easy to find what user seeks. Since its inception, The Internet has been refining its search tools. Being able to find products through many catalogues is what make the Internet shine in information retrieval. This helps the consumer find merchandise that they might other wise probably cannot find. The World Wide Web allows users to find information on goods and services, pictures of products, samples of music (Used by record Companies), short videos showing the product or service, and samples of programs. Although a consumer cannot order directly from the Web site, the business will often give a Voice telephone number or an order form that costumer can print out and send out through the mail. Although web sites have the magazine like appeal, storing large amounts of textual data is often difficult. Gopher (like go-for) is set up like a filing cabinet to allow the user more flexibility in retrieval. Gopher is similar to the white/yellow pages in the way information is retrieved word for word. They are also a lot cheaper and easier to set up which allows small business an easy way to set up shop. Consumers can find reviews, tech-info, and other bits and pieces of information. Each person who uses the Internet has an identification that sets them apart from everyone else. Often called handles (from the old short wave radio days). Electronic mail addresses allow information exchange from user to user.