· Web Servers
The primary function on a web server is to deliver web pages to clients using the HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol.) This means delivery of content such as images, style sheets and scripts that is on the document. A user agent, commonly a web browser or web crawler, initiates communication by making a request for a specific resource using HTTP and the server responds with the content of that resource or an error message if unable to do so. Web servers are not always used for serving the World Wide Web. They can also be found embedded in devices such as printers, routers, web cams and serving only a local network.
· Mail Server
Often referred to as simply "mail server", an e-mail server is a computer within your network that works as your virtual post office. A mail server usually consists of a storage area where e-mail is stored for local users, a set of user definable rules which determine how the mail server should react to the destination of a specific message, a database of user accounts that the mail server recognises and will deal with locally, and communications modules which are the components that actually handle the transfer of messages to and from other mail servers and email clients.
· Proxy Server
A proxy server, in a general sense of the term proxy, is a stand-in server. In a network, a proxy server is the entity that sits between corporate client machines and the Internet. For example, it may sit between a client application, such as a Web browser and the corporate server. Proxies are used to intercept incoming and outgoing requests to see if it can fulfil the requests itself. If not, it then forwards the request to the real server
· Router
A router is a device that forwards data packets between computer networks, creating an overlay internetwork. A router is connected to two or more data lines from different networks. When a data packet comes in on one of the lines, the router reads the address information in the packet to determine its ultimate destination. Then, using information in its routing table or routing policy, it directs the packet to the next network on its journey. Routers perform the "traffic directing" functions on the Internet. A data packet is typically forwarded from one router to another through the networks that constitute the internetwork until it gets to its destination node.
Software
Browser
A browser performs a number of different tasks such as sending a request to the web server where the website is stored. The request identifies the page by its URL. The HTML code for that page is then transmitted over the Internet. It interprets the HTML code and displays the web page.
Browsers have been updated to match the development of HTML, but not all users have the latest editions. Web pages can appear differently in different browsers and in different versions of the same browser.
Some useful browser features are that they have the ability to store the URLs of your favourite websites, a history of all the sites you have recently visited. They also have the ability to zoom in on a page or enlarge the text only (This is uselful for someone who has a visual impairment.) Although browsers are primarily intended to use the World Wide Web, they can also be used to access information provided by web servers in private networks or files in file systems.
Emails can be handled in two ways. The first being an email client which is a specialist software package, such as Microsoft Outlook. This is installed on your own computer, and all the emails that you recieve are downloaded and stored on your computer. You must be connected to the internet in order to send and recieve emails.
The second way is through Webmail which handles your emails entirely through web. This is used on sites such as Hotmail. You can log into your webmail account from any computer that is connected to the internet. Email is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients.
Web Development
Domain Name:
A domain name of a website, such as www.example.com, is the core of its URL. It should be a recognisable name for the organisation or individual who registered it. It has to be registered with one of the official domain name registrars. There is a charge for registering a domain name. A domain name represents an Internet Protocol (IP) resource, such as a personal computer used to access the Internet, a server computer hosting a web site, or the web site itself or any other service communicated via the Internet.
IP Address:
An Internet Protocol address (IP address) is a numerical label assigned to each device (e.g., computer, printer) participating in a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. An IP address serves two principal functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing.
ISPs:
An Internet service provider (ISP) is an organisation that provides access to the Internet. Internet service providers can be either community-owned and non-profit, or privately owned and for-profit. Access ISPs directly connect clients to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fibre-optic connections. Internet service providers can be either community-owned and non-profit, or privately owned and for-profit.
URL:
URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator. A URL is a formatted text string used by Web browsers, email clients and other software to identify a network resource on the Internet. Network resources are files that can be plain Web pages, other text documents, graphics, or programs.
Web Hosting Services:
A website has to be uploaded to a web server in order to appear on the World Wide Web. The web server will be owned by a web hosting company. Many ISPs offer web hosting as a part of their services to clients. If you want to put your website on the Web, a web hosting company will be able to provide you with web space on the server. They will, of course, charge you for the service. The web host can also offer you a domain name that will be linked to your website.
Web 2.0
Web 2.0 is a category of new Internet tools and technologies created around the idea that the people who consume media, access the Internet, and use the web shouldn’t passively absorb what’s available; rather, they should be active contributors, helping customise media and technology for their own purposes, as well as those of their communities.
But Web 2.0 isn’t just the latest set of toys for geeks, its the beginning of a new era in technology – one that promises to help nonprofits operate more efficiently, generate more funding, and affect more lives.
These new tools include, but are by no means limited to, blogs, social networking applications, RSS social networking tools, and wikis. Its a second generation of the web.
Blogs
A blog is a frequently updated online personal journal or diary. It is a place to express you to the world. A place to share your thoughts and your passions. Really, it’s anything you want it to be. For our purposes we’ll say that a blog is your own website that you are going to update on an ongoing basis. Blog is a short form for the word weblog and the two words are used interchangeably.
Online Applications
The web offers many online games that can be played either solo or between players.
Increasingly, you can now find software applications online that would be normally found on a personal computer. One example is web mail systems, bu you can also find applications that lets you share calenders or documents. It is also possible to find online standard application software, such as spreadsheet and presentation graphics, that don't need to be downloaded to the user's computer. Online applications comprise fully hosted tools that provide great functionality without the need to install anything on your local PC. With online applications the functionality and data resides on a server which is accessed over the Internet, so you only need an Internet connection and a web browser to utilise them.
Uses of Websites
Millions of people use websites everyday to either, buy/sell, Interact or to be informed on some information. When someone goes onto a website their known as a visitor to that website.
Inform:
The BBC News website informs you of all the worlds news. you can specifically choose between the news in the World, UK, England, N. Ireland, Scotland and Wales. This means that you can keep up to date with all the news in your country. It also gives you the option to see the latest news on Business, Politics, Health, Education, Sci/Environment, Technology & Entertainment/Arts which is a good thing because it lets you pick the type of news you want to read. You can also listen or watch videos/audio tapes for people who are visually impaired or can't read very well.
Sell:
Amazon is a website used by millions that you can buy thousands of products off. They have a partnership with PayPal so that it is safer for users to buy online with their credit/debit card. They offer a wide range of products such as books, MP3s, Music/Games/Movies, Toys, Sports Equipment, Clothes and much more.
Facebook is a website used by millions everyday to socially intereact with other users. It offers a wide range of apps that you can use like games, calenders or events. Facebook can be used to message friends or family that don't live at home for free. It allows you to upload videos or photos for your online friends to see.
Facebook has a chat system that allows you to have a private chat with any one on your friends list, if they are online they will recieve the message instanstly but if they are offline they will recieve it when they log onto Facebook.
Facebook has an App for most phones which allows you to access facebook on your mobile phone the same way you do on a computer. Whenever you get a notification on facebook it will send it straight to your phone.
1. Customer-facing websites
Many commercial and public service websites are designed for communications with the customers or users of the services. We describe these as customer-facing websites.
Online Banking
Online banking is the practice of making bank transactions or paying bills via the Internet. Thanks to technology, and the Internet in particular, people no longer have to leave the house to shop, communicate, or even do their banking. Banking online allows a customer to make deposits, withdrawals, and pay bills all with the click of a mouse.
Travel Agencies
Travel websites such as easyjet.com let you book flights directly from your house or phone. This lets you decide when your going and coming back and where your going from and to. It lets you see your boarding pass directly and it gives you the option to print it. A travel agency is a private retailer or public service that provides tourism related services to the public on behalf of suppliers such as airlines, car rentals, cruise lines, hotels, railways, and package tours.
This shows the booking of the flights and your hotel for you to stay which you can decide what ever one you want, it allows you to pick what ever day you want to leave and the day you want to come back.
2. Intranet
"Intra" means "internal" or "within," so an Intranet is an internal or private network that can only be accessed within the confines of a company, university, or organization. "Inter" means "between or among," hence the difference between the Internet and an Intranet.
Up until the last few years, most corporations used local networks composed of expensive proprietary hardware and software for their internal communications. Now, using simple Internet technology, intranets have made internal communication much easier and less expensive. Intranets use a TCP/IP connection and support Web browsing, just like a typical Internet connection does. The difference is that Web sites served within the intranet can only be accessed by computers connected through the local network.
Moodle offers a messaging system between all of the users on the system, you can type up their name and send them a message. It has a calendar so you can view all the events coming up on the campus. it lets you download and upload assaignments or documents. You can see a overview of your course.
Information Repositories
These are stored information know as repositories. You can choose to place these on public accessed websites even though the main users will be members or employees. These can be email addresses, company news, staff handbook, electronic telephone directories.
Training Facilities
Training can be done on computer-based training systems. Such training can be loaded onto the network so that the employee can download and access the relevant modules. Tutorials and information can be accessed by employees to help them learn new skills as part of their professional development.
3. Non-Commercial Websites
These types of websites are created for reasons that make no profit. The creator continues to let them exist on their own finance, use of third-party advertising, sponsored links or donations from generous visitors who value the resources on the website.
Examples of Non-Commercial websites include:
- Blogs
- On-line Diary
- 'How To' Pages
- Fan or review sites
- Clubs or societies
- Charities
- Educational
- Governmental (Local or National)
Cancer Research Uk is a non-commercial website as it does not created for making profit. It lets you make donations which the money you donate goes into a charity fund. This website gives your information about cancer and shows you how your donations will be used. It gives you news and resoures about cancer.
