3.4.9
Networking applications and implications

On this page: [ communications | email | e-commerce | conferencing | distributed processing ]

Internal communications
Documents can be shared among a group of workers and modern office applications will keep track of modifications and who made them. Packages can also combine email, calendars, project management and messaging software. The main applications and data are kept on the server so that any workstation can access them.

Modern network systems can also be combined with telephony systems so that messages can be recorded, stored and managed.

Implications are, for example:

• Sharing one document prevents different versions circulating
• One person can book a meeting and invite others (physical meeting or online)
• All users can check the status of a project

electronic mail
Everyone is familiar with email these days, messages can be sent to fellow network users, these may be limited to plain text or include html or rich text options (providing colours, images and other decorative options). More complex files created with word processors, spreadsheets, presentation packages and so on can be sent as attachments .

Some implications of email:

• It is cheaper and quicker than physical mail
• You can't send physical objects
• A person doesn't have to be connected to receive mail (only to read it)

e-commerce
Electronic commerce has become commonplace too; big companies sell books, CD's, flowers, chocolates, computers, software, etc, etc across the net . Many businesses now allow other businesses to access parts of their computer network (so called B2B connections). These allow companies who supply goods and services to keep up with their customer's needs.

Advantages include:

• less stocks for companies - less money tied up in "inventory"
• no physical retail premises are needed, fewer staff
• can take orders for filling in later

conferencing
People no longer have to be in the same office, building or even country in order to meet. Conferences via the telephone are common but, with increased bandwidth it is also possible to use webcams to provide video links as well. Many packages allow applications to display documents such as spreadsheets which all conferencing particpants can view and edit in "real time".

Some implications are:

• reduced travel costs for companies
• less productive time lost in travel
• ability to work from home

distributed processing
More than one server can exist on a network , especially if that network is a WAN that connects several LANs . This leads to the distribution of processing power and of data . Probably the most famous example of using distributed processing is the SETI@home project ( S earch for E xtra T errestrial I ntelligence). This is also known as grid technology .

Databases from different organisations can share data between them. When the banks in Portugal decided to set up a shared network for their ATM's ( the Multibanco network ) they also enabled shared processing with other systems. For example, in Portugal it is possible to pay your utility bills (phone, power etc), your taxes , your speeding fines , even to vote in elections from an ATM. Since this system is accessible to mobile phones many of these activities can also be carried out that way.

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This section discusses applications that are only possible because of networking, these are mentioned in the subject guide.

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