Online Banking

Online banking is a service provided by banks that allows people to deal with their money online. It is an extension of the automated branch systems used by banks from the late '70s and is used by all main high-street banks such as www.barclays.co.uk and www.natwest.com.

Online banking allows you to manage your money when it suits you, 24/7, even when the banks are closed. You don't have to go to the bank anymore and wait in queues because you can manage your account using an internet connection rather than having to wait for a bank clerk to do it. It allows easy access to important information about your account.

Online banking will allow you to:



Source: openclipart.org



• View and check account balances;
• Make payments quickly and easily;
• View and check statements;
• View and search your transactions;
• Check savings accounts;
• Quickly transfer money between accounts;
• Manage your credit card and mortgage.

Some banks provide their customer services for online banking 24/7.

Some banks allow you to manage money on your mobile phone or iPad. They can also offer text message services. SMS banking services include www.firstdirect.com which is owned by HSBC (Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation). You can even make contactless payments using your mobile phone using a service such as QuickTap.

My parents use online banking services to manage their money and my Dad uses contactless payment at McDonald's. Businesses can also use online banking and it makes their payments more efficient. Online banking is also useful for those who don't like or have problems going out.

However, start-up can take a long time because you have to set up an account before you use it for the first time. At first, online banking sites can be difficult to navigate, but once you use it more often, you will get used to it.

Some people don't like online banking because they are worried about the security. It is a problem  because if people can access your account, they can steal your money, so banks have to take extra care that their systems are secure. If you use online banking, you also have to make sure that your computer is secure and has anti-virus software because of spyware which can steal your identity, password and PIN number  An e-mail sent to you may link to a fake banking site by an illegal process known as phishing. People do this to steal your identity and your money.

You can now pay your bills and manage your money using the internet. People get cash from cash machines. This reduces the number of staff needed to work at bank branches which reduces their costs. Banks can offer more services to their customers than in high street branches and therefore increase their sales and profit. It would be better if strangers didn't set up fake banking accounts because stealing is illegal. I think that overall, online banking is good for everyone.

How Technology Improves Entertainment

Technology has allowed us to access many new forms of entertainment. People used to have to go to cinemas to watch films. To see sports, they had to be there in person. They also had to go to theatres for live shows. Nowadays, people can watch films, sports and live shows on TV and on their computers. They can play games on consoles such as Wiis, Xboxes, Playstations, and on computers.

Magic 105.4      The internet allows us to listen to live radio whenever we want using streaming technology. I often listen to Magic 105.4  on my computer so I can listen to "Magic's Mystery Voices". I can listen to the radio on my computer even when I'm using it for other things.



Source: Vellas, Andy planetrockradio
(wikimedia commons)

 There are many advantages to internet radio. It gives a wide range of radio stations to choose from. You can listen to radio stations at a very high quality from elsewhere in Britain such as Kerrang (based in Birmingham) or even another country such as the U.S.A. You can check the sports news even when you're abroad. Digital radio has allowed this. There are some new radio stations which are digital only such as Planet Rock. However, at peak internet times, the processes are slowed down and the reception is interrupted. Buffering can be a problem at these times and during a solar storm.

Some radio stations now also have websites. You can check their schedule, their playlist to find details about music you may have heard and competitions as well as listening live. Some radio webpages have links to iTunes so you can buy the tracks that you have heard. I love to check the list of wrong answers on www.magic.co.uk/mmv and what they recently played. 

Gaming has become really popular on electronic devices since Space Invaders came out in 1978. Multi-user Dungeon games were played 20 years before the world-wide web was invented, but the internet has made these games more widespread. Multi-player games, such as World of Warcraft have become really popular. There are networked multi-player gaming sites such as www.omgpop.com which includes sports, board and card games as well as video games. Football games can be played on home consoles where people can team up or play against each other. My uncle works for a company that writes software for online gambling sites. You can play card games such as poker against someone who lives anywhere in the world. I love playing games on www.coolmath-games.com.

BBC has an iPlayer where you can watch BBC programs on their website if you missed them. www.youtube.com is a website where you can watch videos. I enjoy watching individual clips from episodes of TV programmes such as Room 101. I often watch funny videos on YouTube. I have also used YouTube to watch revision clips. However, long videos use up a lot of broadband and buffering can be a problem during peak times.

Overall, technology has improved entertainment providing a lot more than before. New businesses have developed such as Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony which make a profit from electronic entertainment. Gaming has changed people's lives because people can enjoy playing video games. It can speed up your thought processes. It would be better if compatibility patches were installed on some games so they can run better on newer systems. However, some people become addicted and can't get off. This can be a major problem which has been reported is newspapers such as the daily mail. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2211710/Sign-times--Internet-addiction-added-list-mental-disorders-following-alarming-rise-children-log-off.html. According to Yahoo's today in technology blog of January 20th 2012, "Participants who were found to be "addicted" to the internet had significant differences in brain development than those who were not."

E-Commerce

E-Commerce is the buying or selling of products or services using electronic systems such as the internet. It includes, online shopping and  banking. It can be between different businesses, businesses and individuals or between individuals.

Online shopping was first made possible using systems developed in 1979 by the British inventor Michael Aldrich. The invention of the world-wide web by Tim Berners-Lee in 1990 meant that the internet became an everyday form of communication. A large number of people now have access to a computer and the internet meaning that e-commerce is becoming more popular and more widely used.



source: openclipart.org

The internet has allowed businesses, known as "brick and click", to expand to online stores.  Businesses who run online stores have access to a wider customer base than in stores and can increase their profits. You don't have to go to the supermarket anymore because you can buy food online and get it delivered to your home! Businesses can sell their goods 24/7. Businesses that sell traditional goods and services, but can only be found online include www.amazon.co.uk. New products have developed with the internet such as iTunes where I love buying digital music and games. Online stores include www.ebay.co.uk, an online market place where you can buy and sell goods. Some companies that went bust re-booted as online stores such as Woolworths, MFI and Zavvi.

E-Commerce is good for customers too. It is quicker, easier and more efficient than having to go to the shops. If you shop online, it is easier to find what you want because you can quickly search for the item. You can check prices to see where it is cheapest. You can buy items when the shops are closed, 24/7. You can buy items anywhere where you have internet connection even if you live far away from the shops. You don't have to leave your home to go shopping which is an advantage for those who don't like or have difficulty going out.  You can buy things from all around the world, although they can take a long time to be delivered. I have bought Pokemon toys from Japan and China. 

However, the item delivered might not be what you expected it to be because you have only seen a picture. Delivery can take a long time and can be expensive. If a large or expensive item is being delivered, you have to arrange a time and this can be difficult if you are at work. Clothes and shoes can't be tried on before being bought. Returns can be difficult so some people prefer to buy in shops.

Payment usually requires a credit card when shopping online which is a disadvantage to those who don't own them. I have to ask my parents to pay because I am too young to own a credit card.  Another disadvantage is that some people don't like giving their personal information because they worry about the security of their data.

Despite the disadvantages, I think that e-commerce is awesome! It has allowed me to buy music, games and individual Yu-Gi-Oh! cards. I couldn't have found these easily without it. The internet has improved shopping for customers. You can even shop or do your banking in your pyjamas! The internet has also allowed businesses to transform the way they sell their goods.

How Technology Improves Education

Technology has improved education in many ways for example, computers can be used to type up documents instead of having to write them by hand. This makes it easier for people who have trouble writing or injured hands. It can also allow people to produce spreadsheets, powerpoint presentations and databases more easily. This also makes it easier for people to share information and documents.

The internet can be used to research information rather than having to use books from the library or textbooks. This is because the internet has a vast amount of information. This is a huge advantage for students and teachers. However, some websites are unreliable so it is important to check the information on a website because it may be incorrect. For example, I like to use Wikipedia which contains a lot of information, but it can be unreliable.

MyMaths is a website which we use in school to revise maths. It contains virtual lessons and online homework on each topic and I find it helpful. However, subscription is needed and not every school subscribes. I often use the free site www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize which contains less information than Wikipedia, however, it is run by the BBC so the information is reliable. It is set in different key stages, so easy to navigate. When I studied chemistry, I used the internet to find information about elements and their properties. At school, we use a VLE (Virtual Learning Environment). I used YouTube for revising mirrors and lenses.

Source: created by virtualschooluk

distributed on youtube under creative commons license

Teachers can use iPads to check when the next lesson they are teaching is and for checking their e-mails. Teachers can also use the internet for research. There is also a website named 'TeachersPayTeachers' where they can buy, sell and share original content and lesson plans. Exam boards include information for teachers about their courses and past papers that students can use to practice for their upcoming exams.

There are many online learning courses set up for adults such as:

• BBC has online learning courses (http://www.bbc.co.uk/learning/onlinecourses/);
• www.learndirect.co.uk which was originally set up by the government;
• Open University (http://www.open.ac.uk/);
• Other universites have online courses;
• Other training organisations;
• Some museums have online courses. The Science Museum includes a course on the making of the modern world.



Source: openclipart.org

Some basic courses are free but more advanced will be charged. Online learning sites allow students to work wherever they choose - in their own homes, workplace or at a library or study centre. They can plan their study around their other commitments such as work and family. Businesses can use online training for their staff.

However, there are also disadvantages of using technology for education. Computers can't be used if there is a power-cut and the internet can't be used if you aren't connected. Some websites can contain malicious software such as viruses, worms and trojans so you need to make sure that you use anti-virus software. Some websites contain inapproriate information or images.