Information and Communication Technology

4.1.6 Network Applications

Networks allow many users to share a common pathway and communicate with each other. More and more people are having direct access to computers at their desks and therefore the use of networks is growing at a fast rate. Numerous public and private networks now offer a variety of services to organisations and individuals. The most common types of network applications are:

• Bulletin board service (BBS)
• Information services
• Telecomputing
• Teleconferencing
• Workgroup computing
• Electronic funds transfer (EFT)
• Electronic data interchange (EDI)
• Electronic commerce

A bulletin board service (BBS) is an on-line service provided through the network. When users join a BBS, they take part in group discussions around the world by reading messages left by other users, and then contribute their own points. The purpose is either social or business. It also acts as a source of professional contacts.

Many companies provide information services to which users can subscribe. By accessing an information service, a user can tap into a variety of on-line services, such as reservation systems, reviews, commodity prices, stock prices, articles and reports.

Telecomputing and teleconferencing enable working executives to work at home and thus reduce travel tim e and improve productivity.

Workgroup computing is made possible with groupware features that support electronic mail, voice mail, public calendars, meeting schedules, electronic voting and document sharing.

Electronic funds transfer uses a computer netw ork to handle financial transactions between banks, buyers, and sellers.

Electronic data interchange allows the exchange of business documents electronically between two or more organisations.

Electronic commerce refers to the conduct of trading using co mputer networks. It may include electronic mail, electronic funds transfer, and electronic data interchange.