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Unit 3.4

Key Features of the Internet and Web

IT 204: E-Commerce

Learning Objectives 🎯

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  • ✅ Identify the key services that run on the internet.
  • ✅ Describe the function of email, instant messaging, and search engines.
  • ✅ Differentiate between various services like streaming and online communities.

Beyond the Browser

The internet is more than just the World Wide Web (websites). It's a vast infrastructure that supports a rich ecosystem of services.

Think of it like this: The internet is the highway system, and services like email, streaming, and the web are the different types of vehicles and destinations you can access.

  • These services have transformed communication, information access, and entertainment.

Core Service: Email 📧

Email (Electronic Mail): A service that allows users to send and receive digital messages over a network.

  • Asynchronous Communication: Messages are stored and can be read at any time.
  • Key Components: User Agent (e.g., Gmail, Outlook), Mail Servers (SMTP, IMAP/POP3).
  • Common Uses: Formal communication, professional correspondence, notifications, marketing.

Core Service: Instant Messaging (IM) 💬

Instant Messaging (IM): A service that allows users to exchange text-based messages in real-time over the internet.

  • Synchronous Communication: Enables live, conversational-style interaction.
  • Features: Presence indicators (online/offline), group chats, file sharing, voice/video calls.
  • Examples: WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Viber, Slack.

Email vs. Instant Messaging 📊

📧 Email

  • Asynchronous
  • More Formal
  • Longer-form content
  • Permanent record
  • Used for: Official business, documentation

💬 Instant Messaging

  • Synchronous (Real-time)
  • Informal / Casual
  • Short, quick messages
  • Ephemeral conversations
  • Used for: Quick questions, social chats

Core Service: Search Engines 🔍

Search Engine: A software system designed to carry out web searches, which means to search the World Wide Web in a systematic way for particular information.

They don't search the live internet; they search a massive, pre-built index of the web.

1. Crawling

Bots discover publicly available webpages.

2. Indexing

Content is analyzed and stored in a huge database.

3. Ranking

Algorithms deliver the most relevant results for a query.

Key Players: Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo

Emerging Giants: Streaming & Communities

🎬 Streaming Media

Real-time delivery of video and audio content over the internet.

  • No need to download the entire file first.
  • Examples: YouTube, Netflix, Spotify.
  • Changed how we consume entertainment.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Online Forums & Social Media

Platforms for user communication and content sharing in online communities.

  • User-generated content is key.
  • Examples: Facebook, Instagram, Reddit.
  • Revolutionized social interaction and information dissemination.

Application in Nepal 🇳🇵

How are these services used locally?

  • Email: Widely used for professional and personal communication. Gmail is dominant.
  • IM: Extremely popular, especially among youth. Messenger, WhatsApp, and Viber lead the market.
  • Social Networks: A huge part of daily life. Facebook has massive penetration, followed by Instagram & TikTok.
  • Streaming: Growing rapidly. YouTube is the top video platform. Local and international audio services are gaining traction.
  • Online Forums: Niche but active communities exist for specific hobbies and discussions, complementing mainstream social media.

Key Takeaways ⚡

  • The internet is a platform supporting many services beyond just websites (the World Wide Web).
  • Core communication tools like Email (asynchronous) and IM (synchronous) serve different purposes.
  • Search engines are essential discovery tools that index the web to provide relevant information.
  • Streaming media has fundamentally changed how we consume video and audio content.
  • Social media and forums have created global communities built on user-generated content.

Discussion Questions 🤔

  1. Which internet service do you use most often? How has it changed your daily life or studies?
  2. How did people find information before the widespread use of search engines like Google?
  3. What do you think is the next major service that will be built on the internet? (e.g., AI-driven services, Metaverse platforms?)

Thank You!

Any questions?

Next up: Unit 7.1 - Social Networks and Online Communities

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