Direct Gov.

List what you can do at http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/index.htm :

·        You can find links to other websites

·        Check for floods

·        NHS websites

·        Search for a job

·        Pay car tax

·        Student finance

·        Driving theory test

·        Passports

·        Jobseeker’s allowance

·        Search for more online services

·        Motoring

·        Money, tax and benefits

Information services:

Search for a job  http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Jobseekers/LookingForWork/DG_10030134?PRO=hp&CRE=pop

Driving theory test http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNewDrivers/TheoryTest/DG_196007?PRO=hp&CRE=pop

Check for floods   http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/31618.aspx

Motoring    http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/index.htm

Online reporting and advice:

Floods http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/31618.aspx

Benefits http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/index.htm

Student Finance       http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/index.htm?PRO=hp&CRE=pop

Nhs    http://www.nhs.uk/

Online payments:

Money http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/index.htm

Tax http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/index.htm

Car tax http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/HowToTaxYourVehicle/index.htm?PRO=hp&CRE=pop

 Directgov is a useful website if you know what you are looking for as it is quite complicated if you go on there just for a browse not knowing exactly what you want I can see myself using this website in future for a car tax, passports, driving tests etc.

Downloading goods and services.

Why download rather than buy the actual physical copy?

Simple, easier and more comfortable, you can wake up at 12, turn computer on and buy it online, not waking up at 10, rushing to get to shop quick because you obviously don’t want anyone to buy it before you.

What problems have you encountered when downloading products?

I personally haven’t encountered any problems while downloading products I bought but people who download stuff illegally may encounter getting a virus like key logger or Trojan. Although people who download stuff legally can encounter problems with the bad internet connection can have problems such as; film downloading takes forever and stops halfway through, people are annoyed how long it takes to download a film.

How does it fulfil its purpose?

It fulfils my purpose for example when I want a music, I go on iTunes, buy the track I want, download music legally and it is on my computer, I can then do whatever I want with it because I bought it, this is how it fulfils my purpose.

Weather: Monday

Today, Monday 24th, Weather predictions are: 14 degrees at its highest and 9 at its lowest with a wind of 13 miles per hour, that isn't a really good weather. All i can say is, wear coats and jumpers.

Fridays weather.

This Friday, 21th the weather forecast shows that it will be 12 degrees at its highest and 7 at its lowest, and the wind will be moving with 7mph so wind won't be so strong. But it will be cold for sure.

Thursdays weather

Thursday 20th, the weather forecast has been accurate and did tell me that it is going to rain , and it did. Maybe it wasn't 15 degrees it was about 12 but  it was pretty accurate.

Lloyds TSB

Lloyds TSB

Purpose of the online banking at Lloyds TSB, is to help people who have bank accounts, get to their account easier, it is really useful as you can check your balance, send someone money just by sitting at your personal computer at home. Makes it easier than having to go to town. It is always working not like banks, working from hour to hour, it is working all the time.

Target audience of online banking are people who are at least 16 as this is required to have an online account, and it is aimed at people who like to have a track of their account, transfers.

It fulfils my purposes as I can keep a track of my balance, and incomes and outcomes of my account, It is also useful whenever I want to transfer my money to another account.

Major advantages of having an online banking is mainly that makes your life easier, I mean you can watch TV or be on facebook and at the same time transfer your money and a major disadvantage would be that you can get hacked on a computer by a virus and you might loose all your money.

Real time information

Thursday 20th,
BBC Weather shows that today it's going to rain and it will be 15 degrees at most and 12 degrees at its lowest, also wind will be going 8mph.
A rather cloudy day with some outbreaks of rain, especially in the north and west of the region. The rain perhaps becoming more persistent and heavier later. Feeling rather cool.

Real time information: weather forecast

Yesterday, Wednesday 19th the weather was the same as it was predicted, it was sunny at times and it showered once or twice so the source of information was reliable.

e-commerce

e-Commerce.


EBay!

Major purpose of using eBay is to buy and sell items online, without having to go outside and buy it! You can just sit at home and buy it. In addition to that, you can buy items that haven’t been produced for so long online from people that have it and are willing to sell it!

Target audience of eBay in my opinion is everyone, young people go on it, adults go on it and probably elder generation is also on it! Everyone can use it, it is fairly simple to use as a website, nice big search box, and suggestions if you are looking for something and you can always sort it in price lowest-Highest, Highest-Lowest.

The auction process works really well, as it  is really simple, if you look for something that suits you and you wish to buy it you can either bid, which is more patient way of buying things or on some auctions you can just buy it now, there’s a option that says it!

EBay in my opinion fulfils the purposes because sometimes someone wants to buy a watch lets say from 1980’s and its not available in any shop, but someone might have it on eBay and is willing to sell it, they make a deal and everyone’s happy.

Benefits of this website are that you can buy almost everything, and its limitation is that there might be people who will sell an item to you but they won’t send it! You have to get a refund

Real Time information: Weather, Wednesday

Today, wednesday 19th
looking at BBC Weather, it says it will be sunny, 14 degrees at most and 10 degrees lowest temperature, it is actually sunny right now and it is approximately 10 degrees right now outside,

It will be mostly dry and sunny, but with one or two sharp showers around late morning into the early afternoon. Still on the cool side too, but with lighter winds.

Facebook

Today, I have decided to go on facebook and check my inbox to see if i have any messages unread, i do that every 2-3 days, i don't go on facebook as regularly as i used to, simply because i don't have time for it.
I use facebook, when i need to. This is just easier for me to go on facebook, message someone from Poland for example, than sending him a letter.

Planning a Journey.

Today, 13th September 2012, at school we were planning a journey from our own hometown, Doncaster to London Olympic Park.

Firstly, I have been planning a journey to london by a train, afterall the cost of the journey was £83.00, have used real time information, i went on a website called National Rail Enquiries. I had to use some websites to get information from. Link above takes you to my journey on National Rail Enquiries.

I had to include Date that im traveling, cost of the trip, time i travel, sources used, capture relevant print screens.

After that i had to  do the same but with the Car.

the cost i did get was £34.87.  

E-mail.

E-Mail and it’s uses.

First of all, What is ‘Email’?

Email is the stand for Electronic mail. It is very useful as you do not have to go to someone and talk or deliver them a message, you can actually send an email through your personal computer(PC).

What do you have to watch out for, in delivered ‘Emails’?

You have to look out for malicious softwares that can damage your PC or infect it with a virus. They’re certainly dangerous for your computer and they should instantly be deleted.

How to manage PC infections for example Virus?

You should always have your eyes wide open for malicious softwares. Viruses, worms, Trojans, all of them are examples of  dangers that can affect the work of your computer. To get rid of them you have to get an antivirus. You can obtain one by buying it or downloading free versions, I personally prefer the bought versions. They are usually better ones.

Where are the emails stored?

You might wonder where the emails are stored? Well, they are stored in something that is called ‘client’. An example of client would be hotmail, gmail. They are also a webpages. People can register and make a free email for their own uses.

What does an email provide?

Email provides fast and efficient delivery of your message. It uses a protocol to achieve this. The protocol looks like this!

What is SPAM?

Spam is a message that you don’t want to receive and trust me it is annoying!

You want to block Spam and most of emails will have a folder called Spam that they gather spam messages. They almost always are things such as Adverts, People trollin’ everyone (talking nonsense). You want to avoid that and so you can just block it!

Skype

I use skype regularly to communicate with my friends!

Skype is a good communication service that people may use all around the world! 

I can talk to my friends who live in Poland and not only there! The registration to skype is free and you do not have to pay anything to use it, you can pay for a premium account but I don't see a point in buying one for me because i am quite happy with the quality i'm hearing my buddies! 

Cinema

I have just bought a cinema tickets for the new film.

Online Services

This is my personal audit of all my communication, research, and investigation about online services and information age.

The areas i will be covering include:

·         Communication

·         Real time information

·         E-commerce

·         E-government

·         Education

·         Business

·         Entertainment