Monday, August 20, 2001		IT Bookshelf

COMPUTERS today touch every aspect of our lives. We use them for computing, for education, for recreation, or to order groceries, everything is just a mouse-click away. All this is made possible by the Internet—a network of networks, which links computers and helps us access and/or exchange information freely.

S. K. Bansal in his book "Internet Technologies" has tried to put concepts like the Internet, virtual organisations, electronic commerce, Internet marketing, computer crime, Internet commerce architecture, electronic market, Internet-based e-commerce, software design, etc., in perspective for a common man.

In the first chapter, the author discusses uses and abuses of the Net and the challenge being posed by the globalisation of trade. In terms of communication, the Net has brought people world over closer to each other. On the other hand, the dissemination of offensive material relating to "negationism," paedophilia or pornography poses a serious threat to the world community. To counter such threats, many countries have enforced laws on the Internet service providers. However, lawmakers are in a dilemma, as in a democratic set-up both freedom of speech and protection of consumer rights carry equal weight. The chapter has sufficient detail on these issues in nutshell.

The next chapter, which deals with virtual organisations, explains the physical and conceptual aspects of an organisation. These aspects have been explained with the help of different models.

The book contains useful information on electronic commerce (EC), which is termed as a specific kind of business involving several enterprises. In a chapter on this, benefits of the workflow technology in EC have been discussed at length.

Internet marketing has also come a long way. No company can afford to ignore the impact of the Internet. The book stresses the need for a Web-enabled system, which is useful for companies in executing business plans. The Net is also being used extensively for financial transactions. In the process, its users often become victims of computer criminals. A chapter on computer crime gives information on scientific studies of the characteristics of cyber crime.

The Internet has revolutionised electronic commerce. A chapter, "Internet-based E-Commerce," provides information on what problems firms face in electronic commerce and what steps are required to overcome these hurdles.

To touch the whole gambit of communications, the book has taken up telecommunications too—the last chapter deals with services being provided by big telecom companies.

The book, written in a simple language and with topics supported by examples and models, can be helpful to students as well as teachers.

— Pardeep Dhull