Weekly Questions - Week 8

1. Explain the business benefits of using wireless technology.

The benefits of using wireless technology are:

- Ability to have mobile machines
- Less hardware/IT infrastructure required
- Increased productivity as processes/systems are available 24/7
- Greater convenience
- Universal accessibility

2. Describe the business benefits associated with VoIP

VOIP proves to be very beneficial for firms as it uses TCP/IP technology to transmit phone calls using internet technology enabling calls to be transferred at a faster rate. VOIP does not require traditional cooper wire running through the users’ house and prevents consumers from being reliant on Telstra or other telecommunication providers for voice traffic. Also, the use of VOIP as it disintermediates the use of a phone line proves to be much cheaper than traditional methods of calling people. Therefore, VOIP proves to be beneficial for most firms as it involves cheaper telephones and lower operating costs. VOIP services are also easier to relocate for if a firm moved its business and convergence provides lower cost WAN connectivity.



3. Compare LANs and WANs

Local area network (LAN): designed to connect a group of computers in proximity of each other

- enables sharing of resources e.g. files, printers through authentication and authorisation

- connects to other LANs and to the internet

Wide area network (WAN): spans a large geographic area e.g. state or country & connect multiple smaller networks e.g. local area networks

• data communication links between companies and suppliers or customers successfully enable strategic advantage e.g. in Notre Dame network systems in Perth are connected with systems in Sydney

LANs connect computers in close proximity to each other, whereas, WANs are able to connect computers dispersed over a large geographical region.

4. Describe RFID and how it can be used to help make a supply chain more effective.


Radio Frequency Identification uses active or passive tags in the form of chips or smart labels that can store unique identifiers and relay this information to electronic readers. Such RFID tags are often smaller than a grain of sand and combine tiny chips with an antenna. RFID can be used to help make a supply chain more effective as because RFID’s are regularly used in the tracking of inventory, they will be able to replace barcodes and enable the transmission of stronger and more accurate data.




5. Identify the advantages and disadvantage of deploying mobile technology
Advantages:
+ Convenience and Flexibility: Access to data almost anywhere/anytime.


+ May be individually customised.

+ helps businesses make critical, time important decisions.

Disadvantages:
- Not always in real-time, therefore data may not have up to date accuracy.

- Less secure. Also risk of viruses spreading

- Privacy issues (i.e mobile phones with cameras