The Effects of Computer Technology on Our Everyday Lives

These days, the computer technology industry is rapidly growing and changing. Along with that growth and change of computer technology are the people who almost instantly adapt to the changes.

Computer technology has made our lives a lot easier and convenient. For instance our banking needs. Years ago, people had to manually file the important data of their customers; now they just use the computer to find these data. In just one click, they would instantly find the name of the customer, the birth date, the address, e-mail address, phone numbers and etcetera. As for the clients of these banks, they can also easily get a quick look at their account balances through logging in to the bank website; in addition to that a lot of people are able to apply for a loan with the use of the computer.

Because of the birth of computer technology, we now have credit cards or what others call plastic money, which are very useful especially when we do not have cash on hand or when you are ordering a certain product through the internet. It's amazing how computer technology has changed so much our way of living. Nowadays, purchasing products such as cellular phones, bags, household utensils, and clothes or even paying the bills can be effortlessly done at the comfort of your own home.

The Effects of Computer Technology on Our Everyday Lives

With the use of the computer a lot of students especially those with unfortunate disabilities or severe illnesses are able to enroll to different schools through home schooling. Students are even able to take their examination tests or check out their grades by the use of the computer.

As far I know computer technology has helped a lot of businesses to better serve the community. But the computers have not only helped us in the business industry; it also has an effect on our communication systems. Long before the computers were born, writing letters were the main source of communication, which would be such a hassle most especially to those people who lived in far away places; plus telephones were quite expensive so people would pretty much prefer writing to their loved ones. And for that reason, people who are far away from civilization would really have a hard time communicating with others. Now, we have e-mails, and live chat, or even voicemails. We now already have video calling in which we would be able to see the person that we are talking to. This would be really great for people who have loved ones that are away from home. Getting in touch with one another is now a piece of cake.

Computer technology has changed our lives for the better. Without it, we would still be living in the pre historic times.

The Effects of Computer Technology on Our Everyday Lives
Check For The New Release in Health, Fitness & Dieting Category of Books NOW!
Check What Are The Top Cooking Books in Last 90 Days Best Cheap Deal!
Check For Cookbooks Best Sellers 2012 Discount OFFER!
Check for Top 100 Most Popular Books People Are Buying Daily Price Update!
Check For 100 New Release & BestSeller Books For Your Collection

For those who would like to keep up to date with the latest technology and computer news then why not visit: technologies blog

watches cell phone Purchase Imation Black Watch 9840 Volsafe Cheap Rugged Ridge 53703 52 Soft Top With

Computer Parts and Their Uses

One of the most important and most useful things invented since the wheel is the "computer". A computer is an electronic device used to do all sorts of tasks ranging from mathematical equations to playing games for entertainment.

Lots of machines and gadgets incorporate computer technology into them such as CCTV cameras, airport security, mobile phones, cash registers and the list goes on. OK so we understand computers are important, so let's now take a quick look as some computers parts and their uses.

* Monitor

Computer Parts and Their Uses

Monitor is the television like screen in the computer set. It is the one responsible for displaying and letting the user view the images and other information being displayed.

* Mouse

It is the small device held by the user to select the command that they tend to do. It is the access device of the user in using a computer set.

* Keyboard

Keyboard is the one being used by the user to type in letters, numbers and special characters in a text box. Keyboard divides into three parts the letter parts, the number part and lastly the keys that contain the special characters with special functions.

* Modem

It is a device that allows the computer to have internet access, where the user can surf and can have lots of ideas and information that they can gather. There are also some schools that are not using modems;

* Speakers

Speakers are used to produce sounds. They can be built into the monitor or external.

* Webcams

Webcams is used when the user wants to see the other person online. Some webcams especially webcams on laptops are built in or already installed in the computers program.

* Printer

A printer is used to print the information's or details that the user needs. It is used to print hard copies of some important documents.

Computer Parts and Their Uses
Check For The New Release in Health, Fitness & Dieting Category of Books NOW!
Check What Are The Top Cooking Books in Last 90 Days Best Cheap Deal!
Check For Cookbooks Best Sellers 2012 Discount OFFER!
Check for Top 100 Most Popular Books People Are Buying Daily Price Update!
Check For 100 New Release & BestSeller Books For Your Collection

Find more articles at registry mechanic 9 review.

cell phone watches Cheap Rugged Ridge 53703 52 Soft Top With

What Is The Real Difference Between LAN And WAN Computer Network Infrastructures?

Although a business shouldn't be confused on what the differences are between Local Area Network (LAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN) ... too often those entrusted with finding a bandwidth solution for their business aren't clear on these basic tenets of overall computer network infrastructure. If not completely understood it affects the quality and accuracy of the final decision. So ... it's important to get it right.

So .... in the interest of clarity here's the real differences between LAN and WAN:

LAN - A local area network (LAN) is a computer network covering a local area, like a home, office, or group of buildings in close proximity to each other. Current LANs are most likely to be based on switched IEEE 802.3 Ethernet, or on Wi-Fi technology running at 10, 100 or 1,000 Mbit.

What Is The Real Difference Between LAN And WAN Computer Network Infrastructures?

In general a local area network is made up of devices in local proximity to each other and has finite distance limitations. The LAN can be either wired or wireless but is only at a single location.

WAN - A wide area network or WAN is a computer network covering a broad geographical area. Contrast with personal area networks (PANs), metropolitan area networks (MANs) or local area networks (LANs) that are usually limited to a room, building or campus. The largest and most well-known example of a WAN is the Internet.

A wide area network (WAN) is comprised of multiple LANs connected to each other across distances. And example would be a corporate office connected to each of its satellite offices. This method of interconnection is handled via a third-party carrier -- i.e. Qwest provides the wiring connecting two locations together.

WANs are used to connect local area networks (LANs) together, so that users and computers in one location can communicate with users and computers in other locations. Many WANs are built for one particular organization and are private. Others, built by Internet service providers, provide connections from an organization's LAN to the Internet. WANs are most often built using leased lines. At each end of the leased line, a router connects to the LAN on one side and a hub within the WAN on the other. Leased lines can be very expensive. Instead of using leased lines, WANs can also be built using less costly circuit switching or packet switching methods. Network protocols including TCP deliver transport and addressing functions. Protocols including Packet over SONET, MPLS, ATM and Frame relay are often used by service providers to deliver the links that are used in WANs. X.25 was an important early WAN protocol, and is often considered to be the "grandfather" of Frame Relay as many of the underlying protocols and functions of X.25 are still in use today (with upgrades) by Frame Relay.

For professional help in finding just the right LAN or WAN solution for your business applications .... use the no cost assistance available through DS3-Bandwidth.com.

What Is The Real Difference Between LAN And WAN Computer Network Infrastructures?
Check For The New Release in Health, Fitness & Dieting Category of Books NOW!
Check What Are The Top Cooking Books in Last 90 Days Best Cheap Deal!
Check For Cookbooks Best Sellers 2012 Discount OFFER!
Check for Top 100 Most Popular Books People Are Buying Daily Price Update!
Check For 100 New Release & BestSeller Books For Your Collection

Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications....including DS3-Bandwidth.com and Business-VoIP-Solution.com. Michael also authors Broadband Nation where you're always welcome to drop in and catch up on the latest BroadBand news, tips, insights, and ramblings for the masses.

watches cell phone Purchase Alps Mountaineering Red Tail 4900 Cubic Inch

Advances in Technology Have Positives and Negatives

With all of the advances and the new technology there are many positive things that can be accomplished. We can shop online, connect with our friends and family, email to get things communicated quickly and even download music. Unfortunately, with great things and the great technology there are negatives that come with it. Instead of having to order a magazine that comes through the mail to view pornography or going to a store where people can see what you are buying it is as easy as clicking on the internet in the privacy of your home to view pornography.

It has become much more prevalent of hearing in the news of not only is pornography coming from adults who are making the choice, but children are having their rights taken away from them and are being exposed to child pornography. It is a constant in the news and it is scary what is happening. There are predators out there and we can no longer sit back and feel comfortable that we are teaching our children right and wrong and that they will be safe.

As parents we want to protect our children. We don't want our children to be exposed to this in anyway. If we become aware of this happening to our children or to other children we might not know where to turn for help. It is important to get the help that we need and there are lawyer's that are trained to help us fight child pornography. Each state has different laws so if you live in Philadelphia, you will want to find a Philadelphia Child Pornography Lawyer. They are local and specialized and can help you fight for your rights and help protect your family. That is what we deserve - protection for our children!

Advances in Technology Have Positives and Negatives

Advances in Technology Have Positives and Negatives
Check For The New Release in Health, Fitness & Dieting Category of Books NOW!
Check What Are The Top Cooking Books in Last 90 Days Best Cheap Deal!
Check For Cookbooks Best Sellers 2012 Discount OFFER!
Check for Top 100 Most Popular Books People Are Buying Daily Price Update!
Check For 100 New Release & BestSeller Books For Your Collection

Marc Neff Attorney-at-Law (http://www.nefflawoffices.com/) limits its practice to federal and state criminal defense and related matters, including grand jury investigations, parole matters, and forfeiture cases. Billings Farnsworth is a freelance writer.

watch mobile phone Purchase Imation Black Watch 9840 Volsafe Best Buy Hon Products Hon Simplicity Ii Systems Cheap Tiffany Office Furniture Tif1010Pcantflk Presentation Stand

Why Does My Computer Freeze Up? - A Guide to Fix Computer Freezes

"Why does my computer freeze?" I was wondering this question myself not too long ago. I would be using my computer like any other time. When all of a sudden my computer freezes up. I cannot access any programs. My mouse is not moving anywhere. I cannot use control/alt/delete. The only thing you can do is turn off your computer manually which is unsafe for your computer and causes you to lose any information were using at the time.

Anyone who has experienced this knows how big of a pain a computer freeze is. And it is even worse for those who like me had this happening to them on a regular basis. It just seems to come out of nowhere and can be a huge nuisance.

What I learned was that the problems were coming from my Windows registry. The registry is the most important and fragile area of your computer. It contains the information that runs all of your software and hardware. As you install, update, and delete programs the registry becomes filled with unwanted information.

Why Does My Computer Freeze Up? - A Guide to Fix Computer Freezes

This unwanted information causes two problems. First off it slows down your computer considerably. Like a traffic jam, your computer becomes congested with information and needs to be cleaned out to run fast again. The other problem is windows error messages and your computer freezing up. This useless and corrupted information on the registry counteracts with other programs causing serious problems.

The only way to fix this problem and prevent these kinds of computer freezes is to repair the Windows registry. Because it is such a fragile area it was recommended to use a program to clean up registry errors for me. I did so and my computer stopped freezing almost immediately. Even better it began to run like it was brand new!

If you are interested I have recommended the program I used below to solve this problem for me. With this program you will never have to wonder why does my computer freeze up ever again. Give it a try!

Why Does My Computer Freeze Up? - A Guide to Fix Computer Freezes
Check For The New Release in Health, Fitness & Dieting Category of Books NOW!
Check What Are The Top Cooking Books in Last 90 Days Best Cheap Deal!
Check For Cookbooks Best Sellers 2012 Discount OFFER!
Check for Top 100 Most Popular Books People Are Buying Daily Price Update!
Check For 100 New Release & BestSeller Books For Your Collection

Want to turbocharge your computer speed? Looking to fix those pesky windows error messages? Get an easy fix and scan your computer for free with the best registry clean up software on the internet today.

Jim Marshall is a computer technician expert with over 15 years in the industry. He has an intimate knowledge of the windows registry and various register repair software. After testing some of the top registry cleaners on the marker he has created a comprehensive review site that details his findings.

http://www.registry-clean-up.net

watches cell phone Cheap Tiffany Office Furniture Tif1010Pcantflk Presentation Stand Purchase Imation Black Watch 9840 Volsafe

Information Technology Strategies - Past, Present and Future

We have seen extraordinary changes in IT over the past three decades. During this time we've seen new technologies and new IT strategies develop and mature. As we approach 2010 I'd like to share my predictions for the next generation of IT. Some companies have already awoken to see their new IT future but mostly IT organizations are still wrestling with the nightmares of past and present strategies. I hope this article will awaken more companies to the new world at their doorsteps and rethink their IT ways of the past, present and future.

Up until the 1980's we experienced the era of mainframe exclusivity where strict controls and IT disciplines were the norm. This era limited us to mainframe reports as our exclusive medium for information. Custom report requests took weeks and months to deliver because of the sheer number of requests. There was a hunger within corporations for information: information to help guide decisions. But the mainframe reports only teased the taste buds of information hungry business leaders.

The 80's

Information Technology Strategies - Past, Present and Future

This hunger led to the explosion of distributed computing of the 80's. I use distributed computing in a very broad sense here to include all distributed systems of the time including midrange (Unix), Wintel (Novel, PC LAN) and desktop PC's (DOS, Windows 386). A multitude of others have sprung up since these "pioneering" systems were introduced and are included in this category. In this decade smaller departments took their standard mainframe reports and imported them into their own distributed systems and created their own customized data stores...with customized reporting. These new "distributed" systems sprung up throughout the enterprise. Different systems in different locations: all creating storehouses of information...all using different operating systems and different databases and different applications that didn't talk with each other.

The 90's

In the early 90's corporations realized for the first time that with all these departments running their own distributed systems they lost track of how much was being spent on IT. Each department had their IT cost buried in their own departmental budgets. In these distributed environments many IT support staff performed dual roles. We saw Accounting clerks performing systems administration functions and tech savvy clerks become the informal help desk that department users called when help was needed.

By the mid 90's we saw a major effort in corporations to centralize their IT functions into one IT organization. This was the only way corporations could regain their grasp of their total IT spending. Through this IT Centralization effort, departments once again lost control of their systems, data and most importantly, their information. Central IT became the Technology Police telling departments what information they could have and what they couldn't.

The new Centralized IT's of the 90's had several challenges. Their charter: provide the whole enterprise with IT support within a set budget. Within these new centralized IT organizations many questions had to be answered. Should the new Centralized IT force departments to surrender their systems and technical staff or should incentives be provided for them to comply? What services should the Centralized IT provide? Everything the departments needed or wanted or only pre-defined services? How would Centralized IT services be funded? Will the departments pay by user or will it be a corporate expense? How should IT projects be funded, by the requesting organization or a Centralized IT budget? Consequently every corporation wrestled through these questions and came up with different IT models.

The New Millenium

When the 2000's rolled around we saw IT formalizing on best practices. These practices developed around a set of basic services provided across most system types such as Hardware/Software Standards, system updates/upgrades, tape backups, off-site storage, help desk services, Change Control, etc. These base services evolved from efforts to trim down IT overhead. In the 2000's Outsourcing of data center operations became more plausible as companies sought additional cost reductions. During this period the phrase "managing your mess for less" became the unofficial mantra for IT Outsourcing who took over the mess Centralized IT created and charged a lower rate for delivering the same basic services.

By 2005 we heard a new battle cry to lower costs even further. Enter the age of "off-shoring". IT providers heeded the call for lower rates by delivering services with low-cost overseas resources. If the early 2000's mantra was "your mess for less", the mid 2000's mantra was "your mess for even less"

As we embark on the next decade of 2010, IT leaders will awaken to a new day where they realize "your mess for even less" still costs too much! Their new mantra will be "why are we living with this mess in the first place?" IT leadership will stop and evaluate why they are providing the services they are providing? Why are they backing up everything at each site to tape and sending it to off-site storage as if everything at remote sites is critical information? Why are they backing up everything at their data centers to tape when the only things that must go to tape are critical records for archiving? What low-value services are they providing that don't need to be performed? Over the next decade IT will redefine themselves and eliminate their mess altogether.

2010 and Beyond

In 2010, IT Organizations will restructure themselves around three strategies. First, IT will fine tune the services they offer. For example, they will provide full services to critical systems/data only and they will tolerate longer outages on non-critical systems. They will change their approach to backups and incorporate temporary disk storage as a replacement for tape backups for non-critical systems, particularly in remote branch offices. IT will surgically eliminate all "low value" services on a "system by system" basis. They will provide services only where needed.

Secondly, IT will outsource their basic services such as helpdesk and systems administration to IT providers who will deliver those services for a fraction of their own costs. Thirdly, IT leaders will redirect their focus from providing generic IT services to providing essential technologies that key business groups need to grow the business. IT will transition from being cost centers/overhead to revenue enablers. IT once and for all will get rid of "their mess" and transform into a true business partner.

In 2010 the new IT Organization will put less emphasis on system specific technical skills and more towards senior technology professionals who can generate business value by incorporating technologies. By the end of the next decade IT organizations will consist of high-end technical resources that design business specific solutions across multiple frameworks. They will have diverse, multi-platform, solution designers with a handful of implementers and system administrators.

Over the past 3 decades we saw IT evolve from Mainframes to Distributed Computing. We saw IT functions sprawl as companies moved to distributed computing. We saw IT make full circle by Centralizing IT to include both Mainframe and Distributed Computing. We saw Centralized IT mature into a service model and Outsourcing its operational services. In the next decade, we'll see IT transform "their mess" to "no mess" revenue enablers. Instead of being viewed by business units as the obstacle to overcome, IT will become the "go-to" team that enables business units to reach their revenue goals.

Information Technology Strategies - Past, Present and Future
Check For The New Release in Health, Fitness & Dieting Category of Books NOW!
Check What Are The Top Cooking Books in Last 90 Days Best Cheap Deal!
Check For Cookbooks Best Sellers 2012 Discount OFFER!
Check for Top 100 Most Popular Books People Are Buying Daily Price Update!
Check For 100 New Release & BestSeller Books For Your Collection

John Bagdanov
Founder and Chief Advisor at IT Answers 4U
John has been in IT for almost 30 years and has supported numerous clients. His IT Leadership experience spans from formal IT leadership to leading world-wide technology projects.

At IT Answers 4U we provide free content on our web site and a fee based Advising service that enables companies to transform their legacy "cost center" IT organizations into next generation "revenue enabling" IT organizations.

For more information about John and IT Answsers 4U visit our web site at http://www.itanswers4u.com.

watch cell phone Low Low Price Oakley Jupiter Lx Sunglasses Purchase Imation Black Watch 9840 Volsafe

Information, Technology and Tourism

Introduction

Information technology has influenced all walks of our lives over the last few decades in a tremendous manner with the Tourism and Travel sector being one of the chief beneficiaries. The introduction of computers can be traced back to the early 60's when the vacuum tube was the primary component of computer systems. This was largely inefficient and error prone and soon gave way to transistors which were replaced by Integrated Circuits. Now the technological advances have allowed advanced graphics integrated with moving images and sound to be incorporated into the modern computers.

The Tourism product being largely intangible stands to gain a lot from technology. Travel was considered a risk in the early days mainly due to the fact that the knowledge about the terrain, climate, culture etc of the destination was limited or unknown. Only the adventurous and men in quest for newer pastures ventured into such journeys. With the advent of IT into the travel sector, things have changed. Travel has become much more enjoyable and comfortable. The modern day traveller has a plethora of options to choose from, with Internet being the favourite haunt for the potential traveller. Places of tourist interest and scenic beauty often do not catch the attention of the customer largely due to the fact that they are not marketed well. Internet in the early days did not support graphics, video, sound etc. Hence the tourism products could not be marketed over the net effectively. Now things have drastically changed with the introduction of protocols like the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). This has led to easier transmission of graphical images, music, videos etc over the net with speed and clarity. Thus tourism has been effectively marketed over the Internet. This has led to the mushrooming of Tourism and Travel sites.

Information, Technology and Tourism

There are number of software which cater to the needs of the tourism and hospitality sectors. Travel agencies, tour operators, hotels etc use modern systems equipped with powerful applications that work on huge databases. Computerised front office has lent elegance to the modern offices which are largely paperless. Office automation has led to efficient and accurate information processing. A person armed with the right information is the most powerful in the modern era. Computerised systems are used to extract information out of the voluminous quantities of data store in databases. Querying a database, be it for reservation enquiry or booking a ticket is in the hands of the end user. The customer is the king and rightly so has a number of options to choose from when embarking on a journey or getting information about a tourist spot.

Earlier users of computer systems were required to be experts. Even starting up the system required a computer operator. Only then the application could be run. Now systems with Graphical User Interface (GUI) and the WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) technologies, even a layman or a child is able to operate a computer or access internet. A person who doesn't know the local language at a place has information at his finger tips with the advent of touch screen facilities. Almost all banks have now introduced ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) facilities at their premises so as to allow the customers to access their accounts any time of the day.

In the Kerala scenario the advent of IT has been restricted to travel agencies using reservation systems and development of websites by Governmental and non-Governmental agencies. Also office automation is in place in with the accounting process also being computerized. The official website of Kerala Tourism has won many national and international accolades as being one of the best sites in tourism worldwide. In the education sector institutes such as the Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies (KITTS) has imparted IT education in Tourism sector by giving hands on training to students in GDSs (Global Distribution Systems) and computerized applications. Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) has also fully computerized their reservations and a tourist can easily book a room through the net. Hotels have linked their systems to other global systems so as to establish a link worldwide. Let us examine in brief the applications of IT in Tourism.

Global Distribution Systems

Global Distribution Systems (GDS) have evolved over the years and has played a major role in making online travel possible. A Computer Reservation System (CRS) is used to store and retrieve information and conduct transactions related to travel. They were originally developed by airlines, but it was later extended to travel agents as a sales channel. A functionality of CRS has been extended and what is known as the Global Distribution Systems came into existence. The major CRS operations that book and sell tickets to multiple airlines are known as GDS. Many airlines have opted to divest most of their holdings to Global Distribution Systems due to which many systems are now accessible to consumers through Internet gateways for hotels, car rental agencies, and other services as well as airline tickets. A traveller or a travel agent can chalk out an itinerary using a GDS which is a global system interconnecting airlines, hotels, travel agents, car rental companies, cruise liners etc. The four major Global Distribution Systems are AMADEUS, GALILEO, SABRE and WORLDSPAN. AMADEUS boasts of a market share of 31% and is followed by SABRE with 30% of the market, GALILEO with 26% and WORLDSPAN which has captured 12% of the market.

Today's GDS systems have the following capabilities

Available and accessible 99.9% of the time Process up to 17,000 messages per second during peak time Operates on cutting edge enterprise systems architecture Enjoys response times of a fraction of a second Is capable of booking a multitude of transactions Can make itinerary changes up to the last minute and complete complex international routings to every country in the world Automates the time consuming and complex process of re-pricing airline tickets when itineraries change Permits customers to send e-mail and faxes without exiting from the system Allows customers to compare fares and availability in order to shop for the most convenient travel at the lowest cost Stores all data related to the tens of millions of travellers securely so that the customers receive the travel preferences they desireOn a given day a GDS can access

Over a billion fare combinations More than 95% of the available seats worldwide More than 750 airlines More than 50,000 hotel properties Over 400 tour operators Nearly 30,000 car rental locationsGDS systems are capable of booking

One way and roundtrip airline seats Hotel rooms Rental cars Tours Cruises Bus and rail tickets Insurance Limousines Event and theatre attractions Dining Reservations Itinerary Changes Complex international routings
E-Ticketing

An electronic ticket or e-ticket is a means by which a passenger or a group of passengers can ensure their seat in a commercial airline by booking over the internet. This greatly reduces the procedures associated with issusing a paper ticket, which consists of a number of copies. Both the airlines and the passenger are benefited by this form of ticketing. An image of the ticket is stored in the computer from which the customer can take a print out and board the plane directly if he or she is carrying no luggage. If there is luggage after obtaining the clearance the passenger can board the aircraft. The customer can request that a hardcopy confirmation be sent by postal mail, but it is not needed at the check-in desk. A confirmation number is assigned to the passenger, along with the flight number, date, departure location, and destination location. When checking in at the airport, the passenger simply presents positive identification. Then necessary boarding passes are issued, and the passenger can check luggage and proceed through security to the gate area.

The main advantage of e-ticketing is the fact that it reduces booking expense by eliminating the need for printing and mailing paper documents. Another advantage is that it eliminates the possibility of critical documents getting lost in the mail or being sent to the wrong address. It is estimated that globally about 25% of the passengers book their tickets online which has resulted in the booming of low cost fliers.

The Internet has provided a new economic environment to conduct business. E-commerce is a growing sector and many tourism businesses are involved in developing their internet services including traditional travel agents, tour operators, national tourist offices, airlines, hotels and other accommodation providers and car hire firms. This means of doing business is known as 'e-tourism', or 'tourism e-business'. The key differences from traditional markets are the speed at which information can be communicated, global accessibility and the minimal costs of establishing a business online.

Property Management Systems

As the term indicates, property management systems refer to systems which have been used world wide to manage and effectively control the various day to day and other procedures related to managing large properties. Even in Kerala, these systems are used in large scale.

The core functions which a PMS can handle are reservations, front office operations, some back office operations and some managerial functions. A PMS is commonly used for handling the accounting functions of the various departments in a Hotel. This is in addition to being the hub for all interconnectivity with other systems in the hotel. Just as a person, who is cut off from the rest of his colleagues during work a standalone computer is not of much use. Hence a networked environment is provided whereby a server can cater to the needs of the end-user who may be a manager to receptionist or a waiter. This is achieved by networking the systems and sharing of resources. Software may be developed to suit the needs of the hotel which may have a front end and a back end. A front end is user interface, through which data may be entered or information retrieved. The back end may consist of a RDBMS which acts as the storage hub. Queries and reports may be used to retrieve information. For example, if a guest wants to know details regarding tariffs during off season, a click of the mouse may be sufficient to retrieve information.

Virtual Reality Systems

Virtual reality is a relatively new area which is related to artificial intelligence and neural networks. Artificial intelligence is an area where technology has made rapid strides in recent years. Human beings have been blessed with intelligence which ranges from their ability to remember things to inventing gadgets and making life more meaningful. It goes without saying that human brain is an amazing and intricate organ which has till date not been surpassed by even the fastest super computer. It is doubtful if such thing will happen in future too. But artificial intelligence has paved pathways to new gadgets and robots which help man in potentially dangerous and intricate tasks.

Tourism has in addition to the natural attractions, theme parks, man made rides, simulations etc. Singapore, Disneyland etc house some of most fabulous man made wonders thanks to IT and its applications. Particularly theme parks and rides along with recreation of fantasies and dinosaurs have added mileage to tourist destinations.

Virtual Travel

With the ever increasing need to use the net, Tourism has entered a new era. Virtual travel has gained popularity and a tourist if he wishes can use the various tools and internet and sit at the comfort of his office or home and do a virtual travel. Earlier there used to armchair travelogue creators who used to design the show from articles and hearsays. But now travel writing has been simplified just because there is a plethora of information in CD's, brochures and on the net.

There are even virtual travel agencies on the net which offers a tour through its gallery and offers a great deal of information. Gone are the days when a guide used to take travelers for ride narrating several cock and bull stories and feeding the customers with false information. Virtual travellers are more informed and many of them do not even need an introduction to a destination which they plan to visit.

In addition to the virtual tour of the real world, artificially created virtual worlds are there, waiting to be explored. These sites offer a free package for a week which can be downloaded. After going through this demo, the user can see the real stuff, if he registers online and pays for it. This is a trend which is fast catching on. After all globalization has shrunk the world and it wouldn't be long time before new destinations in the cyber world comes up.

Travel Recommender Systems

Travel has become a part and parcel in the lives of human beings. Efforts from travel agencies and tour operators coupled with inputs from Governmental organizations have resulted in great changes which have eased the hardships placed on the traveller. The modern day traveller has a plethora of options to choose from when planning his trip. Travel Recommender Systems though in its infancy has established its utility value in travel planning. In the coming years, its importance as tool in aiding travel planning will be indispensable. A few recommender systems are available in the market that give the tour operator or the customer options to remove the intangibility associated with the product. Austria is one of the few countries which have introduced Recommender Systems to the travelling public and have found favourable response from the users. Recommending a travel plan consists of many aspects such as the destination type, location specific information, seasonal specific recommendations etc. All this has to be presented to the user in a customer friendly manner so that he or she can input the options to the system which in turn will suggest the most recommended travel plan. These systems use artificial intelligence and fall under the category of expert systems.

Geographic Information Systems

The usage of maps dates back to centuries. Man has been using maps for guidance and for locating places. With the advancement of computer technology and graphics, maps have been digitised and used for providing accurate and timely information to users. Databases have been combined with computer graphics in the area of GIS.

GIS is used to display and analyse spatial data which are linked to databases. This connection between spatial data and databases is the driving force behind the working of a GIS. Maps can be drawn from the database and data can be referenced from the maps. When the database is updated, the associated map also gets updated. GIS database include a wide variety of information including geographic, social, political, environmental and demographic data. GIS technology is a computer based data collection, storage and analysis tool that combines previously unrelated information into easily understood maps. A GIS can perform complicated analytical functions and present the results visually as maps, tables or graphs, allowing decision-makers to visually see the issues before them and then select the best course of action.

GIS finds wide applications in Tourism especially in mapping Tourist destinations, hotels etc. The end user can pin point a destination and even browse the hotel room in which he or she plans to stay.

Conclusion

On the whole it can be said that Information technology has left an indelible mark in the application area of Tourism and Travel. In the coming years, areas like Travel Recommender Systems, GIS, Space Tourism etc will gain popularity and will help in giving a new dimension to the travel and tourism sector. Kerala Tourism which has established its presence in the global market will bank on these applications to further propel its growth trajectory. The International market which is growing has been given a shot in the arm with introduction of IT and will stand to gain further from it.

Information, Technology and Tourism
Check For The New Release in Health, Fitness & Dieting Category of Books NOW!
Check What Are The Top Cooking Books in Last 90 Days Best Cheap Deal!
Check For Cookbooks Best Sellers 2012 Discount OFFER!
Check for Top 100 Most Popular Books People Are Buying Daily Price Update!
Check For 100 New Release & BestSeller Books For Your Collection

cell phone watches Low Low Price Oakley Jupiter Lx Sunglasses Purchase Imation Black Watch 9840 Volsafe Cheap Rugged Ridge 53703 52 Soft Top With