• Class meets Mon & Wed 3-4:20p in 004 Friend Hall
• Professor Alain L. Kornhauser
• Office Hours are Mon & Wed 9a-12p in E-407 E-Quad
• Kevin WanTeaching Assistant Office Hours are Mon 1:30-2:30p & 5pm-6pm or by appointment in E-312 E-Quad

Description | Lectures | References | Assignments | Final Projects

Description

Electronic commerce, commonly called eCommerce, is broadly defined as the buying and selling of goods using electronic transaction processing technologies. Over the past ten years these approached have gone through a cycle that has extolled both great promise and bitter disappointments only to be followed lately by a substantial rebound and growth to respectability and even dominance. USA Today Internet 50

In this course we will study the basics fundamentals of both the business and economic motivations for eCommerce as well as the underlying computation, information and communication environments that encompass eCommerce transactions.

We will focus exclusively on those electronic and process technologies that allow for transactions to be conducted with little or no intervention on the part of the buyer or the seller. We will characterize the value proposition afforded by such transactions. Initially we will focus on stationary transactions using "wired" connections. Later we will investigate mobile, enRoute Commerce, transactions requiring wireless communications. This will lead us to look into Android - the open handset alliance.

The last third of the course will be focused on the design and construction of eCommerce sites in the following areas:

• EnRoute Commerce

  With the transformation of cell phones into powerful mobile computing devices sporting wireless data communications, sizeable memory and a sense of "where am I", they have given rise to a market segment widely known as Location-based Services (LBS). However, when coupled with a knowledge of "where am I going", and a route planned by a nagigation system, one not only has current knowledge of place and time but leading indicators of future locations and times. These leading indicators transform LBS into Navigation-based Services (NBS) that can better target valuable services thus transforming the underlying economic proposition. Advertisers can expect better results and can be expected to pay more for navigation-based placements, thus transforming the underlying economics of enRoute Commerce. We will explore these opportunities.

• Real-time Management & Control of Mobile Assets

  It is suggested that real-time management of mobile assets can BOTH improve the economic efficiency of the nations transportation system and contribute in a very positive manner to enhanced Homeland Security. What kind of eCommerce sites can serve as "Dual Use" sites to provide for both improved transport efficiency and National Security?

• Leveraging Google Maps

  The ready availability of high-resolution satellite imagery over the past couple of years has provided a very valuable source of data to a large array of spatially-oriented activities to such an extent that companies are even painting their email address on the roofs of their buildings. We used them in Orf 467 last semester to investigate how a PRT network might serve New Jersey. A vast array of other opportunities exist. We'll focus on applications and services that can be enhanced by the ready availability of these images.

• Bringing it together on the gPhone: Android

  The Open handset Alliance, a group of more than 30 technology companies led by Google, is developing Android, a complete, open and free mobile platform that will compete with Windows Mobile, Symbian, RIM, BREW and other existing mobile platforms. We will focus on applications that are particularly well suiteed for Android.

• Augmented Reality

  We are all familiar with the first down lines that are drawn on the field and the extent that they improve "reality". Now golf is showing us Ball Flight Tracker. These processes of superimposing virtual images on real images present an opportunity to substantially leverage the value of cameras available on GPS-enabled SmartPhones. Explored will be this emerging opportunity.

• Using "SETI" and "Wiki" principles to assemble, maintain and distributed human knowledge: Alain's Streets

  For over 10 years I have been trying to assemble and maintain a reasonable network (arc and node attributes) database of the North American street system. Recently the two major digital map companies were recently sold for $8.1B (NavTeQ) and $3.3B (TeleAtlas). Google and several "share ware" sites are now attempting to build a competitive world wide digital map database by assembling local knowledge from volunteers. How can we use the concepts of the "SETI screensaver" and Wiki to design and build an eCommerce site to effectively build and maintain a global digital map database?

Nominal homework assignments revolve around the design, construction and evaluation of a typical eCommerce site. Through a series of assignments, the first part of the course will focus on a generic example, the rental of DVDs for viewing on airplanes. The second part of the course will be team project-oriented. It will focus on developing a more substantive student-motivated eCommerce initiative. In place of a final exam, the team Projects will be presented, at a course symposium to be held at the end of reading period.

Description | Lectures | References | Assignments | Final Projects

Lectures

Part I. Introduction

Part II. Software Technologies and Case Studies of eCommerce

Part III. Operational Considerations and Case Studies

Note that this schedule is tentative and may change during the course of the semester.

Description | Lectures | References | Assignments | Final Projects

Reference Textbooks and Readings

• Sedgewick, R. and K. Wayne (2006), Intro to Programming in Java, Addison Wesley. (CS 126 text, Online resources)
• Hall, M. (1998), Core Web Programming, Prentice Hall. (I'll Pass it out what you need)
• Laudon, K. and C. Traver (2008), E-Commerce: Business, Technology, Society (4th ed.) ISBN: 0-13-600645-0, Prentice Hall (general background reference, fundamental perspective)
• Deitel, H.M., Deitel, P.J., & Nieto, T.R. (2001), eBusiness & eCommerce - How to Program, Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-028419-X (A little old but buyable)

Additional readings will also be handed-out from time to time. Your are responsible for completing the readings prior to the first day that they will be discussed in class.

Assignments

Description | Lectures | References | Assignments | Final Projects

You must complete the following assignments during the course of the semester:

Final Project

Description | Lectures | References | Assignments | Final Projects

The final project is due on Monday 5/12. Final project presentations will start on Monday, May 12 at 12:30 pm in Room 004 Friend. Each multi-student group has only 15 minutes for their presentation including: setup time (have everything ready), presentation (13 minutes MAX), and discussion (2 minutes). Individual student projects have only 10 minutes for everything. Attendance will be taken. You will need to sign in and out.

After the presentations, we will have another PICNIC at my house 24 Montadale Circle (2 miles from campus, tel:921-2493)) on Monday May 12, (4pm-7pm). We will play a softball game; bring a softball glove if you can. A pool is available, so bring your bathing suit. A pool table is available, so bring plenty of money! You are welcome to bring a guest.

Grading

Grades will be based on your performance on problem sets (40%) and the final project (40%) and 10% class participation.