Description | Lectures | References | Final Projects
Electronic commerce, commonly called eCommerce, is traditionally defined as the buying and selling of goods using electronic transaction processing technologies. Over the past fifteen (15) 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. With the current world-wide efforts to emerge from the recent economic downturn, the efficiency, scope and reach of eCommerce continues to be strong. USA Today Internet 50
Moreover eCommerce continues to evolve in both technologically and in the scope of its market reach. Technologically, desktop and laptop/notebook computers have been the dominant client/user-side technology with the server-side being either dedicated servers owned/managed by the eCommerce entity (e.g. the entity providing the goods/services) or an intermediate entity providing what is termed "cloud computing" resources shared by many eCommerce companies. More recently, Apple and Google have evolved this paradigm by creating an environment by which other devices such as an iTouch, iPhone, iPad and Android-based smartPhones and Tablets are emerging as serious client-side technologies. The extreme portability, mobility and place-aware nature of these devices is expanding the fundamental character of the eCommerce environment. Enabled is on-the-go eCommerce that is place- and time-aware now, has remembered the past and continually makes intelligent expectations about the future.
The scope of the eCommerce market has also evolved beyond the narrow buying and selling of goods to include services of all kinds including entertainment and communications that is making eCommerce an integral part of everyone's daily life. It is these fundamental daily personal services provided by the extended scope of eCommerce that have the opportunity to substantially enhance the daily lives of all individuals.
In this course we will study
1. the basics fundamentals of the business and economic motivations for eCommerce as well as the needs and desires of individuals,
2. the underlying computation, information and communication environments that encompass and enable eCommerce transactions, and
3. the evolving role of new highly portable, place-aware, always-with-you personal devices in eCommerce.
We will focus exclusively on those electronic and process technologies that allow for transactions to be conducted with little or no human 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 traditional stationary transactions using "wired" connections; however, we will quickly evolve to focus on transactions that are made while on the go that, out of necessity, use 2-way wireless communication. This leads us to look into Navigation-based Commerce (nCommerce) and Navigation-based Entertainment (nTertainment). We will look at the role and opportunity of extremely mobile, place aware, communications and computing enabled devices such as smartPhones (iPhone, Android, WinMobile (?), etc.), and smartPads (iPads, and the plethora of Android tablets) and Android - the open handset alliance. A central element that has fueled this nCommerce and nTertainment revolution is a substantially new intermediary in the eCommerce equation, App Stores. They are a substantially different paradigm that is just in its infancy. We will attempt to characterize it, analyze it and try to understand how these technologies can enhance daily life.
The last third and most important part of the course focuses on the design and construction of eCommerce and nCommerce applications in the following areas:
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 navigation 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 nCommerce. Place-awareness can also enhance games and entertainment, thus nEntertainment. We will explore these opportunities.
It is suggested that real-time management of mobile assets can BOTH improve the economic efficiency of the nation's transportation system and contribute in a very positive manner to enhanced Homeland Security while providing enhanced mobility opportunities for the general public. What kind of eCommerce sites can serve as "Dual Use" sites to provide for both improved transport efficiency and National Security?
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've used them in Orf 467 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. One application done in orf 401 was the original real time visualization of the locaton of the Campus Shuttles
While Microsoft, with WindowsCE and Windows Mobile, Nokia, with Symbian, Qualcomm with BREW, RIM with Blackberry and Palm with the PalmOS pioneered the development of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and smartPhones, Android, an open and free operating system developed by the Open Handset Alliance, a group of more than 30 technology companies led by Google, and the proprietary AppleOS are now the clear leaders in the booming smartPhone and ultra portable multifunctional personal devices. They compute; communicate; geolocate; capture and display images; receive, record and play audio; sense acceleration; and sense touch and motion on its screen. While these devices have literally hundreds of thousands of applications what else should they be able to do? What are the emerging and untapped uses for these devices?
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.
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. Not long ago, the two major digital digital map companies were sold for $8.1B (NavTeQ) and $3.3B (TeleAtlas). Google and several "share ware" sites continue to try to build competitive world wide digital map databases 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?
Parrot's AR.Drone. The Flying Video Game, requires an accompanying App to be useable.
Music is also beginning to be integrated with Apps. For example, Bjork: "Cosmogony".
One of my all-time favorites websites Map of the Market
Another one of my all-time favorites websites J-Track 3D Satellite Tracking/"
Simple and effective Drive-Time New Jersey: Your Daily Commute
What other products or services could be better delivered to the end user when combined with an App?
Nominal homework assignments revolve around the design, construction and evaluation of a traditional 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
| Date | Title | Reading | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/6 | Overview of eCommerce, Enrolled Students ; Your Availabilityfor Precept | Laudon Ch 1 or Deitel 1 Internet50 Assignment & Apple Surges on Net Income Doubling & Amazon’s Shares Tumble After Sales Miss Estimates: Seattle Mover(+8.3%) | |
| 2/8 | The Internet and the World Wide Web | Laudon Ch 3 or Deitel 3; & Google Earth Dives Deep |
| Date | Title | Reading | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/9 | Really SmartPhones: Enablers of Navigation Based Commerce (nCommerce), iPhone, Android, Google Maps, Visual Earth, etc; SmartPhones as Clients, | Dietel 28 | InterestingLinks_4/9 nCommerce Notes 4/9, |
| 4/11, 16 | Capacity Analysis | InterestingLinks_4/11 InterestingLinks4/16 | Notes 4/11 |
| 4/18 | "Internet Auctions: Game Theory and (Ir)rational Behavior" by Rob Hill'84 President, Americon Consulting | Rob Hill Auction Reference Links; Hill Slides | InterestingLinks_4/18 Auction-Theory Notes |
| 4/23 | Internet Pricing | InterestingLinks_4/23 | Notes 4/13 |
| 4/25 | "11th Week Exam" | Closed evrything; two-sided 8.5x11 cheat sheet | InterestingLinks_4/25 |
| 4/30 | Interim Presentation of Final Projects | Schedule of Interim Presentation of Final Projects | InterestingLinks |
| 5/2 | Interim Presentation of Final Projects | Schedule of Interim Presentation of Final Projects | InterestingLinks |
Note: This schedule is tentative and may change during the course of the semester.
Description | Lectures | References | Assignments | Final Projects
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.
Description | Lectures | References | Assignments | Final Projects
You must complete the following assignments during the course of the semester:
| Description | Due |
|---|---|
| Lab 1: Server-Side Processing with HTTP - Part I | 2/20 |
| Lab 2: Server-Side Processing with HTTP - Part II | 2/27 |
| Lab 3: Client-Side Processing with HTTP | 3/7 |
| Lab 4: Client-Side Processing with HTTP - Part II | Merged with Lab3 above |
| Lab 5: Beyond HTTP | 4/9 |
| Lab 6 (PS 1): Capacity: Issues and Analysis | 4/18 |
Description | Lectures | References | Assignments | Final Projects
A Final Project Symposium will be held on Friday, May 11 at 9:00am in Room 101 ORFE. Each group has only 20 minutes for their presentation including: setup time (have everything ready), presentation (15 minutes MAX), and discussion (3 minutes). Attendance will be taken. You will need to sign in and out.
The written element of the Final Projects are due the following Monday 5/14. (Examples from the 2008 final projects).
Virtual investments by the class of 2011 at the beginning in the semester of eCommerce companies was less than spectacular. Class gains were 2.75% while the S&P gained 4.2% . If everyone would have simply bought the average gain would ahve been 9.11%! Biggest winners were Kyle O'Donovan and Brian Berkowitz (34.25%, 32.53%). Biggest losers were Chetan Narain and Steve Chen/Dao Mi (-20.96% and -18.21%) Tabulated results
After the presentations, we will have another PICNIC at my house 24 Montadale Circle (2 miles from campus, tel : 980 1427)) on Monday May 9, (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.
Grades will be based on your performance on problem sets and labs (30%), a "10th week" exam (30%), the final project (30%) and 10% class participation.