UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA



MATRIX NO : 85983




AZIZI IBRAHIM AL-HAJ



ASSIGNMENT TOPIC : SOFTWARE



CASE STUDY
( CASE 1 & 2 )





FOR




ASSOC. PROF AZIZI ZAKARIA











Web Exercise No 1

QUESTION

Microsoft, IBM/Lotus, and Corel are the important providers of personal productivity software suites. Do research to assess the relative success of these three products in terms of sales of their software suites. Do you think it is possible that Microsoft will become the only provider of such software? Would this be good or bad? Why? Write a brief report summarizing your findings and conclusions.

Background
IBM/Lotus
Lotus Software (called Lotus Development Corporation before its acquisition by IBM) is an American software company with its headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Lotus is most famous for their groundbreaking Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet application, which was the killer app in the early days of the IBM PC which helped spread the adoption of the PC. In more recent years the company provided one of the more powerful groupware systems, Lotus Notes, which became fairly popular. It was the strength of Notes in the marketplace that led to IBM purchasing the company in 1995 for $3.5 billion.

Microsoft
The Microsoft Corporation is a multinational computer technology corporation with 2005 global annual sales of US$39.79 billion and 63,564 employees in 102 countries and regions. It develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of software products for computing devices. Headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA, its most popular products are the Microsoft Windows operating system and the Microsoft Office suite of productivity software, each of which has achieved near-ubiquity in the desktop computer market. Microsoft possesses footholds in other markets; with assets such as the MSNBC cable television network, the MSN Internet portal, and the Microsoft Encarta multimedia encyclopedia. The company also markets both computer hardware products such as the Microsoft mouse as well as home entertainment products such as the Xbox, Xbox 360 and MSN TV.

Corel
Corel Corporation is a computer software company headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by Michael Cowpland in 1985, who intended it to be a research laboratory ("Corel" is an abbreviation of "Cowpland Research Laboratory"). The company saw great success early in the high-tech boom of the nineties with the product CorelDraw, and became, for a time, the biggest software company in Canada. Corel made many early investors very wealthy, but its strong growth did not last. It attempted to compete with Microsoft after acquiring the WordPerfect software in 1996, but it failed badly. Corel was forced to lay-off large numbers of employees and Cowpland came under investigation by the Ontario Securities Commission for insider trading
Comparison of office suites

Developer
First
public
release
Predecessor
Stable version
Operating
system
Standard cost (USD)
Open
Document
support
License
Open source
Microsoft Office
Microsoft
1993
Microsoft Word
Forethought
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft PowerPoint
11.0
Windows
And
Macintosh
$399
Conversion
Plugins
in
development
Proprietary
No
Lotus SmartSuite
IBM
19921
—
9.8
Windows
and OS/2
$190
No
Proprietary
No
Corel Office
Corel
1991
WordPerfect
(1982)
X3 (or 13)
Windows
$300

Proprietary




Developer
Windows
Mac OS X
Mac OS 9
Linux
BSD
Unix
Microsoft Office
Microsoft
Yes
Yes
Dropped (2001)
No
No
No
Lotus SmartSuite
IBM
Yes
?
?
?
?
?
Corel Office
Corel
Yes (Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows 2000, and Windows XP)
No
No
No
No
No



Word processor
Spreadsheet
Presentation
Flowchart
Drawing: bitmap / vector
Formula : mathematics / chemistry
Data management
Project management
Observations
Microsoft Office
Yes Microsoft Word
Yes Microsoft Excel
Yes Microsoft Powerpoint
Yes Microsoft Visio
No
Yes Equation Editor
Yes Microsoft Access
Yes Microsoft Project
No
Lotus SmartSuite
Yes
Lotus Word Pro
Yes
Lotus 1-2-3
Yes
Lotus Freelance Graphics

Yes Lotus Freelance Graphics
Yes Equation Editor
Yes Lotus Approach


Corel Office
Yes WordPerfect
Yes
Quattro Pro
Yes
Corel Presentations
No


Yes Paradox
Yes
No


From the above statistics it is clearly shown that Microsoft is a company that concentrated at all aspect, either in developing their software where suites are for personal user or for corporate use. Microsoft product is very user friendly and this saves time in doing daily chores.

Microsoft product is a very popular product used globally compared to IBM/Lotus and Corel. The success of Microsoft is because of their mission. "Your potential. Our passion.". The slogan from Microsoft means that company is trying their best to create potentially among themselves and tried to make the user comfortable in using their product. This makes the product developed extensively because of its friendliness that is suitable for all users using it.

I am of the opinion that Microsoft has the potential of becoming the only provider for such software. This trend or possibility is not good to the world because if Microsoft monopolizes the market, the price of software will definitely increased. Another possibility is that it will not be healthy for the market if there is monopoly. This because Microsoft is very systematic in running its operations and have strong financial standing compared to the rest of their competitors. Besides this, Microsoft also developed other IT product such as Operating System, Search Engine, Internet Browser, and etc. This will help them in promoting or cross-selling their product. As we know, most of the PC users in Malaysia are using Windows as their Operating System. So Microsoft managed to sell their product like Microsoft Office, Windows Media Player, Internet Explorer and etc. As such we could conclude that Microsoft is the best and an important providers. Whether we agree or not, whenever we opened the PC, we will be using Microsoft product.


Web exercise No 2

Do research on the web and develop a two page report summarizing the latest consumer appliance OSs. Which one seems to be gaining the most widespread usage? Why do you think this is the case?


The new discovery nowadays is the latest Linuxbased home TV and web appliance. This new appliance dubbed “canD” is part of the first wave of commercial consumer products based on the open source Linux software operating system. Retail consumers in Japan could buy canD in stores.

Designed for Internet beginners and non computers users, canD is a compact dictionary sized set top box that is suitable for typical Japanese living rooms. Unlike other Internet terminals and set top boxes, canD does not require users to work with a PC like keyboard. Instead canD users navigate TV programming and Internet resources with a familiar, wireless remote control that enables easy access to e-mail, the Web, and a full range of video and audio entertainment programming.

AXIS, a Japanese designer of computers and peripherals and Coventive, a provider of embedded Linux solutions for information appliances, plan to collaborate on a family of Linux based canD products in the coming months.

Forthcoming Linux based canD products include a mobile wireless internet appliance, an intercom integrated information terminal, and a kitchen-specific internet appliance. The companies also plan to customize and localize the product family to serve markets beyond Japan.

canD’s software system were developed using Conventive XTinux embedded Linux operating system software and the Access Netfront browser interface. Hardware specifications are based on the NS Media GX platform with 8MB DOM and 16 MB SDRAM. The units include 2 USB ports for connecting to other peripherals, such as a printer or digital camera.

This appliance is becoming popular because it is a combination of the availability of an internet and a home television, a likable consumer product which could be easily obtainable at stores. This is a trend nowadays and it cannot be denied that this appliance is what consumers are waiting for without any hassle.

UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA



MATRIX NO : 85983




AZIZI IBRAHIM AL-HAJ



ASSIGNMENT TOPIC : HARDWARE



CASE STUDY
( CASE 1 )





FOR



ASSOC. PROF AZIZI ZAKARIA









Case Studies
Topic - Hardware

Case 1

QUESTION

1. What would you identify as the biggest benefit that Hilton gained by implementing the “ On Q “ information system ?

ANSWER :

The biggest benefit that Hilton gained by implementing the “ On Q “ information system is the ability to cross-sell among the entire Hilton family of brands and all it’s hotel. With this technology advancement, it gives Hilton a real competitive advantage over its competitors as this common platform has enhanced the efficiency and productivity of back-office operations such as payroll, purchasing and financial forecasting to maximize revenues.

Hilton was able to operate the business efficiently and maximize customer service and loyalty.


QUESTION

2. What do you suppose were some factors that were considered in selecting the vendor for the computer hardware ?


ANSWER :

Some of the factors that were considered in selecting the vendor for the computer hardware are as follows :
1. The vendor should be able to provide a systems that is very reliable and efficient, simplified, standardized architecture of the computer hardware, and an advanced technology machine.

2. The vendor must also be able to provide a back up system and around the clock assistance in the event of a system failure.

3. An established and a well known vendor that has proven its strength and capability in the particular line of business.



QUESTION

3. Do you think that Hilton will be able to maintain a permanent competitive advantage with it’s “ On Q “ system? Why or why not ?


ANSWER :

Yes, I believed so that Hilton would be able to maintain a permanent competitive advantage with the “ On Q “ system because of the systems’ uniqueness and capability of cross-selling among the entire hotel family of brands and at the same time keeps business within it’s system. Technology advancement has made this system possible in Hilton after spending millions on this investment.

None of Hilton’s competitors has this capability of cross selling, thus giving them the competitive advantage over the rest.



QUESTION

4. To what degree should Senior Executives consider the compatibility of two firms information systems when considering a merger or acquisition ?

ANSWER
Merger and acquisition is most common in the business world nowadays and amongst the common agenda brought forward is the issue on information systems. Management information system is important because these are the set of data that would influence the business partners in their decision making analysis.

When we talked about merger or acquisition, the most important element is the infrastructure of the company in terms of their company networking and services. This is the life of the company. Compatibility in the information systems of the two companies are important

When two companies merged, there must be a proper migration or integration of systems that could provide minimum disruption. As such, the stability of the system is of utmost importance both to the companies and customers.

Service providers and out sourcing companies will be affected in the event of mergers or acquisition because this involved data of existing and new customers. Thus this information must not be unnecessarily revealed to third parties.

Lastly, the accounting and finance aspect of a merged entity
is important because these are figures that would determined the companies financial standing as well as its profitability in the eyes of the public .


PROBLEM SOLVING

No. 2


COMPONENT
QUANTITY
EXPERT SOLUTIONS
BUSINESS PROCESSING
SUPER SYSTEM
3GHz Pentium with 256 MB RAM with40 GB H/D

6

$525x 6
= 3150

$505x6
=3030

$550x6
=3300
Upgrade to 512 MB RAM
6
$60x6=360
$65x6=390
$50x6
=300
Std 15” monitor
2
$200x2
=400
$210x2=420
$215x2
=430
12ppm printer
2
$75x2=150
$55x2=110
$65x2
=130
3 yr warranty
6
$340x6
=2040
$300x6
=1800
$320x6
=1920
TOTAL

$6100
$5750
$6080



It is clear from the above table that the company that provides the equipments within the budgeted amount of $6000/- is without doubt Business Processing Enterprise which amounts to a total costs of $5750/-.

The rationale for choosing Business Processing Enterprise is that the same components that was requested to quote for the chosen items are much reasonable and the costs of warranty is cheaper than the other 2 companies.

Only two printers are purchased and two additional monitors instead of six are purchased because it is expected at least two staffs will use more than three hours per day . Other than that, the upgraded version of the Pentium with 256 MB RAM with40 GB hard drive and upgraded 512 MB RAM willbe for six staffs accompanied with a three year warranty period.




UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA





MATRIX NO : 85983




AZIZI IBRAHIM AL-HAJ



ASSIGNMENT TOPIC - INTRODUCTION



CASE STUDY
( CASE2 )






FOR


ASSOC . PROF AZIZI ZAKARI




Topic – Introduction

Case 2


QUESTION


1. What conveniences does The Ship Partner information system provide to passengers of the Qm2 ? What entertainment services could be made available to passengers through this digital network ’?


ANSWER


Amongst the most conveniences The Ship Partner information system provides to passengers are the state of the art information system and good customer service and benefits, innovative online reservation system for booking of shore excursions and dinner plans. Passengers are also presented with a plastic bar-coded card to make purchases on board, which are than billed to the customers account. It is also used to track passengers location by swiping as guests leave and return to the ship. As such, technology is deeply in used to provide customer benefits.


Some of the entertainment services available to passengers through this digital network are on demand movies and interactive television channels, internet access and network services, music, a personal video monitor with ‘ touch screen ’ technology and credit card ‘ swipe ’ capability.

QUESTION

2. How does The Ship Partner information system assist ship managers with their duties and responsibilities?


ANSWER

The Ship Partner information system can assist ship managers with their duties and responsibilities as they are being used to track security, billing telephone service on board television and other operations. The system also helped them by running reports to indicate which passengers are on board, tracking passengers location, how many will be attending morning exercises and which entrée was most popular for dinner.

The network and database are backed up by redundant systems that automatically take over if the primary system fails.



QUESTION

3. How does the Ship Partner information system assist Cunard in competing in the travel industry? What other travel and leisure industries would benefit for a system like The Ship?








ANSWER

The Ship Partner information system assists Cunard in the travel industry by having a specialized system created to better serve cruise companies and the sophisticated network services and integration system. At the same time it assists with management function, providing valuable information and offering services to customers
Others are the Aircraft Industry and Tour Industry/ Companies



QUESTION


4. Why is it important for The Ship Partner to have a back up System? How would a system wide failure affect the functioning of the ship?


ANSWER

It is important that in any organization or business that uses high technology, the availability of a back up system or a recovery plan is crucial. This is because heavy dependence on computerization alone can affect the profitability and productivity if the system failed. As such a back up system is very important for the sake of continuity.


Thus it is the same for The Ship Partner to have a back up system because in the event of system failure, there would not be any disruption to the ship and the journey such as the ship stalled in the middle of the ocean or immobile causing inconvenience to the passengers and affecting their credibility. If this happened, they would lose customer confidence resulting in loss of business opportunity.

UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA


MATRIX NO : 85983


AZIZI IBRAHIM AL-HAJ

WEB EXERCISE PAGE : 235


QUESTION NO 1


TOPIC : DATABASE
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT





Definition
Knowledge management systems
A knowledge management system (KMS) is the software framework (toolbox) that is intended to assist, via knowledge processing functions, those who desire to formulate and retrieve knowledge for different applications, such as system design and specification, term bank construction, documentation or ontology design for (multilingual) language processing. The various tools of such a framework should help users to originate and organise ideas or understand and communicate ideas more easily and accurately than can be done with most current tools. A KMS is an integrated multifunctional system that can support all main knowledge management and knowledge processing activities, such as:
Capturing;
Organising;
Classifying and understanding;
Debugging and editing;
Finding and retrieving;
Disseminating, transferring and sharing knowledge.
Current knowledge management systems, in particular those in the field of information retrieval, are
Too narrow in many respects. For example, one application, one type of user, one type of knowledge representation, one type of knowledge operation, etc.;
Too hard to use. For example, specialised knowledge is needed and long training curves are necessary;
Not widely known or available.
One main task of a KMS is to search for specific information. This is mainly done by an information retrieval component which will be central for our evaluation work.
Knowledge Powered Solutions Ltd (KPS) develops and markets knowledge management software solutions for use in help desk, call centre, e-learning and corporate information management environments


An example of a company using the technology is Motorolla, British Airways and Black and Decker Corporation



Home Solutions

Knowledge Powered Solutions (KPS) develops and markets Knowledge Management solutions for use in service desks, help desks, call centres, e-learning and corporate information management environments.
KPS intelligent software solutions can be deployed to customer service staff, intranet users, external customers and partners. These groups are able to access vital knowledge quickly and easily through a simple to use natural language interface. The KPS solution helps to identify and fill knowledge gaps and make the solution available for future use.
What will our Knowledge Management System do for you?
· Reduced Employee Training Time: ability for new and existing employees to acquire job knowledge faster, reducing training time and providing higher job quality
· Better & Faster Customer Support: provides quicker problem resolution and 24 x 7 Web customer self service
· Reduced Operational Costs: reduces re-researching problems that have already been solved.
· Production Efficiencies: facilitates higher levels of equipment uptime by having troubleshooting and maintenance information readily accessible.
· Centralized & Retained Employee Knowledge: prevents knowledge from leaving when an employee leaves
Knowledge Management Software
RightNow Technologies' powerful, integrated knowledge management software is at the heart of all our customer service products. Effective data management offers consistent application across all customer interaction points including web, email, chat, phone and voicemail.
Our knowledge management systems increase customer satisfaction and save your organization money.
Customers who don't need to repeat information across various channels and are able to find answers to their problems on their own will be happier and stay loyal to your company.
Knowledge management systems will save you money by reducing inbound calls and allowing customers to rely on self-service if they choose.
Product Overview
Knowledge Powered Solutions Ltd is an ISV (Independent Software Vendor) that specialises in providing cost effective information management solutions. These software solutions have been developed to knowledge enable employees, particularly those working in customer facing environments such as help desks, call centres, service centres, e-learning, web and intranet.
There are four fundamental elements to each solution:
Search Component. This enhances a department's or organisation's capability to find documented information quickly and accurately, and use it to make better business decisions and improve customer service.
Expertise Location. When further assistance is needed, individuals within an organisation can access relevant expertise to overcome a particular learning difficulty or knowledge gap. As a result, they successfully complete a task, assignment or customer service request in record time.
Knowledge Share. Usage of the core components of the solution is significantly enhanced by the unique learning capability of the software. Each interaction between a user and either a knowledge base or an expert produces an update of information within the relevant knowledge base. The intellectual capital of the business is therefore increased and is available for the benefit of all employees and customers, removing the need to ever escalate that query again.
Measurement. It is essential that an organisation can measure the benefit of any business critical investment. Through the tools element, usage of the solution can be monitored and tracked through a range of standard and bespoke reporting, helping the business identify knowledge gaps and the cost of intellectual rework.
Solutions can be deployed stand-alone or integrated with other components to address a wider range of critical business needs.






Features of RightNow's Knowledge Base:

Self-Learning, Self-Organizing, Self-Maintaining—Every customer interaction leads to a more robust knowledge base using artificial intelligence technology. The knowledge base automatically organizes your information based on natural language capability, usefulness ranking and clustering features.
ads to increased "one-and-done" inquiries.


Self-Sufficient, Satisfied Customers—Your customers have complete access to your knowledge management system through any communication channel. The knowledge base presents answers ranked by usefulness to their specific questions and leAll RightNow Products

Deliver a consistently great experience across all channels and touch-points.



RightNow Service™Take better care of your customers more efficiently across all your communication channels
RightNow Marketing™Quickly create more effective multi-stage campaigns with less time and effort
RightNow Sales™Significantly improve the productivity and manageability of your entire sales team
RightNow Voice™Optimize your contact center's performance with world-class voice and speech technologies
RightNow Analytics™Get full visibility into emerging trends, potential problems and hot market opportunities
RightNow Locator™Empower your customers to quickly find the closest store or office that has what they need
RightNow Surveys™Create, distribute and tabulate surveys with unmatched speed and ease
Professional Services Tap into our unmatched experience and expertise to get the most out of your investments in technology, people and information

















Capturing and leveraging your corporate or organizational knowledge is critical in today's marketplace. Our knowledge management software - the Novo Knowledge Base Enterprise Edition provides you with a very cost effective, web based system allowing you to quickly capture, classify and make this knowledge available to the appropriate people in your company or organization.
Our knowledge management tool is used in a variety of industries. With its robust editing, file attachment, categorization and search capability, our knowledge management software provides the functionality you need to retain and benefit from your knowledge assets.
Core knowledge management software features and benefits are listed below. Please contact us if you have any questions...we look forward to putting our "knowledge" to work for you! Some applications of our Knowledge Management Software include:
· Centralized Policies, Procedures and Employee Training for HR Managers
· Technical Knowledge Repositories for IT Personnel
· Competitive Analysis for Sales Managers
· Customer Support/Self Help for Customer Service Managers
· Centralized Product Specifications and Testing Results for Plant Managers
· Machinery Troubleshooting for Plant/Maintenance Managers
· Easy to Manage Company Intranet for Internal Web/Documentation Publishers
· Lessons Learned/Best Practices documentation for Knowledge Engineers
Knowledge Management Software Features



Features
KB Workgroup
KB Enterprise
General


100% Web Based
Industry Standard Architecture
Customizable Look & Feel
In-House & Hosted Editions



Content Editing Features


Robust, Easy to Use WYSIWYG HTML Editor
Spell Check
Content Image & Flash File Manager
Online Forms Creation
Article Templates
Tables, Links and More



Misc. Features


File Attachments (any file type)
Printer Friendly Articles
Email Articles
Copy/Move/Re-arrange Articles/Sections
Reporting




Classifications


Unlimited Tree Based Left Navigation
Auto FAQ (most popular articles)
Categories & Content Types

User Defined Fields (Unlimited)




Search Capabilities


Basic & Advanced Search
Search Result Relevancy
Search Filters (Categories & Content Types)

Natural Language & Thesaurus Engine

Full Text Search in File Attachments (MS Office and PDF files)

External File System Directory Search




Authentication


Built in Administrative Users
Built in End Users

Active Directory Integration

Optional Module



Security & User Roles


Single Level User Security

Flexible, Unlimited Security Groups & User Roles

Portal Views

Article Access Levels




Quality Control Features


Single Level Routing/Approval

Article Review Dates

Automatic Article Archiving/Version Control

Article Subscriptions

Work Flow System (Flexible, Unlimited Work Flows Approval Tasks)

Optional Module



User Feedback Mechanisms


Article Hit Tracking
Article Voting/Rating System

Search Phrase Logging

Submit A Question




Internationalization


Multi-Lingual Support

Translation Workflow

Time Zones




Additional Modules Available


Oracle Database Plug-In

Optional Module
Report Writer

Optional Module
Import/Conversion

Optional Module

UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA



INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR MANAGERS

( TM 5013 )



MATRIX N0. 85983



AZIZI IBRAHIM AL-HAJ





ASSIGNMENT TOPIC : NETWORK



CASE STUDIES


CASE NO. 1










PREPARED FOR


ASSOC PROF AZIZI ZAKARIA



CASE NO. 1

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS


QUESTION # 1


In what ways does Shopping Buddy provide benefits and conveniences
for Stop & Shop customers?


ANSWER


The Stop & Shop supermarket had introduced a new system that is self serviced which utilizes wireless technology known as the Shopping Buddy. Shoppers interested in participating are required to sign up for a loyalty card. The card will be used to bill the customer for items purchased in the system.

The system, provides benefits and conveniences for Stop & Shop customers by helping the customers to locate goods on the shelves and how to get there, scan purchased items, can place deli orders anywhere and pick them as they pay the deli counter, specific advertisements informing customers of special items located nearby, and billed customers for items purchased

Others include convenient check out process, that is upon checking out, the purchase data is automatically and wirelessly transferred from the Shopping Buddy device to the check out system and funds are automatically transferred from the customers account to the Stop & Shop supermarket. Shopping Buddy has done away with long lines and delays at check out. For all new customers, a $5/ off will be given to first timers for the purchase of groceries, and the ease of use and additional features save customers time and frustration.

A Wi-Fi network, an infra red technology, and Bluetooth transmissions are all the latest
Technology provided by Stop & Shop for the convenience of their customers.

Since the system maintains information about a shopper’s previous purchases, the Shopping Buddy system can target advertisements and promotions to customers according to individual customer tastes.








QUESTION # 2

How does the Shopping Buddy system assist the Royal Ahold Corporation in understanding its clientele and the Stop & Shop store owners in running smooth and effective operation?


ANSWER


The Shopping Buddy system assists the Royal Ahold Corporation and the Stop & Shop store owners respectively by encouraging shoppers to sign up for a loyalty card which will be used to bill customer for items purchased in the system. By swiping the card, the system can determine the financial standing of their customers because payments are made via the transfer of fund direct to the Shopping Buddy system upon customers checking out from the store

Besides that, customer complaints, after sales service and short comings of the system can be rectified and improvised by the organization in fulfilling customer satisfaction. This is important because customers needed assurances that whatever short comings, it has to be rectified.

The system had made it possible for long queues to be reduced at the register and delays or waiting time is shortened tremendously. This will definitely smoothen the operations of Stop & Shop supermarket.

The system, in a way assisted Stop & Shop store closer to their customers because previous
purchases of the customers are recorded in the system which
made it easier for the customers to purchase their groceries and increase their
stock level. Through this Shopping Buddy, the Royal Ahold managed to
introduce a new self service system that uses wireless technology to help
customers locate goods of specific items, scan purchased items and also acts
as a reminder to customers in their purchase of goods and the most important
of all is the checking out process which is of much convenience to customers.


At the same time, customer surveys and feedback is important in understanding its clientele and determining the effectiveness of the system introduced.






CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS


QUESTION # 3


What issues of security and privacy are introduced through the wireless systems of Shopping Buddy?



ANSWER


Amongst the issues of security and privacy being introduced through the wireless systems of Shopping Buddy are,


Security

1. Scanning of purchased items to avoid non payment , items been stolen or to avoid petty thefts

2. Payment of items are guaranteed because of transfer of funds from customers account direct to Stop & Shop store through the system

3. Every customer has a separate card or loyalty card which is not transferable

4. ID numbers are not identical.



Privacy

1. Provides privacy on the cost of items purchased

2. privacy on the volume of purchased items

3. purchased items not known by anyone except the individual







QUESTION # 4

In what types of businesses would you expect systems such as Shopping Buddy to begin cropping up? How might devices such as Shopping Buddy assist customers making large purchases such as automobiles or even homes?


ANSWER

The possible types of businesses that are expected to crop up using the
system such as Shopping Buddy are :

1. Book Stores

2. Convenience stores

3. Textiles and departmental stores

4. Electrical and appliance shops

5. Confectionary stores

6. Hyper mart

7. Franchises such as Kentucky Fried Chicken , Pizza Hut, Mc Donald and other food chains


Devices such as the Shopping Buddy might assist customers making large
purchases such as automobiles or even homes with the presence of :

1. current market value

2. range of various prices

3. quality of finished products

4. location of property

5. reliability and roadworthiness especially for automobiles

6. workmanship



UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA



INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR MANAGERS

( TM 5013 )



MATRIX N0. 85983



AZIZI IBRAHIM AL=HAJ





ASSIGNMENT TOPIC : INTERNET



DISCUSSION QUESTIONS


NOS # 1, 8 , 10










PREPARED FOR


ASSOC PROF AZIZI ZAKARIA


QUESTION # 1

Instant messaging is being widely used today. Discuss how this technology could be used in a business setting. Are there any drawbacks or limitations to using instant messaging in a business setting?

ANSWER

Instant messaging is online, real-time communication between two or more people who are connected to the internet. With instant messaging two or more screens open up and each screen displays what one person is typing and because it is displayed on the screen in real-time , it is like talking to someone using the key board. Instant messaging is so popular that it helps Internet service providers and online services draw new customers and keep old ones.

This technology could be used in a business setting because of their convenient and easy access that caught the attention of the business community especially the marketers. They have target audiences that could benefit from the type of focused content produced by business entrepreneurs. At the same time they have the business models to display and the budget to cater for new product development. Businesses are examining instant messages through the internet to gather and harness public opinion regarding their products

The target market is readily available and the most common and obvious nature of product is fashionable clothing where young people are easy followers to it . Other merchandises such as the sale of cars , furniture, books and magazines and a variety of equipment tools could be purchased through this nature of interaction.

Business community, through instant messaging could communicate and interact with each other and exchange ideas on the latest products or services where they could have a comparative advantage over others. In a way, this technology could increase specialization. Amongst the commercial enterprises.


There are not much drawbacks or limitations to using instant messaging but the only obvious one is when orders are made but ultimately cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. As such, there was no transaction been made.









QUESTION # 8

Outline a process to create a Web page. What computer hardware and software do you need if you wish to create a Web homepage containing both sound and pictures?


ANSWER

To create a Web page, the process are as follows,

1. A computer must be linked to a Web server which can deliver Web pages to other browsers.

2. A Web browser program is needed to look at HTML pages that was created

3. The actual design can take one of the following approaches

(a) write a copy with a word processor, then use HTML converter
to convert the page into HTML format complete with tags so
the browser knows how it should form the page
(b) Use an HTML editor to write text and add HTML tags at the
same time
(c) Edit an existing HTML template
(d) Use an ordinary text editor and type in the start and end tags for
each item

4. Open the page with the browser and see the result

5. Add links to homepage to allow readers to click on a word and be taken to a related homepage. The new page may be either a part of Web site or a home page on a different Web site

6. To add pictures, first store them as a file on hard drive. This can be done by drawing a graphic software package, copy pictures from other Web pages, buy a disk of clip art, scan photos or use a digital camera.

7. To add sound use a microphone connected to the computer to record a sound file

8. Upload the HTML file to Web site using e mail or FTP

9. Review the Web page to make sure that all links are correctly established to other Web sites

10. Advertise the Web page to others and encourage to look and send feedback by e mail

(8) The computer hardware and software needed to create a Web homepage containing both sound and pictures are microphone, scanning machine, digital camera, disc of clip art, and graphic software package






QUESTION # 10


One of the key issues associated with the development of a Web site is getting people to visit it. If you were developing a Web site, how would you inform others about it and make it interesting enough that they would return and also tell others about it?


ANSWER

In order to do so, some of the ways that could encourage others to return to our Web site is to offer free sites, through Internet Service Providers that included limited web space and Web hosting. Web hosting services provide space on their web site for individuals and businesses that do not have the financial resources to have their own Web site .We could also advertise our Web page to others and encourage them to look , comment, and send feedback by e-mail.

Besides the above, in order to make it more lively and interesting, the Web page should also incorporate music and perhaps cartoons which is of a continuous series which anyone who serves the internet would be able to recall and replay the article.

What is important in the Web site are articles that is contemporary in nature that attracts most servers when they surf the net. Additional features such as an individual’s experiences on real happenings could be of interest to the people.

Lastly, we could also use a set of tools to make appealing designs.













UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA



INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR MANAGERS

( TM 5013 )



MATRIX N0. 85983



AZIZI IBRAHIM AL=HAJ





ASSIGNMENT TOPIC : E-COMMERCE



PROBLEM SOLVING EXERCISES


NOS # 3,










PREPARED FOR


ASSOC PROF AZIZI ZAKARIA



QUESTION NO # 3

Do research to learn more about the use of WAP and other specifications being developed to support m-commerce. Briefly describe the specifications you uncover. Who is behind the development of these standards? Which standards seem to be gaining the broadest acceptance? Prepare a one to two page report for your instructor.


ANSWER

The WAP or the wireless application protocol is a standard set of specifications for internet applications that run on handheld, wireless devices. WAP is used to connect cell phones and other devices to the internet. It is a key underlying technology of mobile commerce.(m-commerce). The m-commerce relies on the use of wireless devices , such as personal digital assistants (PDA), cell phones, and smart phones, to place orders and conduct businesses.

WAP was conceived by four companies , that is Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia, and Unwired Planet,( now Phone .com). It is now supported by an entire industry association of 200 vendors of wireless devices, services and tools. In the future, devices and service systems based on WAP will be able to interoperate.

To ensure user friendliness, the interface between the wireless device and its user must improve to the point that it is nearly as easy to purchase an item on a wireless device as it is to purchase it on a PC. In addition, network speed must improve so that users do not become frustrated. Security is also a major concern, with two major issues, that is the security of the transmission itself and the trust that the transaction is being made with the intended party. Encryption can be employed to provide secure transmission. Digital certificates can be employed to ensure that transactions are made between the intended parties.

In geographical areas with nearly ubiquitous network coverage, adoption of m-commerce is much more likely than in areas with spotty service. Regions with newer, high speed wireless networks have a faster response time, making mobile transactions faster and more convenient. As a result, the acceptance of m-commerce is currently geographically dependent.

The handheld devices used for e-commerce do have limitations that complicates their use. Their screen are small and may be capable of displaying only a few lines of text. Their input capabilities are limited to a few buttons, so entering data can be tedious and error prone. They also have less processing power and less bandwidth than desktop computers, which are usually hardwired to a high speed LAN. For these reasons it is currently impossible to directly access most Web sites with a handheld device. Web developers must rewrite Web applications so that users with handheld devices can access them. In view of this, to address the limitations of wireless devices, the industry has taken a standardized effort for their internet communications. As a result, WAP came into existence as a standard set of specifications for internet applications that run on handheld, wireless devices.



UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA



INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR MANAGERS

( TM 5013 )



MATRIX N0. 85983



AZIZI IBRAHIM AL=HAJ





ASSIGNMENT TOPIC : INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM



CASE STUDIES


CASE # 2










PREPARED FOR


ASSOC PROF AZIZI ZAKARIA




CASE NO. 2


DISCUSSION QUESTIONS


QUESTION # 1


What features are essential in an expert system responsible to the safety of something as potentially dangerous as a nuclear power plant?

ANSWER

The essential features in an expert system that is responsible to the safety of something as potentially dangerous as a nuclear power plant is in the software products and services itself that enable organizations to automate aspects of their operations that required the direct attention of human experts. The system called FT-Free automatically create probabilistic safety analysis (PSA) fault free models that represent potential failure modes for critical plant processes. The system’s built-in expertise assessed the risks of various types of problems that can adversely impact the plant’s reliability and safety.

Another feature of the system is that it can do in minutes what used to take days or weeks and it is really a huge time saver. Besides that, it provides consistent results reached independently that was previously lacking.

The new system provides “unique abilities to intuitively capture process engineering knowledge using such techniques as connectable object models and rule based logic”. The system created a solution that greatly reduces the time and effort it takes to make important plant decisions and that is broadly applicable across industries in which safety analysis is critical.


QUESTION # 2

What characteristics of the process of probabilistic safety analysis do you think led TEPCO to believe that it could be automated in an expert system


ANSWER

TEPCO uses a technique known as probabilistic safety analysis or PSA, a process that enables engineers to assess the probability and consequences of potential plant safety related problems. This technique is a popular assessment in the nuclear power, chemical and aerospace industries. PSA creates and interprets fault-tree diagrams, a graphical model illustrating the pathways within a system.


Following the pathways through the system can identify weaknesses and point of failure. A safety
engineer might take days or weeks to work through a fault tree analysis. However, it was because of this tedious process that struck TEPCO management for automation. TEPCO turned to Gensym Corporation to assist it in developing an expert system working hand in hand with PSA.




CRITICAL THINKING QUESTION


QUESTION # 3


What other industries would benefit from a product such as FT-Free? Why?


ANSWER

Other industries that would benefit from such product are :

1. Oil and Gas industries
2. Independent Power Plant
3. Heavy Machinery and Warfare Equipments
4. Aviation and Shipping Industries

These industries would benefit from the so called FT-Free system because they involved very high capital outlay and expenditure and at the same time, the risks are very colossal that only the Government or a wealthy businessmen is able to perform this responsibility. The human factor is also important because it involved high technology that must be frequently checked, monitored to ensure safety and to avoid major disaster. Thus, this expert system enabled the management to save costs and expedite daily activities in order to gain efficiency.















QUESTION # 4

Why do you think TEPCO decided to package and market its FT-Free system to other power companies? Is this a wise move in terms of competitive advantage?


ANSWER

Firstly, TEPCO is in the electrical power industry and since the nature of business with the other companies are similar, they could exchange and acquire the experience and knowledge of the other companies on the accessibility, the problems and difficulties faced within their fraternity. Since the nature of risks is very large and enormous, most independent company want to prioritize their specialty in the respective areas. The same is true for TEPCO.

As they are the ones who are experiencing the problems within their corporation, that is with regards to the assessment on the probability and consequences of potential plant safety related problems, .they found a solution in Gensym Corporation which will help and assist them on the safety features. As such, TEPCO has a comparative and competitive advantage over the other competitors. The reason was because to indulge in this system, it is very costly and TEPCO, being a pioneer in this, is in fact wise to market this system within the same industry.

By doing this, TEPCO can enhanced and improvised on the system further and at all times, TEPCO will always be ahead of their competitors. The safety features, the defects or failure, the speed and reliability are the main criteria that will be looked upon by other power companies when being approached on the same issue.

Since they are the pioneer in this system, TEPCO can specialized in this area , thus creating a competitive advantage over the others. By doing this, they are in fact enjoying economies of scale and
it is much cheaper for the other companies to purchase the expert system from them rather than doing it by themselves.

Injudicious Numbers



To explain the gridlock of cases in the courts, look no further than the statistics. Malaysia has 2.4 judges per million people, compared with the UK’s 50.09 and litigious America’s 107. India, poorer by far, has four times the number officers on the Bench for the same unit of population. If the law is an ass, Charles Dickens would have been hard-pressed to describe the country’s braying beast of burden. To the hundreds of thousands of new cases added to the registry in the first six month of the year, an equal number is brought forward from previous years. At the present rate of disposal, the backlog will be permanent milestone around the legal system’s neck, heaping insult upon the injury done to the judiciary in 1988.


Just about every logistical shuffle has been tried, including the ruse of fixing the backlog in 2000 and eliminating it as a matter of urgency. Many a mildewed case file has been dusted off and decides on as results. But the clearing of decomposing litigation has only reduced the backlog in term of vintage, not volume. With their caseloads accumulating relentlessly, it is hard to expect the same personnel to drum the gavel faster than they already have. The only solution left is to appoint more judges.


That isn’t easy as it seems, however. Delays are often due to the complexity of cases, which means that those elevated to hear them must possess the required experience. Commercial disputes can be especially slow-going, given the limited resources available in the judicial hierarchy. It makes sense therefore to put into effect Chief Justice Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim’s proposal to bring back judges from retirement, and to seriously consider the Kuala Lumpur Bar’s suggestion of keeping some old hands “in reserve”. In the meantime, Ahmad Faiurz should speed up promotions based on merit rather than seniority, as he has insisted. And the Government should do the same for appointments to the lower courts.


“Justice delayed is justice denied” isn’t the only principle in jeopardy because of an undermanned judiciary, though that is dreadful enough. The country’s ability to pull in foreign investment will depend increasingly on how well it runs its courts, particularly in civil suits. Vision 2020 could be blindsided by a bare-bones institution of law and order. If Malaysia wants to ascend to developed-country status, it must multiply the number of judges by at least a factor of 10.

MULTICULTURAL BRITAIN EMBRACES
ENFORCED ASSIMILATION



THE mounting campaign against multiculturalism by politicians, pundits and the press, in Britain and across Europe, is neither innocent nor innocuous. It is a prelude to a policy of one dominant culture, one set of values, one nativist loyalty – a policy of assimilation. Yet it is passed off as a virtuous attempt at Integration, deliberately and dishonestly conflating the two terms.


To use integration and assimilation as synonyms is not just to misuse language and confuse concepts, but to dissimulate practice. Integration provides for the coexistence of minority cultures with the majority culture; assimilation requires the absorption of minority cultures into the majority culture. Assimilation is for a monocultural, even a monofaith, society; integration is for a multicultural, pluralist society.


France, Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany, are opposed to ethnic minorities having their own cultural expression – be it of dress, language or values. The problem in Britain is that the Government has allowed these European preoccupations, which come out of totally different histories and struggles, to contaminate our debate.


Assimilation was something that Britain consciously rejected in favour of 40 years ago. In the former Labour home secretary Roy Jenkin’s classic definition, integration is not a flattening process of assimilation but equal opportunity accompanied by cultural diversity in an atmosphere of mutual tolerance.

In practice in Britain, however, racial discrimination in employment, housing, social services and so on did not make for equal opportunity, and mutual tolerance was undermined by a populist media and opportunist politicians. Only cultural diversity was left. But cultural diversity or cultural expression came not from government edit but from the joint fight against racial discrimination by Asians, African-Caribbean’s and whites creating unity in diversity.


It was that unified struggle, across communities, ethnic groups, faiths and locales, that led to the Government’s anti-discrimination legislation in the Race Relations Acts of 1965,1968 and 1976. And that understanding of multiculturalism, in the early 1970s encouraged schools to teach children to respect one another’s cultures and celebrate one another’s festivals.


But those very successes helped make multiculturalism government policy, thereby institutionalising it. In the process, multiculturalism was stripped of its anti-racist roots and remit, no longer an outcome of the struggle for equality from below, but of government policy imposed from above. And as the anti racist component of the struggle ebbed, multiculturalism as policy began to degenerate into is called culturalism or ethnicism. It became part and parcel of a competitive fight for local and central favours, and moved the struggle from the streets to the town halls.


If cultures exclude one another, through a hierarchy of racial discrimination, multiculturalism becomes regressive; it is only in combating racism that multiculturalism becomes progressive. The fight for multiculturalism and the fight against racism go hand in hand. Anti racism is the element that makes multiculturalism dynamic and progressive.


The common struggle against racism in the workplace and the community politicised multiculturalism and let to integration. When anti-racism was taken out of the equation, as it was in 1980s Britain, all that was left was culturalism and ethnicism. The result was cultural and ethnic enclaves with their own cultural and ethnic politics.


Cultural politics was beginning to taint left thinking – attracting, in particular, young black people in the universities and removing them from the anti-racist struggle. And the feminist movement was now into identity politics and the “personal is political”.


Who you were ( female, disabled, gay, single mother ) was itself a political statement, not what you did. Racism was removed from its institutional context and made personal, undermining the anti-racist struggle and promoting culturalism.


Culturalism, disguised as multiculturalism, is now used by the European Governments as a whipping boy to enforce assimilation, by law if necessary. Events like 9/11 and 7/7 provided the excuse; the politics of fear provided the mandate.


In Britain, the signs were already there in the official reaction to the 2001 riots in Oldham, Burnley and Bradford – when the disaffection between Asians and whites was blamed on Asian self-separatism, without even acknowledging that successive government politicise of culturalism, combined with their neglect of the inner cities, had created the enclaves that turned Asians against whites and vice-versa.


Thus, the government’s thinking this time wasn’t on the lines of “ethnic disadvantage”, but of too much ethnic advantage, too much “multiculturalism”, and not enough integration ( read assimilation ) or the more euphemistic term, “community cohesion”.


Now after 7/7, despite the discovery that the suicide bombers were home-ground and wholly British, the thinking in Britain is to embrace the backward Islamophobic discourse issuing from mainland Europe.


Cultural pluralism has gone too far; it threatens our values and safety. A line has to be drawn on difference. Ethnic minorities have now, in the domestic context of the war on terror, effectively to subsume their cultural heritage within Britishness.

NEXT LEVEL OF BROADCAST



The migration to digital technology opens up new opportunities for RV and radio broadcasters. According to Broadcast Australia’s vice president Asia Chris Jaeger, by going digital, information can be delivered in audio, video and data formats, providing broadcasters with more options in presenting their content.

He says, TV services can also be rolled out on other forms such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs), which allow people to watch TV anywhere, anytime. With higher viewer ship, more advertisers will be keen to come in, and this will offer broadcasters a greater revenue source, he adds.

Another advantage of digital broadcast is more channels can be used.

“ A typical TV channel can broadcast one channel. But with digital technology, you can broadcast six channels plus data. And for digital radio,, you can broadcast audio at CD quality and send pictures like traffic updates on the little screen”. Unlike satellite services, digital broadcast via terrestrial network can counter the worst weather conditions, he points out. More interestingly, digital technology will allow interactive viewing. Even though the delivery mechanism is one way, the system is backed by the mobile phone system. Viewers can use the SMS and the Internet to interact with the broadcaster.

The new broadcaster system, for example, Digital Video Broadcasting Handheld (DVB-H) can be connected to content providers and e-commerce gateways to promote interactivity. Jaeger explained that the use of digital technology in broadcasting can also helped to narrow the digital gap even faster.

With digital broadcasting, an array of information and data can be channeled to viewers, not just TV programmes. For countries like Malaysia, where computer penetration is still low , the TV which is more widely deployed, is seen as the best plastform to address the digital gap issue. Unlke Internet protocol TV, digital TV can be broadcasted to the masses with no limitation. “ It is one to many technology,” says Jaeger. With the digital TV platform, information can be broadcasted to people in the rural areas who normally don’t have PCs.

IMPLEMENTATION

There are few ways in which digital TV can be deployed. Some countries deploy it as a replacement to the analogue system. Many countries will use it to disseminate government information via datacasting where the digital TV platform is used to deliver instead of normal TV programmes – information,
which can be text, news, camera info, government info etc. The beauty of it is, once you have built the transmission infrastructure, you can apply the service at a very small cost. And for those who have a set-top box, they can have free access to the information.

To ensure that digital TV and radio implementation takes off smoothly, Jaeger believes that there need to be a common understanding of the infrastructure needs because a common infrastructure can be deployed for all digital broadcasts, including analogue, so the overall costs of transmission is much lower and there is better usage of the spectrum.

Contrary to what many people think, the Government does not need to take down the existing infrastructure to use digital technology. What is needed is a common national infrastructure, but using much of existing infrastructure if possible and expand it to allow digital services to be deployed in the most efficient way. If that can be done, an excellent platform is built for future deployment of digital services.

Broadcasting Australia is currently conducting a number of trials as part of its extensive national digital TV network rollout. These include the high profile DVB-H trial in Sydney and the recently launched interactive datacasting trial using Multimedia Home Platform technology.

The company is now in discussion with a number of parties in Malaysia to help implement a national digital broadcast infrastructure.

LIVE – SAVING ORGANS



WHILE advances in medical science have made transplant surgery on increasingly effective form of treatment of chronic diseases, a major problem has been meeting the demand for body parts. Patients waiting for kidneys and other organs have been increasing in far greater number than the supply. While this is a worldwide problem, the shortage of life-saving organs seems to be especially acute in Malaysia.


The organ donation rate in Malaysia has been very much lower than many other countries - less than one donor for every million people, compared to eight in Singapore and 35 in Spain. While the National Transplant Registry has more than 90,000 pledges in its book, what is worrying is the decline in the desire to donate, as reflected in the fall from about 9,000 pledges in 2004 to fewer than 6,000 last year. More alarming is the drop in the actual number of donors – only 13 last year for kidney transplants compared to 16 in 2004 and 25 to 30 per year in the period between 2001 and 2003. The lack of local donors has many Malaysians to go to other countries for transplants, always at great expense and sometimes with fatal consequences. Some have died from botched kidney transplants in China.


Since the efforts to increase the donor pool seem to have had only minimal impact on the number of organs actually available for transplants, it is not hard to see why the Health Ministry is looking at the possibility of allowing the use of living donors, in addition to the standard practice of decease-donor organs, for certain kinds of transplants such as kidneys, livers and pancreas. With the list of patients awaiting transplants growing longer each year, and since there are no religious objections, there is indeed every reason to increase the available donor pool through the acceptable medical practice of using live donors.


But since there is always a risks in donating a kidney or other organs and tissues, donors need to be fully informed of all the hazards. There should, therefore, be adequate safeguards in the revised Human Tissues Act to prevent minors and others who are incapable of making informed decisions from being forced to give up their organs. There should also be rigorous procedures and standards for transplants and strict regulations to prevent the sale of organs and other abuses. The last thing we need is a health tourism industry which thrives on a black market in body parts.

HERBS THAT TURN BACK THE CLOCK

The passions for herbal remedies just keep growing. In US, sales have topped a billion dollars a year. One big appeal is the claim that some natural remedies can alleviate symptoms of ageing. But does science back this up? In many cases there is only anecdotal evidence that these supplements work as advertised. Still, some herbs show genuine promise as age fighters.

Here are few herbs that may help you feel younger and protect you from age-related disease.

Red clover and soy

These herbs contain phytoestrogens, plant base compounds that mimic the body’s own estrogen. Like this naturally produce hormone, phytoestrogens seem to protect against many age-related disease and lessen some symptoms of menopause.

In a recent study at NY University Medical Centre, subjects reported that their hot flashes and night sweats were reduce by more than half after taking red-clover capsules. Moreover, unlike synthetic estrogen, the phytoestrogens in red clover didn’t promote growth of the uterine lining or increase the risk of uterine and endometrial cancer.

Other research published in the annals of medicine suggests that in Japan, where people consume large quantities of plants containing phytoestrogens - such as soy – there is a much lower incidence of heart attack than in the US, as well as lower incidences of breast, uterine and ovarian cancers. Scientists reporting in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that one type of soy phytoestrogens seems to offer some protection against heart disease and bone loss to the spine.

Add phytoestrogens to your diet by eating more tofu, miso, soy milk, flaxseed, chickpeas and lentils, or following precautions, by taking supplements.

Vitex ( chaste berry )

When marketing manager Judith Galas began to experience the emotional swings and flushes that often accompany menopause, her doctor recommended another herbal remedy – vitex. Within a month, the symptoms is disappeared.

Vitex seems to coax the body into producing more progesterone, which suppresses the tissue growth while reducing such growth enhancing hormone as testosterone and prolactin. Vitex comes in pills, powders and liquid extracts.

A study in Germany in 1997 found that vitex relieved a variety of PMS symptoms. A Czech study showed the herbs help minimize premenstrual breast tenderness and pain.

Alpha - lipoic acid

One of the most intriguing supplements isn’t actually an herb. Alpha - lipoic acid, originally discovered in the potato, is a nutrient that promotes growth. Every organism uses it, but no herb or food source contains very much. So scientist chemically synthesize it. In an informal study of 35 men and women, Dr Nicholas Perricone, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University Medical Centre who has created a topical 26 alpha - lipoic acid solution, found that his product can minimize lines, wrinkles and other age-related changes in the skin. “First we saw a decrease in inflammation, so puffiness around the eyes went down”, says Perricone. Within a couple of weeks, darkness under the eyes started to even out. In another study of more concentrated alpha - lipoic acid solution, subjects that scars became less visible after eight weeks.

Various studies suggest that alpha - lipoic acid also benefits the heart. Lester Packer of the University of California, Berkeley, found that animals who received the supplement in their diets were more likely to recover from heart attacks than those who didn’t. and a 1997 German study showed that 800 mg of alpha - lipoic acid per day significantly improve cardiac function among diabetes.

Bilberry and blueberry

In world war 2, British Royal Air Force pilots were encouraged to eat bilberry preserves before night missions, to improve their vision.

“ There are a lot of unsaturated fatty acids in the retina, and these are highly susceptible to free-radical damage ”, notes Christopher Hobbs, a licensed acupuncturist and author of herbal remedies for dummies. “ Bilberry seems to concentrate in that area ”. free radicals are molecules produced during metabolism that injured cells. Antioxidants neutralize these molecules. Scientist are studying whether the antioxidant capacity of bilberry prevents macular degeneration and other age-related eye disease in this way.

The deep blue colour of the bilberry, blueberry and huckleberry comes from anthocyanidins, flavonoids that scientist say are key to the berries’ beneficial effects. Flavonoids may reduce inflammation, hypertension and allergic reactions. They also seem to fight microbes and destroy harmful oxidants in the body.

Ron Prior, chief of the phytochemical laboratory at the US Department Agriculture’s Human Nutrition Research Centre on Ageing at Tufts University, thinks the berry may also help keep our brain young. “ Because the brain consumes and processes so much oxygen, it produces a lot of free radicals, and is most susceptible to oxidative damage ”. The antioxidants in blueberries might mitigate that effect.

Ginkgo Biloba

Numerous studies show that the leaf of the ginkgo tree appears to alleviate some age-related memory loss. A French study in the mid-80s of 8 women given 600 mg of the herb showed that heir short term memories significantly improved. Unfortunately, the herbs hasn’t been shown to stop the progression of the Alzheimer’s disease.

The herb also improves circulation. Scientists in Germany gave patients with a painful circulatory leg condition 40 mg of ginkgo, three times a day. After 3 months, the ginkgo group was able to walk significantly farther than a control group, and with less reported pain.

In a French study, the herb showed promises in treating a certain type of hearing loss. In another it helped protect against loss of sight from diabetic complications. Whether these results are due to the increased circulation or some other effect of the herb isn’t known. In any case, says Hobbs, “ It may be a way of preserving your eyes, hearing and mental alertness ”.

Because of its effect on circulation, doctors advise that people taking aspirin or other blood thinners should avoid ginkgo biloba.

GENETIC MAPPING

Genetic screening is being hailed as the next breakthrough in medical history. Its impact is forecast to be as profound as that of antibiotics in the battle against infectious disease. It has major omplications for the providers of life and health insurance.

This is not a prediction of the future: genetic screening is already happening. Scienctists are trying to identify the locations and functions
of genes in the body - mapping the genome - and to track down the those responsible for disorders with genetic components.

UK insurers have been under pressure from the medical profession and the Parliamentary Science & Technology Select Committee. Other countries restrict insurers use of genetic information already, by a self imposed voluntary code of conduct or by government legislation.

Perhaps the main message was that genetic science will bring many benefits - early diagnosis of disease, detecting individuals at risks of contracting certain conditions and the development of more effective treatments - but it will also generate many problems. Most of this are morals and psychological considerations. Some of them are related to insurance, others are not.


DIFFERENT PROGNOSIS

Researchers are finding that what used to be regarded as a single disease actually consists of many sub-types, each with a different prognosis. Genetic susceptibility will be the basis for future pharmaceutical design. Drugs are poisons which target specific cells and dosages have to be strictly controlled. Some chemicals work and others do not; some carry side effects that only affect certain people. The objective of pharmaceutical genetics will be to match chemicals to the people who will best respond to them.

The focus will be on treating the disease that exists in the individual rather than correcting genetic defects in future generations. One way to deliver a drug is via viruses which infiltrate and infect the target cell., but the body is designed to reject them. Gene therapy will be able to prompt a cell to produce a wanted protein or destroy an unwanted one, such as HIV. It will also be capable of delivering a gene which can recognise an abnormal cell and then reject it - powers which should be effective in the treatment of cancer. Unlike chemotherapy, the treatment would not pose a high risk of damaging healthy bone marrow.

Gene-based therapy is already been tested on patients who have cystic fibrosis. This is fairly common. In 1995, application to the membrnes inside the nose was shown to bring some short term relief from symptoms. This was followed by a multi-dose trial, and the next stage will involve delivery to the lungs. However, these experiments are for gene transfer rather than true therapy, which is still some way in the future.

There are no short cuts. Systematic, rather than localised, treatment will be available in future but this will require considerable research. In the longer term, the medical profession will be able to use gene therapy to prevent specific diseases, perhaps delivering drugs to the foetus.

Cost effective mass screening is still some way off but it will come. Selective tests can now identify certain genetic conditions enabling treatment to be started early on. One is the haemochromatosis; a disorder affecting the way iron is transported around the body. Undetected and untreated, it can trigger diabetes or liver failure. Alzheimer’s disease can also be detected early on by genetic testing. Early diagnosis improves the prognosis of certain disorders and reduces mortality from them.

Geneticisation would take this several stages further but would it be socially acceptable? To give too much credence to genetics could pose the risk of underestimating the role of the environment – as to smoking, personal hygiene and pollution – to disease development.

There could be discrimination against those who carry a medical condition such as sickle cell anaemia, who are symptomless or have merely taken the test. There is an extreme view that some insurers could apply pressure, leading towards selective abortions or eugenics(selective breeding). Those given the all=clear might relax their lifestyles and put themselves at risk from developing other diseases, while people who test positive might adopt a fatalistic approach.


STRICT CONTROLS

Genetic testing is strictly controlled in the hands of the medical profession and skilled counseling is available. However, it seems that the public, in the future, will be able to buy their own home tests from a chemist. What safeguards and guidance would there be for them?

Some members of the medical profession are concerned about something much more immediate. They argue that people will be deterred from screening, knowing they will have to inform their insurers of the results. Would the information be included in the NHS records, where it could be accessed by underwriters, claims managers and other parties. Would this affect the trust that exists between doctors and patients?

Some people who have been screened for Huntingdon’s disease asked the testing centre not to pass on the results to their GP’s practices, where insurers could apply for access to it. Some people have even resorted to using pseudonyms. Insurers need to consider their responsibilities to individual patients.

Insurers in the UK have agreed not to ask applicants to be tested genetically as a condition for life or healthcare insurance cover. However, if they have been screened for any other reason, they will have to disclose the results to their insurers.


GOING FURTHER

Other countries go much further. In the Netherlands, insurers have abided by a moratorium or code of conduct for the last six years. For total cover within strictly controlled limits, it was agreed not to ask for genetic tests or for the results of any that had been carried out. Insurers are now to go further and not ask for any information about an applicant’s family history. Parliament is planning to incorporate the terms of the moratorium into Dutch national law.

The fast evolving science of genetics poses a challenge for the insurance industry and it is something that is here to stay.

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME


The old joke that only children are able to work video timers has a distinct ring of truth to it. Each year, and sometimes it seems every month, we are bombarded with amazing new electronoc devices which promise to revolutionise the way we live and work.

Web browsers, electronic mail, faxes, to e-mail converters, on-line quote systems, video conferencing, teleworking- the list is endless. The only problem is trying to understand how these darn things operate. Work takes on as depression new slant if your inability to reply to a request sent by electronic mail means someone else gets the business.

Forget fax machines- with the end of the millennium in sight, it is quite safe to say that the all-electronic office is well and truly here. Thw challenge is to master what is on offer today to ensure that businesses are ready for what technology will offer tomorrow.

Navigating the maze of new technology, though, is not easy. Who knows which of the latest electronic gadgets is going to be around in six months let alone six years time.

It has escaped nobody's notice that the Motorola digital flip phones
resemble a Star Trek communicator and in fact, work roughly along the same principles. But other technological breakthroughs do not have so certain a future.


SHARING NETWORKS

Computer networks have allowed an office full of employees to share the same printer for years. The new thing about them is the type of network that is emerging as a world standard and the fact that virtually every new technological advance is connected to this standard in some way, so it is best to get your head around it now.

A good analogy for a computer network is a railway and your computer is a station. It is connected to other computers by tracks of a standard size or protocol. Each passenger is a bit of data and they are carried around the rail network in trains, that represent packets of computer information.

Anyone who has travelled on the railways of other countroes will know that the distance detween the tracks is different, the voltage which the trains run on varies and the method by which electricity is supplied to the engine also differs.

So it is with computer networks. However, as thye Chinese say, order has come out of chaos in the shape of the internet. Originally designed to provide the American military with a sturdy nuclear proof computer system, the Internet has been adopted worldwide as the standard way to shuffle around certain types of computer information.

It is not used by phone companies to carry your calls or by television companies to transmit programmes but in theory it could. The only thing preventing this is the fact that , currently, the Internet backs the capacity to carry this much electronic information.

The best thing about the Internet is that it does not matter if you are using PC, a Mac or even a Unix workstation, as pretty much everything can work on every platform. The growing importance of the Internet cannot be underestimated. Internet television channels are being set up dedicated to the food, winen travel and horticultural industries. The problem is how to join the global network and get this wealth of information onto your computer.


GETTING CONNECTED

Besides a powerful desktop PC, you need a spare phone line and a modem that converts computer signals into squeaks and whistles. Speed measured in kilobytes per second is of the essence.

Next, satellite television subscribers will be able to use their dishes to receive Internet information at extreme.ly high speeds, while retaining the use of their slower phones to transmit anything back.

Being trialled in the US now are cable modems that offer near instantaneous communication speeds via fibre optics. This is the ultimate solution .

Connecting to the Internet is getting easier by the day and you have the option to connect to the service provider of your choice. Once you have the Internet connection, costing is much less than a fax machine, the price of sending am e-mail anywhere in the world is is neligible and it will arrive in minutes. Compare this to the cost of faxing a 10 page document to Hong Kong at daytime telephone rates. You can e-mail someone a simple text message or send them a picture, sound file,, movie, computer programme or anything that can be stored on your computer hard disk.

Using a clever piece of software like the Adobe Acrobat, you can create a formatted reports and documents with full colour graphics which will be displayed exactly how they are designed on computer.


FACE TO FACE

In video conferencing, you can hear and see the person you are talking to in real time. For the cost of a local phone call to your Internet service provider, you can hold video conferencing sessions with global Net users in real time and in full colour. Actually, it is not that simple. Although most computers have a microphone slot to take care of your voice, you will need to invest in a small camera, video conferencing software and a fast Internet connection. The problem with seeing who you are talking to is that they can see you too!!!!!


THE NEXT BIG THING.......

On line banking along with the so called smart cards, promise to turn any kind of physical financial transaction a thing of the past. In the not too distant future, customers will be able to download their money via their home computers onto plastic cards which they can present in shops like cash. Trials are underway in certain countries. It will not be long.

Digital Video Disk (DVD) had already replaced audio CDs, VHS videos and CD Roms which in the earlier days were not thought of.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BIDDING
OF PROPERTY AT A PUBLIC AUCTION

Basically, there are two types of public property auction in Malaysia, and anyone who intends to bid at a public auction should know and be aware of what additional costs and expenses that he might incur, over and above the purchase.

JUDICIAL AUCTION

The first type is regulated to the National Land Code(NLC). This will apply to property with title and charged to a bank. When the borrower defaults in his repayment to the bank, the bank will apply to the High Court (land registry title) or the Land Administrator(land office title) for an order to sell the property by way of a public auction.This type of auction is often referred as a judicial auction.

In a judicial auction, there are certain statutory requirements under the NLC relating to the reserve price, conditions of sale, mode of payment, service on owner and public advertisement of the sale, must be complies with the bank, before and after an order of sale is made. The NLC regulates the application of the purchase money arising from any sale in a judicial auction, in particular, requiring that the quit rent payable to the state and outgoings payable to the local authority, be paid from the purchase money.

An owner of the property or the purchaser in a judicial auction, who suffers any loss or damage by reason of any act, omission, neglect, error or default arising from these staturory requirements, is entitled to compensation.


NON JUDICIAL AUCTION

The second type is not regulated by any legislation and applies to a property for which no title has been issued. This is usually the case for flats, apartments or condominiums. Since there is no title, no charge can be created under the NLC. As a security for a loan, the purchaser or borrower will absolutely assign the rights over the property to the bank. When he defaults on his repayment, the bank is contractually entitled to sell the property by way of a public auction, without having to apply for an order for sale. This second type of auction is referred to as a non-judicial auction.

This write up will focus on the pitfalls that may be faced by a successful bidder in a non-judicial auction(the purchaser) as the minimum statutory provisions regulating a judicial auction do not apply to a non-judicial auction. The bank determines the reserve price and appoints a licensed auctioneer who will issue a Proclamation of Sale. The auction will be held under the auspices of the bank's solicitors and the auctioneer.
Everything will be contractual, and and understanding such contractual obligations and liabilities of the purchaser is of paramount importance.

THE PROCLAMATION

The first thing an intending bidder at a non-judicial auction needs to do is to obtain a copy of the Proclamation and Conditions of Sale(the Proclamation). There willl be fine print that says" intending bidders are advised to inspect the properties,seek legal advise, and conduct a land search and make enquiries with the developer of the property on the terms of its consent to the sale." The main problem is that most intending bidders do not bother to do so, until after they have successfully bid for the property.


TIME FOR PAYMENT

The purchaser is usually required to pay 10% of the purchase price immediately after the fall of the hammer. Some Proclamations stipulate 90 days for payment of the balance , others stipulate 120 days. Some Proclamations also state that no extension of time will be allowed, others will say extension may be granted at the absolute discretion of the bank and if so granted will be subject to payment of interest.

In case of property without title, 90 or 120 days is usually sufficient time if the purchaser is paying in cash. If a loan is required, the 90 or 120 days may not be sufficient, as the conveyancing procedure is extremely cumbersome, with lots of exchange of undertakings. If the property is a low cost, 120 days is definitely insufficient, as the purchaser will be required to apply for consent of the appropriate authority, which usually takes more than 90 days to be obtained.Having to pay interest for an extension will be an additional costs.


DEVELOPER'S CONSENT

Since the title has not been issued, the developer's consent is important so that when the title is finally issued, the developer will know who should receive the transfer.Nearly all Proclamations stipulate that it is the purchaser's responsibility to obtain the developer's consent an to pay any fee charged by the developer. In some cases the developer may appoint a solicitor to handle the consent, and the purchaser may be liable to pay the said solicitors fees. Such fees will be an additional costs.

OUTSTANDING SERVICE CHARGES, QUIT RENT, ASSESSMENTS AND OTHER OUTGOINGS

Developers don't usually grant its consent unless all outstanding service charges are settled. Some Proclamations are quite fair in that any arrears of service charges, quit rent and assessment up to the date of sale shall be paid out of the purchase money. Many Proclamation stipulate that arrears of service charges and utilities bill ( water, electricity and sewerage ) shall borne to the purchaser. In case, a purchaser successfully bid for a property at RM 128 000, and outstanding service charges was about RM 40 000. These outstandings will be an additional cost.

FEES PAYABLE TO BANK'S SOLICITORS

When the balance purchase price is paid, the bank will sign a deed of assignment in favour of the purchaser. Most Proclamation will require the purchaser to pay the fees of the bank's solicitors for vetting or preparing the assignment and this will be another additional cost.

VACANT POSSESSION

Most important of all, a bidder really needs to know whether the property is vacant or occupied. Nearly all the Proclamations stipulate that there has no obligation to give vacant possession and that the purchaser shall take possession at his own cost. In many cases, a bidder wouldn't be able to inspect the property as the main door would be locked. The auctioneer will say he doesn't have the key.

Everyone assumes that the property is vacant.After payment of the balance price, the purchaser will need to break the lock or maybe also the door. Once inside the property, he may find that someone is occuppying it as a tenant. Having to pay for a new lock or a door or several other locks and doors, and having to initiate eviction proceedings to obtain possesion from the occupant, can be a very substantial additional cost.

These are some of the important things which an intending bidder ought to look out for. If in doubt it's always prudent to consult a solicitor before you make a bid.

PROMOTING USE OF RENEWABLE FUEL


The transport, manufacturing and construction sectors are expected to soon use 5 per cent palm based cooking oil to power up diesel-engine vehicles, boilers in factories and heavy machineries at building sites.

This forms two of the five thrusts under the National Biofuel Policy to promote the use of renewable fuel.

The other three strategies are meant to increase investment to commercialising biofuel technologies: introduce usage of Envo Diesel locally for cleaner environment ; and increase production and export of metyhl ester to boost the country's RM30 billion annual palm oil export.

In a feature article in the Economic Report 06/07, the Government is said to be strengthening the National Biofuel Policy which is expected to accord various investment incentives to encougare production and export of methyl ester, the scientific name for biodiesel or B100.

Although Malaysia is blessed with natural resources like crude oil and natural gas, these depleting resources and rising demand has made it necessary for the Government to turn to renewable fuels.

The rising cost of imported crude oil is burdening the Government with heavier subsidies as it struggles to keep retail fuel prices at low levels for public benefit.

Under the 8th Malaysia Plan (2001-2005) and the Third Outline Perspective Plan (2001-2010), the Government formulated policies to encourage use of renewable fuels like vegetable oils, biomass, solar and hydro to subtitute depleting fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal.

The article said that the Government aims to reduce the country's dependence on fossil fuel by 500,000 tonnes per year and its subsidy burden by turning to palm oil as a renewable fuel.

Research by government agency Malaysia Palm Oil Board showed palm-based cooking oil can be mixed with ordinary diesel to fuel up buses, lorries and fishing boats.

If pure cooking oil were poured into the tank, the engine will be clogged up by the sticky substance in the edible oil called glycerine. However, if only a small portion like 5-20% of cooking oil is blended with ordinary diesel, the bus can run along fine without any engine modification.

THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT

If you work the night shift, notoriously known as the 'graveyard' shift,you may find it impossible to feel well-rested, having to sleep during the day. This findings will give you some tips on how to be able to work the night shift and get a good night's sleep during the day.

Experts now realise that sleep loss is dangerous and that night shift work has different effects on sleep, health and work performance. Night shift workers may have increased sleep disorders,gastrointestinal complaints' ulcers, heart problems, high blood pressure, depression, mood swings, fatigue and substance abuse problems.

Most people need eight hours of sleep a day to feel rested. Parts of the night's sleep are spent in light sleep stages and the other in deep sleep stages. The deep sleep portion is the most important time of the sleep process where you nourish and restore your brain and body functions.

Without the deep sleep you will not feel rested. Throughout the night we go back and forth from deep to light sleep. We stay in the deep for about 45 minutes and then if we are deeply disrupted we come back into light sleep.

It is normal to have 45 minutes deep sleep cycles in an eight hour period. Anything that upsets these cycles will cause sleep problems.

If you work the night shift and sleep during the day, there are many things that can disturb your deep sleep and awaken you during your light sleep phase. Noise is the biggest problem. Daytime sleepers have to contend with noisy neighbours, children, traffic, lawn mowers and such.

Noise is the most common complaint of people who sleep during the day; so noise prevention should be given top priority.When looking for a home, always look for one in a quiet neighbourhood. Make sure the house is not near any railway tracks, noisy factories or airport fly-bys.

If there are large open lots nearby, check if there will be construction in the future that could disturb your sleep. Wear ear plugs to block all noise.

It is also important to turn off your phone ringer and disconnect your doorbell.

Another sleep depriver is too much light.

Our body's entire cycle is based on light and darkness. For millennia, we have been sleeping in the dark and waking in the light. If you are doing the opposite of this, you are fighting against generations of programming.

Since sunlight will disturb your day, you should mini blinds on the windows to block out the light.You do not want any light coming in through your eyelids while you are sleeping. You can put dark paper, foil or tinting on the windows to darken the room.

Not being able to come home and unwind after work is another problem night shift workers face. When you work the day shift you are able to come home and unwind and relax for about six hours before you go to bed. Night shift workers usually come home and get right into bed bringing all the stress of work with them.

It is important to wind down and distance yourself from a stressful job before you try to sleep. Give yourself at least an hour of doing something you enjoy. Eat breakfast, watch a morning show, listen to music or read a book. Or, go for a run or do some form of exercise. Take a hot shower to relax yourself.

Try to set a routine that stays the same everyday, if possible. Come home, do the same thing every morning. Get into bed at the same time every morning and wake up at the same time every afternoon.