Email & Its Advantages and Disadvantages

Email & Its Advantages and Disadvantages
E-mail
The abbreviated form of an Electronic mail is 'E-mail'. E-mail is a system of creating, sending and storing textual data in digital form over a network. Earlier, the e-mail system was based on Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) mechanism, a protocol used in sending the e-mails from one server to another. Today's e-mail technology uses the store-and-forward model. In this model, the user sends and receives information on their own computer terminal. However, the computer is used only for connecting to the e-mail architecture. The creation, transmission and storage of e-mail takes place, only when the connection with this e-mail architecture is established.

E-mail is one of the many technological developments that have influenced our lives. It has changed the medium of communication. So, it becomes necessary for us to check out the benefits and harmful effects of this popular tool used on the Internet.

Advantages of Email
The benefits of e-mail are huge in number.

• Easy to use: E-mail frees us from the tedious task of managing data of daily use. It helps us to manage our contacts, send mails quickly, maintain our mail history, store the required information, etc.
• Speed: The e-mail is delivered instantly, anywhere across the globe. No other service matches the e-mail in terms of speed.
• Easy to prioritize: Since the mails have subject lines, it is easy to prioritize them and ignore unwanted mails.
• Reliable and secure: Constant efforts are being taken to improve the security in electronic mails. Thus making it one of the secured ways of communication.
• Informal and conversational: The language used in e-mails is generally simple and thus makes the communication informal. Sending and receiving e-mails takes less time, so it can be used as a tool for interaction.
• Easier for reference: When one needs to reply to a mail, there is a provision in the mailing system to attach the previous mails as references. This refreshes the recipient's knowledge, on what he is reading.
• Automated e-mails: It is possible to send automated e-mails using special programs like the autoresponders. The auto responders reply back to the sender with generalized pre-written text messages.
• Environment friendly: Postal mails use paper as a medium to send letters. Electronic mail thus, saves a lot of trees from being axed. It also saves fuel needed in transportation.
• Use of graphics: Colorful greeting cards and interesting pictures can be sent through e-mails. This adds value to the e-mail service.
• Advertising tool: Many individuals and companies are using e-mails to advertise their products, services, etc.

Disadvantages of Email
The e-mails, though beneficial in our day-to-day life, has got its own drawbacks that are offlate coming to the fore.

• Viruses: These are computer programs having the potential to harm a computer system. These programs copy themselves and further infect the computer. The recipient needs to scan the mails, as viruses are transmitted through them and have the potential to harm computer systems.
• Spam: E-mails when used to send unsolicited messages and unwanted advertisements create nuisance and is termed as Spam. Checking and deleting these unwanted mails can unnecessarily consume a lot of time, and it has become necessary to block or filter the unwanted e-mails by means of spam filters. Spamming includes, sending hoax e-mails. E-mail spoofing is another common practice, used for spamming. Spoofing involves deceiving the recipient by altering the e-mail headers or the addresses from which the mail is sent.
• Hacking: The act of breaking into computer security is termed as hacking. After the e-mail is sent and before it is received by the desired recipient, it "bounces" between servers located in different parts of the world. Hence, the e-mail can be hacked by a professional hacker.
• Misinterpretation: One has to be careful while posting any kind of content through an e-mail. If typed in a hurry, the matter could be misinterpreted.
• Lengthy mails: If the mail is too long and not properly presented the reader may lose interest in reading it.
• Not suitable for business: Since the content posted via e-mails is considered informal, there is a chance of business documents going unnoticed. Thus, urgent transactions and especially those requiring signatures are not managed through e-mails.
• Crowded inbox: Over a period of time, the e-mail inbox may get crowded with mails. It becomes difficult for the user to manage such a huge chunk of mails.
• Need to check the inbox regularly: In order to be updated, one has to check his e-mail account regularly.

Every new technology enters the social world with its share of benefits and drawbacks. Different people interpret and utilize it in different ways. In order to make the most of the available technology, users should try to understand both, the positive and negative sides of the tool they use. No technology can be totally perfect!

Assistance for Assignment(Fax and it's Advantages and Disadvantages)

A Brief History of Fax
The fax machine dates back further than one would think. It is one of the great milestones in the history of communications. Alexander Bain invented the world's first fax machine in 1843. This was 7 years after the telegraph was invented. The technology of the fax machine built upon the newly invented telegraph technology. Telegraph wires were used for transmission of fax messages. Phone lines are now used to transmit faxes but this would not have been possible in 1843; the telephone did not become patented until 33 years later.
The concept behind the fax machine or facsimile machine as it was originally known was to send a facsimile or "exact copy." As other technologies have changed and been created, the fax machine has evolved while retaining Bain's original concept.
A fax machine works by scanning the surface area of an image, text, picture or handwritten note. The scanned image is interpreted as signals on a grid that are 'on' or 'off', light and dark dots respectively. The receiving fax reads these dots as 1 for light and 0 for dark dots and prints the message (copy).
Early fax machines were bulky, slow and not easy to operate. Technology has advanced to make them compact, user-friendly, timely and inexpensive. What was once boasted as a bargain for under $500 can now be easily found for under $100. More recently, fax machines have been integrated into combination machines with faxing, scanning, and copying capabilities.
Fax machines sprung into popularity in 1983 when the Comite Consultatif International Telephonique et Telegraphique (or CCITT Group 3) set the standard protocol for faxing at 9,600 bps. CCITT is an organization that sets international communications standards. Since then, fax machines have become a commonality in offices and homes. It had been speculated that faxing would be a thing of the past once e-mail became popular, but this has not been the case. Faxes are strongly favored for legal documents and are still widely used and accepted.
A Brief History of Fax
The fax machine dates back further than one would think. It is one of the great milestones in the history of communications. Alexander Bain invented the world's first fax machine in 1843. This was 7 years after the telegraph was invented. The technology of the fax machine built upon the newly invented telegraph technology. Telegraph wires were used for transmission of fax messages. Phone lines are now used to transmit faxes but this would not have been possible in 1843; the telephone did not become patented until 33 years later.
The concept behind the fax machine or facsimile machine as it was originally known was to send a facsimile or "exact copy." As other technologies have changed and been created, the fax machine has evolved while retaining Bain's original concept.
A fax machine works by scanning the surface area of an image, text, picture or handwritten note. The scanned image is interpreted as signals on a grid that are 'on' or 'off', light and dark dots respectively. The receiving fax reads these dots as 1 for light and 0 for dark dots and prints the message (copy).
Early fax machines were bulky, slow and not easy to operate. Technology has advanced to make them compact, user-friendly, timely and inexpensive. What was once boasted as a bargain for under $500 can now be easily found for under $100. More recently, fax machines have been integrated into combination machines with faxing, scanning, and copying capabilities.
Fax machines sprung into popularity in 1983 when the Comite Consultatif International Telephonique et Telegraphique (or CCITT Group 3) set the standard protocol for faxing at 9,600 bps. CCITT is an organization that sets international communications standards. Since then, fax machines have become a commonality in offices and homes. It had been speculated that faxing would be a thing of the past once e-mail became popular, but this has not been the case. Faxes are strongly favored for legal documents and are still widely used and accepted.
Advantages
A fax machine sends inexpensive messages and provides a written record of the message transmitted. The delivered page shows the phone no. and time of the transmission so there is a written record which can be used in a court of law. In this respect it is superior to an email message because that detail is printed right on the document.
Each page is assigned a number.
A fax transmission is secure in that it goes only to phone number address. It is also instantaneous
Disadvantages
• Need a separate space for the machine.
• Needs a telephone line.
• Needs power/electricity
• Requires paper for receiving and sending faxes
• Machine needs to be on always to receive faxes. If the machine is off, we may lose the faxes.
• Large probability of losing faxes, which could potentially be important.
• Storage and Archival of these Printed Paper Faxes are very cumbersome. They'll need a good amount of space in the office.
• Aging of papers could lead to difficulties in managing records.
and receipt is acknowledged.

Assistance for Assignment (Disadvantages of Internet)

Disadvantages
Although Internet has many advantages but it also has some disadvantages. The main disadvantages are:
1. Viruses
Today, Internet is the most popular source of spreading viruses. Most of the viruses transfer from one computer to another through e-mail or when information is downloaded on the Internet. These viruses create different problems in your computer. For example, they can affect the performance of your computer and damage valuable data and software stored in your computer.
2. Security Problems
The valuable websites can be damaged by hackers and your valuable data may be deleted. Similarly, confidential data may be accessed by unauthorized persons.
3. Immorality
Some websites contains immoral materials in the form of text, pictures or movies etc. These websites damage the character of new generation.
4. Filtration of Information
When a keyword is given to a search engine to search information of a specific topic, a large number of related links a displayed. In this case, it becomes difficult to filter out the required information.
5. Accuracy of Information
A lot of information about a particular topic is stored on the websites. Some information may be incorrect or not authentic. So, it becomes difficult to select the correct information. Sometimes you may be confused.
6. Wastage of times
A lot of time is wasted to collect the information on the Internet. Some people waste a lot of time in chatting or to play games. At home and offices, most of the people use Internet without any positive purpose.
7. English language problems
Most of the information on the Internet is available in English language. So, some people cannot avail the facility of Internet.
Disadvantages of the Internet
There are certain cons and dangers relating to the use of Internet that can be summarized as:
• Personal Information: If you use the Internet, your personal information such as your name, address, etc. can be accessed by other people. If you use a credit card to shop online, then your credit card information can also be ‘stolen’ which could be akin to giving someone a blank check.
• Pornography: This is a very serious issue concerning the Internet, especially when it comes to young children. There are thousands of pornographic sites on the Internet that can be easily found and can be a detriment to letting children use the Internet.
• Spamming: This refers to sending unsolicited e-mails in bulk, which serve no purpose and unnecessarily clog up the entire system.
Disadvantages of Internet
Theft of Personal information: Electronic messages sent over the Internet can be easily snooped and tracked, revealing who is talking to whom and what they are talking about. If you use the Internet, your personal information such as your name, address, credit card, bank details and other information can be accessed by culprits. If you use a credit card or internet banking for online shopping, then your details can also be ‘stolen’.
Negative effects on family communication: Although there are conflicting research findings on this topic, an article published by Science Daily reported that time spent on the Internet was associated with later declines in within house family communication and a decrease in the number of friends and acquaintances with which they kept ties.
Internet addiction: There is some controversy over whether it is possible to actually be addicted to the Internet or not. Some researchers, claim that it is simply people trying to escape their problems in an online world and cannot be classified as an addiction.
Disadvantages

Theft of Personal information
If you use the Internet, you may be facing grave danger as your personal information such as name, address, credit card number etc. can be accessed by other culprits to make your problems worse.

Spamming:
Spamming refers to sending unwanted e-mails in bulk, which provide no purpose and needlessly obstruct the entire system. Such illegal activities can be very frustrating for you, and so instead of just ignoring it, you should make an effort to try and stop these activities so that using the Internet can become that much safer.

Virus threat
Virus is nothing but a program which disrupts the normal functioning of your computer systems. Computers attached to internet are more prone to virus attacks and they can end up into crashing your whole hard disk, causing you considerable headache.

Pornography:
This is perhaps the biggest threat related to your children's healthy mental life. A very serious issue concerning the Internet. There are thousands of pornographic sites on the Internet that can be easily found and can be a detrimental factor to letting children use the Internet.

Assistance for assignment (Advantages of Internet)

Advantages
The Internet provides many facilities to the people. The main advantages of Internet are discussed below.
1. Sharing Information
You can share information with other people around the world. The scientist or researchers can interact with each other to share knowledge and to get guidance etc. Sharing information through Internet is very easy, cheap and fast method.
2. Collection of Information
A lot of information of different types is stored on the web server on the Internet. It means that billions websites contain different information in the form of text and pictures. You can easily collect information on every topic of the world. For this purpose, special websites, called search engines are available on the Internet to search information of every topic of the world. The most popular search engines are altavista.com, search.com, yahoo.com, ask.com etc. The scientists, writers, engineers and many other people use these search engines to collect latest information for different purposes. Usually, the information on the Internet is free of cost. The information on the Internet is available 24 hours a day.
3. News
You can get latest news of the world on the Internet. Most of the newspapers of the world are also available on the Internet. They have their websites from where you can get the latest news about the events happening in the world. These websites are periodically updated or they are immediately updated with latest news when any event happens around the world.
4. Searching Jobs
You can search different types of jobs all over the world, Most of the organizations/departments around the world, advertise their vacant vacancies on the Internet. The search engines are also used to search the jobs on Internet. You can apply for the required job through Internet.
5. Advertisement
Today, most of the commercial organizations advertise their product through Internet. It is very cheap and efficient way for the advertising of products. The products can be presented with attractive and beautiful way to the people around the world.
6. Communication
You can communicate with other through Internet around the world. You can talk by watching to one another; just you are talking with your friends in your drawing room. For this purpose, different services are provided on the Internet such as;
• Chatting
• Video conferencing
• E-mail
• Internet telephony etc.
7. Entertainment
Internet also provides different type of entertainments to the people. You can play games with other people in any part of the world. Similarly, you can see movies, listen music etc. You can also make new friends on the Internet for enjoyment.
8. Online Education
Internet provides the facility to get online education. Many websites of different universities provide lectures and tutorials on different subjects or topics. You can also download these lectures or tutorials into your own computer. You can listen these lectures repeatedly and get a lot of knowledge. It is very cheap and easy way to get education.
9. Online Results
Today, most of the universities and education boards provide results on the Internet. The students can watch their results from any part of country or world.
10. Online Airlines and Railway Schedules
Many Airline companies and Pakistan Railway provide their schedules of flights and trains respectively on the Internet.
11. Online Medical Advice
Many websites are also available on the Internet to get information about different diseases. You can consult a panel of online doctors to get advice about any medical problem. In addition, a lot of material is also available on the Internet for research in medical field.
Advantages of the Internet
The Internet provides opportunities galore, and can be used for a variety of things. Some of the things that you can do via the Internet are:
• E-mail: E-mail is an online correspondence system. With e-mail you can send and receive instant electronic messages, which works like writing letters. Your messages are delivered instantly to people anywhere in the world, unlike traditional mail that takes a lot of time.
• Access Information: The Internet is a virtual treasure trove of information. Any kind of information on any topic under the sun is available on the Internet. The ‘search engines’ on the Internet can help you to find data on any subject that you need.
• Shopping: Along with getting information on the Internet, you can also shop online. There are many online stores and sites that can be used to look for products as well as buy them using your credit card. You do not need to leave your house and can do all your shopping from the convenience of your home.
• Online Chat: There are many ‘chat rooms’ on the web that can be accessed to meet new people, make new friends, as well as to stay in touch with old friends.
• Downloading Software: This is one of the most happening and fun things to do via the Internet. You can download innumerable, games, music, videos, movies, and a host of other entertainment software from the Internet, most of which are free.
Advantages of Internet
1) E-mail: Email is now an essential communication tools in business. With e-mail you can send and receive instant electronic messages, which works like writing letters. Your messages are delivered instantly to people anywhere in the world, unlike traditional mail that takes a lot of time. Email is free and fast when compared to telephone, fax and postal services. Just compare the costs of sending out physical mailing to 5,000 addresses, with the costs of an e-mailing to 50.000 e-mail addresses.
2) 24 hours a day - 7 days a week: Even if no staff is in your office, visitors will come to your website using Internet.
3) Information: Information is probably the biggest advantage internet is offering. There is a huge amount of information available on the internet for just about every subject, ranging from government law and services, trade fairs and conferences, market information, new ideas and technical support. You can almost find any type of data on almost any kind of subject that you are looking for by using search engines like google, yahoo, msn, etc.
4) Online Chat: You can access many ‘chat rooms’ on the web that can be used to meet new people, make new friends, as well as to stay in touch with old friends.
5) Services: Many services are provided on the internet like net banking, job searching, purchasing tickets, hotel reservations, guidance services on array of topics engulfing the every aspect of life.
6) Communities: Communities of all types have sprung up on the internet. Its a great way to meet up with people of similar interest and discuss common issues.
7) Ecommerce: Along with getting information on the Internet, you can also shop online. There are many online stores and sites that can be used to look for products as well as buy them using your credit card. You do not need to leave your house and can do all your shopping from the convenience of your home. It has got a real amazing and wide range of products from household needs, electronics to entertainment.
8) Software Downloads: You can freely download innumerable, softwares like utilities, games, music, videos, movies, etc from the Internet.
Advantages

Communication:
The foremost target of internet has always been the communication. And internet has excelled beyond the expectations .Still; innovations are going on to make it faster, more reliable. By the advent of computer’s Internet, our earth has reduced and has attained the form of a global village.

Now we can communicate in a fraction of second with a person who is sitting in the other part of the world. Today for better communication, we can avail the facilities of e-mail; we can chat for hours with our loved ones. There are plenty messenger services in offering. With help of such services, it has become very easy to establish a kind of global friendship where you can share your thoughts, can explore other cultures of different ethnicity.

Information
Information is probably the biggest advantage internet is offering. The Internet is a virtual treasure trove of information. Any kind of information on any topic under the sun is available on the Internet. The search engines like Google, yahoo is at your service on the Internet. You can almost find any type of data on almost any kind of subject that you are looking for. There is a huge amount of information available on the internet for just about every subject known to man, ranging from government law and services, trade fairs and conferences, market information, new ideas and technical support, the list is end less.

Students and children are among the top users who surf the Internet for research. Today, it is almost required that students should use the Internet for research for the purpose of gathering resources. Teachers have started giving assignments that require research on the Internet. Almost every coming day, researches on medical issues become much easier to locate. Numerous web sites available on the net are offering loads of information for people to research diseases and talk to doctors online at sites such as, America’s Doctor. During 1998 over 20 million people reported going online to retrieve health information.

Entertainment
Entertainment is another popular raison d'être why many people prefer to surf the Internet. In fact, media of internet has become quite successful in trapping multifaceted entertainment factor. Downloading games, visiting chat rooms or just surfing the Web are some of the uses people have discovered. There are numerous games that may be downloaded from the Internet for free. The industry of online gaming has tasted dramatic and phenomenal attention by game lovers. Chat rooms are popular because users can meet new and interesting people. In fact, the Internet has been successfully used by people to find life long partners. When people surf the Web, there are numerous things that can be found. Music, hobbies, news and more can be found and shared on the Internet.

Services
Many services are now provided on the internet such as online banking, job seeking, purchasing tickets for your favorite movies, guidance services on array of topics engulfing the every aspect of life, and hotel reservations. Often these services are not available off-line and can cost you more.

E-Commerce
E commerce is the concept used for any type of commercial maneuvering, or business deals that involves the transfer of information across the globe via Internet. It has become a phenomenon associated with any kind of shopping, almost anything. You name it and E commerce with its giant tentacles engulfing every single product and service will make you available at your door steps. It has got a real amazing and wide range of products from household needs, technology to entertainment.