1. Explain the business benefits of using wireless technology.
Some sources of wireless offer connectivity over an area as large as your desktop whilst others can cover a medium-sized office space. Wireless technology can offer businesses more flexible and inexpensive ways to send and receive data. Some benefits include:
- Less hardware.
- Improved infrastructure.
- Increases mobility.
- Easy Access to the Web.
- Enables Access to ‘live’ information.
- Removes Cabling & Wiring.
- Reduces the requirements for hubs/switches.
This supporting article “Wireless Communications- The Benefits of Wireless Communication” says that the four key benefits of wireless technology are:
1. Increased efficiency - improved communications leads to faster transfer of information within businesses and between partners/customers.
2. You are rarely out of touch - you don't need to carry cables or adaptors in order to access office networks.
3. Greater flexibility and mobility for users - office-based wireless workers can be networked without sitting at dedicated PCs.
4. Reduced costs - relative to 'wired', wireless networks are, in most cases, cheaper to install and maintain.
http://www.is4profit.com/business-advice/it-telecoms/wireless-communications/the-benefits-of-wireless-communication.html
2. Describe the business benefits associated with VoIP
As VOIP allows the internet to carry voice in digital format, call costs have dramatically decreased as the international calls are now internet connections.It enables phone calls, faxes, voice mail, e-mail and Web conferences over digital networks. Easy navigation, dial-by-name capability, three-way-calling, comprehensive information about each caller, mobility.
It saves money in three ways;
1. VOIP runs over the existing computer network
2. Calls over the internet do not attract Telecommunications charges.
3. Customers can port their numbers between carriers.
Further benefits are provided through this supporting article: http://www.alltel.com.au/voipbenefits.html ‘Business Benefits of VoIP / IP Telephony’ which states that:
“Business VoIP / IP Telephony will benefit your business in a number of ways...
* cheaper telephony and lower operating costs
* many features at low cost
* easier to make changes
* easier to relocate
* can enable collaboration tools for an increasingly decentralised work force
* convergence provides lower cost WAN connectivity.”
3. Compare LANs and WANs
http://freesoft.org/CIE/Topics/13.htm explains that:
“Local Area Networks (LANs) and Wide Area Networks(WANs) are generic terms referring to two important basic types of networks. Let me try to summarize the characteristics of each, and then discuss their importance to the network engineer.”
Local area networks (LANs) connect computers that reside in a single geographic location on the premises of the company that operates the LAN.
Wide area networks (WANs) – connect computers at different geographic sites.
LAN/WAN Comparison
Local Area Networks (LANs)
- Most commonly: Ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI
- Advantage: speed
- Cost Center: dense installation (about one interface per room)
- Current Speed: 10-100 Mbps (mostly 10 Mbps)
- Common Users: File sharing
- Common Problems: Cable disruption by users
- Conceptually: A bunch of lines hooking users together
Wide Area Networks (WANs)
- Most commonly: Leased lines, serial links, ISDN, X.25
- Advantage: distance
- Cost Center: length of long-haul lines (about one interface per 100 miles)
- Current Speed: 0.01 to 45 Mbps (mostly clustered around 1 Mbps)
- Common Users: Email and file transfer (including Web)
- Common Problems: Cable disruption by backhoes
- Conceptually: A bunch of lines hooking cities together
A good networking design must answer both the LAN and WAN needs of its users.
4. Describe RFID and how it can be used to help make a supply chain more effective.
The following article: ‘How RFID can help optimise supply chain management’ http://www.ameinfo.com/66090.html describes an RFID as:
“A system of small electronic tags (comprising a tiny chip plus an antenna) that transmit data via a radio signal to RFID readers and related hardware and software infrastructure. The transmitters can be placed anywhere that tracking the movement of goods adds value to the commercial process: on containers, pallets, materials handling equipment, cases or even on individual products.”
It can be used to help a supply chain more effective as by adding RFID tags to every product, tool, resource and item of materials handling equipment, manufacturers will be able to get better demand signals from customers and the market. It has the potential of helping retailers provide the right product at the right place at the right time, thus maximising sales and profits.
RFID provides the technology to identify uniquely each item being manufactured, shipped and sold, therefore, provides the stepping stones for increased visibility throughout the supply chain. Organisations are able to link the physical world to the digital world without any human interaction which reduces costs and time, increases efficiency and business intelligence. It has the potential to deliver better asset utilisation, produce higher quality goods, reduce shrinkage and counterfeiting, and increase sales by reducing out-of-stocks. It can even help improve the safety of the food and pharmaceuticals we buy.
The following diagram shows the process involved with RFID: http://www.satoasiapacific.com/img/RFID-Logistics_290.gif
5. Identify the advantages and disadvantages of deploying mobile technology:
Advantages-
* Mobile workforce.
* Real time processing.
* Vast delivery.
Disadvantages-
* Wireless technology can at times be insecure.
* Issues involved with safety.
* Privacy issues with mobile phones.
* Viruses on unsecured devices.
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